Via Technologies Inc. announced the new Via EPIA MS Mini-ITX mainboard on Thursday, which has been designed without an I/O backplate to allow customers to design slimline digital entertainment devices.
The new board seems geared more for OEMs than for do-it-yourself enthusiasts, although Via said that the board would be offered through its traditional worldwide partners. The EPIA MS Mini-ITX is the company’s first board to offer the 1GHz VIA Eden ESP as a processor option; customers also have the option of selecting a 1.2GHz Via C3 or an 800MHz Via Eden ESP processor. The board is based on the Via CLE266 chipset with an integrated Unichrome graphics processor from Via’s S3 Graphics subsidiary.The board supports DDR266 SDRAM and ATA-133 storage, as well as 6-channel surround sound, courtesy of the onboard VIA Vinyl Six-TRAC audio chip. Up to six USB 2.0 connections ar included, as well as S-Video and RCA TV-Out (NTSC & PAL) and 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet. The VIA EPIA MS also offers support for a growing number of LVDS embedded LCD panels, has a PCI slot for expandability options, and is compatible with a full range of Mini-ITX chassis as well as FlexATX and MicroATX enclosures, Via said.
“The VIA EPIA MS is poised to meet the needs of the fast-evolving market for personal electronics,” said Steven S. Lee, head of the Via embedded platform division at the Taiwan-based chipmaker, in a statement. “Its intuitive design targets devices where aesthetics and ease of use can be achieved without compromising on full digital media functionality.”
News source: ExtremeTech
