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Via's incredible shrinking mobo line spawns "pico-ITX"

linuxdevices.com — Via has gone and done it again. The folks who brought us mini-ITX, and then nano-ITX, have now introduced their first teeny mobo on an even smaller format: "pico-ITX," which measures a scant 3.9 x 2.8 inches and features a 1GHz C7 processor, along with rich audio/video I/O,

Who dugg this? Made popular Jan 26, 2007

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  • zweben, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22Or "Crap, where the hell is it-ITX"
  • Yoshi39, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Sorry for saying this but RTFA!
    "including support for HDTV out"
  • zcereal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8something like this would be sweet for a car PC for mp3's and maybe some video
  • manuelflury, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Box me this so I can use it as a portable PVR !!!
  • sgdt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The video in version would make for a wicked robot. 1GHz is more than fast enough for simple object recognition and navigation.
  • Terc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+71GHz is not "slow" Will it run Vista? ...Technically, yes, but pop in a copy of your favorite flavor of Linux and you've got yourself a peppy web browsing/media decoding machine.
  • steven401, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Where's the RAM go?
  • Guspaz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7No. It won't. And no, it isn't. RTFA.
  • Guspaz, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10There's a difference between HDTV output (As in, a DVI port/pins, or the availability of a VGA->Component adapter) and being able to decode 720p or 1080p video.

    The 1GHz Via processor does not have enough power to decode 720p or 1080p, nor does it have the 3D hardware to render videogames in 720p or 1080p.

    So, if you enjoy staring at the Windows desktop in HD, knock yourself out.
  • cinnix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Thats exactly the reason I got aroused, is that healthy?
  • Yoshi39, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4No heat pipes needed as seen in picture number two in the article http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/misc/via_epiapx_3.jpg
  • luketabor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I believe they could still go with femto-ITX
  • pureliquidhw, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5so much for the reply button...
  • BitwiseMcgee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5since when would it be a good idea to have a 1Ghz linksys router!?

    these things are great for kiosk pcs, multimedia pcs, etc (okay, maybe not HD stuff...)
  • loozer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@danielwsmithee
    "What's the point. It is still not as small as the PC/104 ..."

    Actually I beg to differ. From http://www.rtd.com/PC104/CM/886/58886/CMD58886-1400.htm :
    Size: 117mm L x 97mm W x 15mm H (4.6"L x 3.8"W x 0.6"H)

    From the parent article:
    The new pico-ITX form-factor will reportedly measure 3.9 x 2.8 inches (10 x 7.2 cm)

    And the cost difference
    PC/104: $2995.00
    pico-ITX: $350.00
  • CamperBob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@danielwsmithee: You can build a Beowulf cluster of these for the price of one of those PC104 boards. PC104 is for industrial-control applications, not consumer stuff.
  • vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4YoQuero-ITX?
  • Ub3rg33k, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have an extreme facination with mITX and nITX. This little bad boy is no different. I can think of a dozen different things I'd like to try and do with this thing. Alas, as its already been pointed out, price is a little bit of a deal breaker. Please please please Via : work on lowering the price, not continuously shrinking the size.
  • LowenSoDium, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@BitwiseMcgee

    Actually, the Linksys WRT54G is limited by it's CPU as to how much traffic it can route.

    DD-WRT www.dd-wrt.com is currently working on intel compatible CPUs as well as many home routers like the Linksys Wrt54G. There are many discusions about the maximum trough put for different types of systems.

    I am currently at near the maxium of what my Linksys can do, and will need to build or buy a better faster router if they increase my internet speed again.
  • maehem, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I agree. At that price, there is nothing 'new' here. These super small x86 boards always seem to be priced into this range and then the manufacturer wonders why their product flopped. At those specs, this board is maybe worth about $100-150 when set next to other hardware that comes with a case and hard drive ( like the new iTV for only $299).

