VIA announces Mobile-ITX actual product

VIA has announced what is being dubbed the world's smallest computer on module. It uses the moniker of Mobile-ITX which was a business card sized complete platform when it was first announced some years ago. Now it's a 6x6cm square. The module itself sports a specially shrunken VIA Eden ULV processor, the new VX820 media system processor and 512MB DDR2 system memory. That square PCB is then plugged into a carrier board that looks to be around the size of a Pico-ITX board, via very thin connectors. The carrier board then sports whatever I/O a developer needs, including USB, audio and all sorts of display connector options. So at the end of the day, the system itself is not 6x6cm, it's more like a Pico-ITX size. The advantage, however, is that developers can custom design their own carrier boards with only what they need, and then plug in the Mobile-ITX module and end up with a complete tailor made embedded system. The Mobile-ITX module is called the EPIA-T700 and it's being targetted for use in medical, military and in-vehicle applications. With the ability to withstand 5Gs, it could even end up in air force equipment. - Press Release.

This VIA video shows off the Mobile-ITX in comparison to previous small form factors. Watch out for the prlonged blooper in the middle when he tries to plug the board in backwards! Editing anyone?!

VIA sticks Envy audio chip in USB 2.0 connection

A demo board showing I/O options for the new controller

VIA has made audio codecs and controllers for, ooh, I'd say about ten years - possibly more. Their current line of mainstream controllers are called VIA Vinyl. Their high-end stuff that hasn't been updated for a while but did end up on some fine sound cards as of about four years ago, is called Envy 24. Today they've announced the VIA Vinyl Envy VT1730 controller, that merges the two name types together. It's a new breed of chip and not just for VIA. According to the Press Release, it's the world's first USB 2.0 audio controller. It actually uses the USB 2.0 bandwidth of 480Mb/s. Not that this is the first opportunity for audio to end up on USB sound cards and other products. That's been happening for years and I've been trying to get my head around this. An audio controller that's put onto a USB sound card really probably works in the same way as this audio chip on a USB sound card. Wouldn't it? Please enlighten me if you have a better understanding of this.

VIA offers new SOHO/SMB server

VIA loves making product with it's own product. And why not? They launch EPIA boards that are perfect for certain purposes, why not make the product as well as recommend it? The new VIA M'SERV S2100 looks like an ARTiGO. It's definitely the same box. Inside there a 1.3GHz VIA Nano processor, all the usual other specs, and enough storage space for up to four terabytes of storage.

"This makes the VIA M’SERV S2100 capable of addressing many traditional and next-generation server applications including sophisticated backup, cloud-intermediary service roles along with other storage oriented server applications such as NVR (Network Video Recorder) systems and Log servers."

The system is being pitched towards SOHO and SMB server needs. It reminds me somewhat of the Dell servers from last year that featured VIA Nano processors. The processors are often overlooked for the server market but are actually well suited to small business and home office server applications. The M'SERV offers a compact solution which is, as the Press Release title states, "Big on the Inside, Small on the Outside".

VIA really a first!

CES had vendors showing off new and upcoming products and there were many opportunities to get a look in at USB 3.0 products. Problem is that there aren't any motherboards out yet with USB 3.0 controllers.
"This will change soon as VIA also announced at CES the world's first integrated USB 3.0 controller. It's safe to expect other hardware vendors, such as Intel and AMD, to follow suit, and motherboards as well as computers with built-in USB 3.0 support will be available later this year." - Cnet CES
Yep, VIA beat the big boys to the plate with announcing their USB 3.0 controller. I commented in an earlier blog that I thought that CES was an odd space to make the announcement. I couldn't have been more wrong. A little coupe for VIA, but satisfying I'm sure.

VIA Labs cooking up USB 3.0 SATA controller

I find it odd that VIA have chosen the week of CES to announce this given all the press attention on innovative gadgets but they've launched a USB 3.0 to SATA controller. VIA just loves its subsibuaries, and it's VIA Labs that are responsible for the R&D on this one. The VL700 is a single chip solution that will allow you to connect your SATA, SDD or optical drive to your PC via a USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is super fast, so data transfers using this connection will be awesome - up to 5Gbps.

"Developed by wholly owned subsidiary company VIA Labs, the VIA VL700 supports both SATA 3Gbps and 1.5Gbps data transfer rates and also Native Command Queuing (NCQ), which allows HDDs/SSDs to internally optimize the order in which received read and write commands are executed, thereby increasing performance. Additionally, data transfer to and from SATA-based DVD and Blu-ray Disc players is supported."

I guess VIA Labs will be selling this to motherboard manufacturer's including VIA's own VEPD section who make EPIA boards.

New Pico-ITX board with a Nano

Finally, VIA has released a Pico-ITX board featuring the VIA Nano processor. The 64-bit superscalar processor will give a performance boost to the platform. The new EPIA-P820 board can also be paired with a new VIA AMOS chassis, the 3001 model. The AMOS-3001 is the fifth in the series, all designed as IPC chassis that have thermal cooling properties, can withstand great temperature variances, and are shock resistant. The AMOS-3001 also offers various mounting options for industrial use and I/O ports on both sides.

But I digress, let's get back to the new Pico-ITX board. The Press Release states that
“Never before have developers had the opportunity to harness full 64-bit, superscalar processing in spaces as small as the palm of your hand ... " and although no company's Press Release statements should ever be taken at face value - they do have a point. It's pretty impressive that embedded hardware solutions have come this far.

The EPIA-P820 supports 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 1.2GHz U2500 Nano processor and the VX855 digital media processor which supports HD playback. This makes it ideal for billboards or information kiosks that need super graphics capabilities. But it's also suited to industrial applications that just need a bit more horsepower.

VIA processors get raw deal with Intel compiler

The Inquirer has reported that the US Federal Trade Commission is "interested" in the fact that Intel's compiler checks the ID of a processor before deciding which version of code to provide in its compiler. If it's not genuine Intel inside then the slowest code is provided - as is the case with VIA. AMD is reportedly having this fixed as part of their settlement with Intel, leaving VIA possibly stuck with the raw deal.