Thermaltake Mozart TX Review
atomicmpc.com.aupublished a review on the new Mozart TX case from Thermaltake which offers a specific bay for a Mini-ITX mainboard.
Conclusion:
The construction may not be the best, but you can sit on the case without worrying about it buckling. The slide out feet should really have been ditched in favour of wheels, thanks to its server styling. Despite the fact that it’s certainly not a case for everyone, it’s a modder’s delight. If you filled the case with everything, you’d still have space left over for a second Mini-ITX system, water cooling rig and a bar fridge.
Click here for the detailed review
Albatron to introduce new AMD Mini-ITX mainboard at CEBIT 2007
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www.krunker.com============================================================
Albatron Technology will be showing off several new products at this year’s CeBIT 2007 exhibition in Germany. Three of the new products coming out include a new AMD based mini-ITX motherboard, a new MXM graphics module designed for laptops and small form factor PCs, and a new Mini-PC called the Nano Abox V2.0.
The new Albatron mini-ITX motherboard has no name as of yet but will be coming out later this month. It’ll support AMD’s dual core processors as well as their 64 bit processors and will support features such as:
- 2GB of DDR II memory
- SATA II with RAID
- GBit Ethernet
- 8 USB ports
- Firewire port
- HDMI connector
Albatron will also be showing off a new MXM graphics module utilizing an NVIDIA GeForce 7600Go GPU. The module is called the MXM7600Go-256MB and as the name implies, will come with 256 MB of memory. This module is designed to be used in notebooks and small form factor PCs that support MXM graphics modules.
Finally, there’s the new Albtraon Nano Abox V2.0. This mini-PC actually sports a small 155 x 87 mm screen. Features of the Nano Abox V2.0 include:
- Intel Viiv compatibility
- Integrated graphics
- 8 channel audio
- USB 2.0
- Firewire
- GBit Ethernet
- Core 2 Duo processors
- 2GB of DDR II memory
[Check it out]
Here is the press release:
CeBIT 2007 – Albatron to unveil world’s most powerful Mini-ITX Mainboard
16-Feb-07
AM2 small form factor M/Bs, MXM card, Nano Abox V2.0 highlight CeBIT 2007
Taipei, Taiwan (Tech Messenger) — Albatron Technology is hot for Hannover, Germany for this year’s CeBIT 2007 Exhibition, one of the top three computer tradeshows in the world. As always, Albatron is eager to showcase its major product lines to the world and will arrive full force with top performing VGA cards, Mainboards, Memory Modules and Mini-PC Systems.
CeBIT Product Lineup
This year’s Mainboard and VGA products will include the latest wave of technology sweeping through the market including mainboards supporting Core™ 2 Duo, Core™ 2 Quad and Core™ 2 Extreme CPUs. Also displayed will be a full line of AMD based AM2 mainboards, an MXM graphics module and the latest DirectX 10 VGA cards. Several product demonstrations will be on hand giving customers an up-close look at Albatron’s reliable quality and top performance.
Spotlight Mini-ITX Mainboard
No doubt that all eyes will be on a much anticipated AMD based Mini-ITX Mainboard (model name pending late Feb. release date) capable of supporting the latest AMD technology and a full range of AMD’s latest Dual Core and 64-bit processors. This diminutive Mini-ITX mainboard is no bigger than your outstretched hand (17×17cm) but brims with power, versatility and capability. It boasts ferocious performance with HyperTransport™ technology supported by 2 GB of Dual Channel DDR II memory using two SO-DIMMs. It will boast one of the market’s most powerfully integrated graphics engine. Also, SATA II with RAID and GBit LAN will allow users nonstop surfing and downloading. This board is also very well connected with 8 possible USB ports, IEEE1394 and even an HDMI connector.
MXM graphics module for laptops and small form factor
Albatron will also showcase an exciting new MXM module, a very small graphics card (73×78mm module) that can breathe new life into “gaming on-the-road” for laptops and very small form factor systems. The MXM7600Go-256MB attaches to an MXM connector on a mainboard that allows it to lay parallel to the board. It comes with 256 MB of high speed DDR2 memory and teams up with an NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7600Go GPU for great graphics performance.
Improved Nano Abox V2.0 sports new monitor
Albatron will also be showing off the latest version of its Mini-PC, the Nano Abox V2.0 with a nifty 155 x 87 mm screen. No bigger than a textbook, this small wonder is packed with multimedia capabilities boasting VIIV compatibility and including Integrated GFX, 8 Channel Audio, USB 2.0, IEEE1394 and GBit LAN. It supports powerful Core 2 Duo processors and can be equipped with 2 GB of DDRII memory using SO-DIMM connectors. Perfect for an inconspicuous living room multimedia center or mobile enough to take on the road.
