Via's VT6047 mainboard becomes first in Pico-ITX lineage

Making good on its promise to deliver an uber-small mainboard for tight-space and media-centric applications, Via has announced its first product in the 10- x 7.2-centimeter Pico-ITX lineup. Checking in over 75-percent smaller than Mini-ITX boards of the past, this x86-based reference design seeks to embrace a "new world of ultra compact embedded PC systems and appliances." The board was purportedly designed to be powered by one of Via's own C7 or Eden CPUs, and should be available shortly to board vendors and hardware designers interested in concocting even smaller PCs for their customers. The design also relies on the firm's VX700 chipset and provides Ethernet, eight-channel HD audio, four USB 2.0 ports, a SATA connector, and a multi-format card reader. Reportedly, the VT6047 will be priced anywhere from "$300 to $500," but we guess that's just the premium you pay for a palm-sized PC.

[Via LinuxDevices]

[Gil @ Apr 20th 2007 6:30AM]

That's very expensive even for the size. Might aswell go with Gumstix or something similar.

[neggies @ Apr 20th 2007 7:44AM]

You forget that this is a fully-fledged X86 PC that can run windows XP. the gumstix cannot.

--neg

[Gil @ Apr 20th 2007 8:06AM]

Very true I neglected that. And you also have eightchannel HD audio but I guess that comes with the 500$ version

[neggies @ Apr 20th 2007 7:45AM]

Just using this one to make firefox remember my password

[Genome @ Apr 20th 2007 7:55AM]

sweet form factor, one of these hooked up to a motorbike would rock(mp3/gps/security/comms).

[spam_from_engadget @ Apr 20th 2007 8:39AM]

The only important thing that is is missing, compared to the nano-ITX, is a mini-PCI slot. On my nano-ITX board I've used the mini-PCI slot for wi-fi. With this board, if you want wi-fi I think your only option is a USB device.

Like the nano-ITX it has 2 mm headers, rather than the 2.54 mm ones used on larger boards. A practical problem is that connectors to bring out the serial port or to connect a reset switch are not widely available.

[dextro @ Apr 20th 2007 8:55AM]

I'm just wondering where did they stuck the card reader. I mean, it's such a small board... :|

[TomC1234 @ Apr 20th 2007 10:51AM]

Where does the RAM go? Or am I just thinking wrong here? Does it come with embedded memory?

[spam_from_engadget @ Apr 20th 2007 11:42AM]

> Where does the RAM go?

There's a SODIMM slot on the bottom.

[Stephan @ Apr 20th 2007 12:07PM]

So this looks heavily geard toward some sort of HTPC application, yet they use RGB output and not DVI or HDMI??? I am happy with RGB as my human eyes can not notice any difference I am just saying some people swear by going all digital especially if they plan on dropping $500 just for a CPU/MOBO

[spam_from_engadget @ Apr 20th 2007 5:29PM]

> So this looks heavily geard toward some sort of HTPC application,
> yet they use RGB output and not DVI or HDMI???

The high-density connector at the middle of the bottom edge of the photo is raw digital video out, and you can (or will be able to) connect a small daughter board here with a DVI/HDMI or LVDS transmitter chip on it. VIA have similar things on some of the nano- and mini-itx boards.

[Craig Tucker @ Apr 20th 2007 12:35PM]

Want this for my car computer. Currently using mini-itx in a chunky case under the passenger seat. With this I can shove the whole thing behind the dashboard, really clean things up.

[conanb @ Apr 24th 2007 1:06AM]

Hmmm, to use as a HTPC, or set it up as an interface to many of my homes systems (lighting, audio, networking), or to mod one into my new car, the posibilities are endless!