World's First Quad-Core Mini-ITX Motherboards Launched by VIA

VIA doesn't get to brag about much on the CPU and motherboard markets anymore, but it still has its moments, like this one owed to the VIA EPIA-M900 and VIA EPIA-M910. 

The VIA EPIA-M900 and VIA EPIA-M910 are two mini-ITX motherboards designed to be used in the embedded market. 

This much is not enough to make them stand out, but the processors they bear manage to do that in their stead. 

VIA has chosen to outfit them with the 1.2 GHz VIA QuadCore E-Series processor. 

In other words, the VIA EPIA-M900 and VIA EPIA-M910 are the industry's first mini-ITX motherboards with quad-core CPUs. 

The thermal design power of the processor is 27.5W, but the chip still handles video quality of up to HD, even in multi-display configurations. 

"The VIA QuadCore E-Series processor delivers world class performance in the industry's leading power efficient package," said Epan Wu, head of the VIA embedded platform division, VIA Technologies, Inc. 

"The high performance of the VIA QuadCore E-Series processor makes it the perfect platform for the creation of next generation digital signage displays and embedded projects." 

VIA EPIA-M900 measures 17 x 17 cm (6.69 x 6.69 inches), has a PCI Express x16 slot, a PCI slot and supports up to 8 GB DDR3. 

It is aimed at digital signage, POS, Kiosk, healthcare, media client system design applications, ATM and home automation. 

The back panel offers Gigabit LAN, HDMI, VGA, four USB 2.0, one COM port, three audio jacks and pin headers for various connections. 

Meanwhile, the VIA EPIA-M910 has specs similar to those above (though perhaps with different numbers of each port type), plus two SATA connectors. 

Both newcomers can replace the quad-core chip with a 1.6GHz dual core VIA Nano X2 E-Series processor or, in the case of the M910, a fanless 1.0GHz VIA Eden X2 dual core processor.

Posted in: Hardware, Preview