VIA's ARTIGO Pico-ITX ultra-compact barebones

If you've been wanting to break into the exciting, fast-paced, cut-throat world of ultra-compact desktop PC construction, but didn't know where to begin, VIA has got your number. The company has just launched the ARTIGO Pico-ITX builder kit, a complete VIA-based system that you can snap together in the privacy of your own home. The bundle includes a Pico-ITX motherboard with a VIA C7 1GHz CPU, support for up to 1GB of RAM, IDE and eSATA connectors, VGA output, four USB ports, audio line in / out jacks, and 10/100 ethernet. The package includes everything but a hard drive and memory, and is available right now for around $300. Check the video after the break and experience the joy of construction.

[Thanks, Stewart]

[Dan @ Feb 28th 2008 8:11AM]

Those moaning that its not the power of a laptop..

Eh?

Its for an entirely different purpose/market. This is more steared towards the thin client/basic-use end of things (of which it would be an excellent choice).

Also its a great solution for those that need something to be on 24/7 without the enourmous power bill or danger of leaving a battery device like a laptop on.
I am using one of these as a linux based central remote access ssh-vnc and for IMAP/file server for my LAN. This served my desktop, 3 laptops and Xbox media center just fine.

And for £180 cannot complain!!

[TheCow5 @ Dec 10th 2007 10:42AM]

sweet as. only one thing missing, WiFi

[Peter @ Dec 10th 2007 10:43AM]

Get a USB dongle one and you're all set.

[E71 @ Dec 10th 2007 4:56PM]

If it was a tiny bit smaller, I could fit this computer into one of my 5.25" drive bays. How about that... talk about a cool upgrade for your PC!

[Ken @ Dec 10th 2007 10:43AM]

So when the hell are they going to be producing these with the 1 watt Eden? And where can I get just the pico-itx board/cpu?

[spam_from_engadget @ Dec 10th 2007 5:57PM]

> where can I get just the pico-itx board

http://mini-itx.com/store/?c=39 (IN STOCK)
http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11693 (7 in stock)

[DJWhiplash2001 @ Dec 10th 2007 10:49AM]

This should make NES PCs pretty easy to make :). I work with 3.5" SBCs at work every day, this looks pretty good for $300. And WiFi is only a USB dongle away :).

[DJWhiplash2001 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:02AM]

Edit: Gameboy PC! http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/pico-itx/default.asp?page=9 Imagine the possibilities....

[jus10 @ Dec 10th 2007 10:50AM]

I pretty much have this guy in mini-ITX (bigger) form. It's a nice little machine; mine is running FreeBSD and is hooked to the HDTV. Its going to be the network monitor/VPN endpoint. Since my machine is fan-less and uses a laptop hard-drive, it is nearly completely silent.

Although this thing mentions mounting the ARTIGO inside a 5.25" bay in a desktop. That's pretty cool. "Yeah, my server is inside my desktop".

[guu @ Dec 10th 2007 10:52AM]

eee have wifi, ssd, ram, display and kb for 99$ more...

[jus10 @ Dec 10th 2007 10:58AM]

Well, I have an eee and a mini-ITX with the same processor (this guy's big brother). They're for different things. The eee is a nice ultra-portable mini-laptop. I use it as my tether when I'm away from home. The other end of the tether (the VPN endpoint) is the mini-ITX box.

The 1GHz C7 eats the eee's celeron for breakfast (it's faster and cooler). The eee has 12 gig of storage (4 gig onboard + 8 gig sdhc). The C7 has a old 60 gig laptop drive in it. I wouldn't use the eee for a server, but I also wouldn't use the mini-itx box as an ultra-portable (it weighs as much as a real laptop and I can't pack my 32" display into my laptop bag).

If you want an ultra-portable laptop (Linux or XP) get an eee. If you want a mini-server or the Windows/Linux equiv of a MacMini, get this kit.

[huguesn @ Dec 10th 2007 11:02AM]

You see a laptop here? I don't..

[TheCow5 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:08AM]

Guys, how do those processors handle playing an .MKV or HD .AVI file and running Vista mediacenter.
I current run my media center PC on Vista Mediacenter and all my .avi files are HD .avi files or .MKV files with 6.1 audio and a lot of CPU resource which runs it hot.

[guu @ Dec 10th 2007 11:12AM]

i see ~300$ for a far less expensive product than eee.

[huguesn @ Dec 10th 2007 11:17AM]

TheCow5, here is a review for Video Playback
http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/pico-itx/default.asp?page=7

[harvey @ Dec 10th 2007 11:27AM]

Both the Eee PC and the Mac mini are MUCH better deals when compared to this (almost useless) kit.

The Eee PC starts at the same price ($299 for the 2G model). It includes 2GB-8GB of internal storage, expandable with SD cards, includes RAM, a 7" screen, and keyboard. And it's portable!

The Mac mini is twice the price at $599, but for that extra $299 you get 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1GB of RAM, DVI out, internal DVD/CD drive, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, built-in Bluetooth 2.0, FireWire port (in addition to 4 USB 2.0), a wireless remote, and tons of useful software. All this in a case about the same size and weight as the ARTIGO Pico-ITX.

Both of the above computers are actually useful as either a portable, or as a home computer/server.

