VIA's
Pico-ITX platform took things to an entirely new level a few years back, and now the company is introducing an even smaller variant for even
more minuscule applications. The Mobile-ITX specification measures in at just 6cm x 6cm, or right around 50 percent as large as the aforementioned Pico-ITX form factor. Aimed specifically at next-generation embedded devices that are barely visible to the naked eye, Mobile-ITX employs a modularized design that includes a CPU module card and an I/O carrier board. We're told that CPU modules based on the Mobile-ITX form factor integrate "core CPU, chipset and memory functionality and I/O that includes the CRT, DVP and TTL display support, HD Audio, IDE, USB 2.0, as well as PCI Express, SMBus, GPIO, LPC, SDIO and PS2 signals," and the 5-watt power usage means that these are well suited for always-on systems. Look for the first commercial Mobile-ITX-based CPU module to ship in Q1 2010.
posted December 1st 2009 10:05AM
the power supply unit / battery is big, however
I don't mean to be overly insulting, but couldn't they afford to find someone else with nicer hands?
Technology is effing amazing, ain't it? Seems like you could have a lot of fun with something that small. For some reason, the first thing I thought about was augmented-reality applications, but I'm excited about small, thin tablets, maybe with Mirasol displays?
Great time to be into technology (bad time to be poor, though :( )
windows xp phone coming closer and closer
looks like this is a kind of daughter board of Pentium-I times..if you want to build a PC.then the size goes back to mini-itx ;( check this
http://www.via.com.tw/en/downloads/whitepapers/initiatives/spearhead/WP091201-ITXFormFactor.pdf
@avis
Mini ITX is nice, I just built a Mini ITX PC with an Intel Quad Core, Nvidia GTX card, 4Gb low cas ddr2 800, Slim slot loading BD drive and 2x 500Gb 2.5" Drives in Raid 0.
Yes it cost more than I was comfortable, but it proves a nice point.
Who is this company trying to fool. IDE? comeon thats just rediculous.
@MoonWalkerCTE I can relate, but one of the things we can take advantage of is miniaturization and the persistence of older, cheaper technologies. There's no point in getting a SATA II optical drive for a Pico-ITX mobo system.
@MoonWalkerCTE
Actually the IDE interface is for interfacing with a SSD module or Compact flash card I believe. Most of these embedded systems use one of those two choices I believe.
This is AWESOME. This will signal the convergence of mobile and desktop hardware. 5 inch i3 mid anyone?
Its just not that small...
What use is a CPU on a chip if it has no IO?
@Oli D It has IO ports, they're just not on the board. Just pin headers.
@barry99705 I couldn't see any, maybe because the photos only show one side of the board. If they didnt have lame VIA cpus they would be very exciting, I have played with a Pico ITX board and it is really nice.
@Oli D You can see the pins in the side view shot, sort of. At least it's a suggestion that they're there.
And soon, all this pico, mobile, nano nonsense will fit on the head of a pin. Can't wait.
I wish that Intel would make Atom boards that are compatible with this and nVidia would make tegra boards that are compatible with this...etc....
We could finally get to a place where notebooks are easily upgradeable.
@NOOOOPedro There are a handful of Chinese suppliers that manufacture Pico-ITX Intel Atom Zseries boards. They are about $300-350 a piece, but have sucky low end Intel GPUs.
Since when did a feather become the benchmark for size? I want a coin or a Coke can!
@wakeupbomb It could be from an ostrich
@wakeupbomb I want the iPhone measurement back :(
Reminds me of the Beagle Board, without the interfaces on board.
Can someone tell me what those various ports are on that reference IO board?