    Yay on size. Boo on price.
  • 3RNC77, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3But does it come in cornflower blue?
  • Guspaz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This thing is giant compared to a smartphone. The PSU will be tiny. They make DC->DC PSUs that fit in the connector itself. Of course, you need a power brick, but so does almost all small consumer electronics (like a router or modem).
  • becominglumberg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Actually, on www.mini-itx.com, they have many examples of people making computers inside other things. Personally, I would like to use this to make an HTPC inside the shell of a broken NES (people have done this before) but this time use one of the new SSDs (that should be affordable in two years) and put a slot style drive in the disk slot - total silence. Maybe even go all out and get the USB adapters for NES controllers so I can use the retro pads in emulation...
  • steven401, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2No PCI cards is okay with me but you need RAM, you don't need a extra sound card.... :)
  • vern01, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5$250 to $350 for 1Ghz? Small=winner, Cost = deal killer
  • sigmaman2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This form factor just points out to me how bulky and dated the standard VGA and Ethernet connections are. Now, we need "micro-VGA" and "micro-Ethernet" standards that will let PCs shrink even smaller.

    I totally see this as a handheld device though. No more Palm or Windows CE. Just straight syncing with another fully functional PC!
  • ramsinks.com, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Um interiot.. HD is easily done over VGA.. HD is only 720 which I hope you at least running to make that post..
  • Xeth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I wonder how they will name the standards after they use up atto-ITX.
  • BigBrother87, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Linked-to story says there will be a DDR2 SO-DIMM on the underside.
  • combatchuck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2pequeño ITX
  • ramsinks.com, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1We did much modding just 3 years ago.. it seems it has been "out of style" for a year or so.
    It will however pick up again.
    ;)
  • drjekelmrhyde, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2the PSU will be bigger than the board this thing is smaller than smart phones
  • elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Exactly the same question I had!

    So, there's basically no way to add any PCI cards or even any RAM to this, I suspect?
  • ramsinks.com, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1http://www.ramsinks.com/hometheater/
  • metalhead3767, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Anyone see a place to put the memory on that thing?
  • alexrandall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Some of VIA's itx board has RAM on the bottom of the motherboard.

    here is a picture of nano-itx board with RAM on the bottom side.
    http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/87/products_id/525
  • ramsinks.com, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1lol ya.
    No Lama?
  • MikeCerm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If they they sold them for less, the volume would pick up. For the same price as an ITX system, you can get a mATX system that 3 times as powerful.
  • flipside3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I used to got to http://www.mini-itx.com/ all the time to check out the cool things they were building computers into, but they've been a little lax in the updates for a while now.

    Anyone know of a better site for really good case mods?
  • Visk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This board needs a SATA connector
  • MikeCerm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The price is still too much. For the same $200-300 that a mini-ITX board+processor, you can get a really sweet micro-ATX board with an Athlon X2, and a gig of RAM.

    I know there's a size-tradeoff, I just think that the performance trade-off is too great. ITX should be priced more competitively.
  • nonsequitor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm sure it would work well to make a reference embedded device to lure some VC, then once you have funding and start mass-producing, costs are always lower in bulk.
  • dmonkey1001, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0No, these are very low power consumption boards. There are lots of power solutions that are incredibly space efficient. Check out these http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.13/.f over at mini-box - the entire PSU is on the connector, and they go up to 120W.
  • musbou, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Are you kidding...
  • CamperBob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0ZeptoITX and YottoITX will be next.
  • danielwsmithee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1What's the point. It is still not as small as the PC/104 and does not have as much horse power. It may be easier to use though because all the components are integrated together and cheaper, but still.

    Here is an example if you are unaware.

    http://www.rtd.com/PC104/PC104_cpuModule.htm
  • tantaliz3, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Hmm, what if they used heat pipes on the board for passive cooling? More or less cost and effectiveness?
  • Firehed, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1inviso-ITX?

    Meh, forget it, enough with the SNL joke. JobsTX.
  • SirCharlesWL, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3isn't this inside the iphone?
  • jman8888, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Will the mac mini use it?
    And it seems to be missing some stuff..
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