The ARTIGO Pico-ITX might be a fun kit for kids to play with... if it sold for $99. But at $300 it's not in the same world as other competing products, especially when you add on the costs of all the things that this kit doesn't come with..

[TheCow5 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:33AM]

@huguesn: thanks
As suspected, no 720p support which most of my HD .avi and .MKV files are.

[jus10 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:34AM]

TheCow5,

moo. If you're doing HD video work, I don't think the mini/nano/pico boxes are there yet. They need more hardware acceleration support from the onboard unichrome that is presently available.

[TheCow5 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:48AM]

Thanks, all my documentary are 720p or 1080i, my movies are not hedding it that direction, and my MOBO has a DVI out to the HDTV (DVI to HDMI cable), and opticle audio out to stereo.
I am trying to get a board that would have a onboard CPU with pasive cooling. and a power supply like the one on this moard. (like those found on laptops)

[trancer @ Dec 10th 2007 11:14AM]

very portable. What size hard drives does it use? 2.5"?

[wickedpheonix @ Dec 10th 2007 11:11AM]

$300 uber-portable counterstrike boxes? Sweet... throw like 10 of these in the car, drive to a place (library etc) that already has monitors, keyboards, and mice in place, bring a router and some cables and insta-LAN party :D

[System48 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:41AM]

Change it around just a little and get it to fit into a 5.25" bay. Need some way to interface with with your computer system, USB should suffice. Also need a passthrough for kvm and no a KVM switch would be ugly. Would make a great internet, word, and so on computer. Only to power up the big boy for real work, or gaming.

[Snakeeye02 @ Dec 10th 2007 12:01PM]

System48

You could just run a cat5 cable to the ARTiGO inside the 5.25 bay and RDP into it if you're running Windows. Itd still manage to put out audio and video assuming this machine has the horsepower to handle it.

Also this thing would be great for an in car or in boat application

[james @ Dec 10th 2007 11:34AM]

so isnt this laptop performance with out being as conveinient as having a laptop?

[entropyman @ Dec 10th 2007 12:22PM]

moreso than as a small portable desktop(or as you say "laptop performance with out being as conveinient as having a laptop?") , I think that you will see this as a very functional mod box- I think that it could be a good excuse to push the sale of SSHD's and form factor monitors in the 4.5" to 7" scale- I would put my own umpc together if all of the parts were available inexpensively- it would be really fun to play with the form factor of umpc's at home

[OddManOut @ Dec 10th 2007 11:47AM]

Very tempting. I already have a 60GB laptop hdd lying around so all I'd need to buy is a stick of RAM. I could sell my NAS box and put the proceeds towards a 500GB+ HDD + eSATA enclosure. Slap Win 2003 server (which I have a legitamite license for) and Exchange and I've got the silent/always on digital hub that Home server and various NAS devices don't quite make.

On the cheap too...

[aoeu00 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:35AM]

I've been wanting one of "these types" of ultra small desktops for a while.. the main thing keeping me back is the "price" point. I guess I'll continue to wait. I think $199 is probably reasonable.

[jon @ Dec 10th 2007 12:44PM]

you all do know that just the motherboard sells for $230 so a case and motherboard and psu for $300 is kinda cheep. i am sure prices will go down and they will release the mobile itx (credit card mother board) but prices always go down and new stuff is always released if there is a market.

i am useing one of these mother boards in my car pc in my rx-8. they have 3 other cases one can use a m3 psu and can be mounted.

[Marko @ Dec 10th 2007 2:16PM]

I am not an apple fanboy, but for 300 dollars you can get AppleTV, which has a faster processor, can be hacked to do almost anything and already comes with a 40gb harddrive and 256mb of ram. It is very similar in size.

Unless you need more ram! Or you need windows! But it can play HD video (sortof!)

[a_p77 @ Dec 10th 2007 2:47PM]

Just wondering....where is this e-sata port, because i cannot find it anywhere in the video or on the official web site...

[jus10 @ Dec 10th 2007 5:05PM]

I'm guessing the MB has the port where you could hook up an eSata port if you liked. The case probably just doesn't have a spot for this port.

[jon @ Dec 11th 2007 5:05PM]

the motherboard has sata

[GPete @ Jan 13th 2008 6:08AM]

I found an internal SATA connection on the Mobo. No e-SATA gear in the package, so figure e-SATA capability.

[athousandleaves @ Dec 10th 2007 3:12PM]

man that guy was annoying.

[John Laur @ Dec 10th 2007 6:32PM]

No; the music was annoying.

[athousandleaves @ Dec 10th 2007 9:41PM]

music was bad, but he was far worse.

[starirai @ Dec 10th 2007 5:24PM]

with 2 gig ram so cheap, why in the world this thing only support up 1 gig of ram, it should support at least up to 2 gigs of ram to compensate the non replaceable 1 ghz cpu.

[Chris @ Dec 10th 2007 8:40PM]

I am looking for a mini computer to stick on the back of a large LCD. It needs to run MS Vista, but not be a speed demon. It will run some business KPI status. I do think that I will need 2 gig of RAM due to Vista. Would like the unit to be VERY quiet too. Can anyone recommend a computer for this?

[jon @ Dec 11th 2007 5:04PM]

http://www.idotpc.com/thestore/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=99