Albatron aims to go all out this year to press its new segment of products scaled down in size but scaled up in performance and functionality. This year’s CeBIT 2007 takes place from March 15th to March 21st. Albatron will be located at Hall 21, Booth C38.
IBASE MB899X Mini-ITX Motherboard
The IBASE MB899X Mini-ITX motherboard supports the latest Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo processor and the Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express chipset. The new board comes with a PCI-E x16 slot providing up to 30 times the throughput of the PCI bus, translating into a bandwidth of 4 Gbps (Gigabytes per second).
Designed for medical, multimedia, industrial automation and gaming applications, MB899X provides greater flexibility for developers of embedded applications by offering improved graphics and significant performance enhancements. It has two DDR2 sockets that can accommodate 4GB of dual channel DDR2 667MHz memory. Supporting a 667MHz front side bus, the board provides up to 25% faster data transfer rate compared to the previous generation bus speed. The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 also delivers exceptional 3D graphics performance required in gaming and imaging applications.
10/00Mbps network connectivity is standard and a PCI Express Gigabit LAN is option from a Marvel 88E8053 controller. Additionally, MB899X features four serial ports, two SATA II ports, eight Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports, Mini PCI socket and an optional Mini PCI-E and CF sockets. The MB899X will be available with volume production starting February 2007.
MB899X FEATURES
- Socket 478 for Intel(R) IMVP-6 Mobile processors
- Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Chipset, Two DDR2 DIMM sockets
- Integrated 945GM VGA supports CRT and dual channel LVDS
- 10/100 BaseT LAN, PCI Express Gigabit LAN
- COM x4, SATA x2, USB x6, Digital I/O, Watchdog timer
- PCI-E (x16) x1, Mini PCI x1, optional Mini PCI-E x1 / CF socket
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www.embeddedstar.comLabels: embedded, iBase, mini-itx
FLeX 4.2 home theater PC based on Mini-ITX Core2Duo
On one side of the folding chassis, we've got 400W RMS ICEpower audio amplifiers from Bang & Olufsen which work just fine without turning the PC-side of this HTCP on. A special IR receiver and software developed by P.Guerra allows the Flex 4.2 to be integrated into other B&O A/V systems. On the other side of the chassis then, we've got an Intel Core 2 Duo Mini-ITX motherboard with choice of up to a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo T7600 processor; 3.5-inch vibration-damped SATA disk offering up to 750GB of storage at 7200rpm; up to 2GB DDR2 667 memory; Intel GMA950 graphics; choice of satellite, cable, or terrestrial DVB tuners; WiFi; 7.1ch analog audio or TosLink digital; dual-layer DVD±R±RW writer; Gigabit Ethernet; a slew of Firewire and USB; and DVI, VGA, Component, S-Video, and Composite video outputs. They claim that HD DVD, Blu-ray, and Vista are on the way. Until then, a fully spec'd kit will set you back about £2,342 or $4,569.
Labels: HTPC, mini-itx, system
Mini-ITX History
In March 2001, VIA (a chipset manufacturer) released a reference design for an ITX motherboard, to promote the low power C3 they had bought from Cyrix, in combination with their chipsets. Designed by Robert Kuo, VIA's chief R&D expert, the 215 mm x 191 mm VT6009 ITX Reference Board was demonstrated in "Information PC" and set-top box form factors. He would later go on to design the Mini-ITX form factor. The ITX form factor was never taken up by manufacturers, who instead produced smaller boards based on the very similar 229 mm x 191 mm FlexATX form factor.
In October 2001, VIA announced their decision to create a new motherboard division, to provide standardised infrastructure for lower-cost PC form factors and focus on embedded devices. The result was the November 2001 release of the VT6010 Mini-ITX reference design, once again touted as an "Information PC", or low cost entry level x86 computing platform. Manufacturers were still reticent, but customer response was much more receptive, so VIA decided to manufacture and sell the boards themselves. In April 2002 the first Mini-ITX motherboards - VIA's EPIA 5000 (fanless 533 MHz Eden processor) and EPIA 800 (800 MHz C3) - were sold to industrial customers.
Enthusiasts soon noticed the advantages of small size, low noise and power consumption, and started to push the boundaries of case modding into something else - building computers into nearly every object imaginable, and sometimes even creating new cases altogether. Hollowed out vintage computers, humidors, toys, electronics, musical instruments, and even a 1960s-era toaster have become homes to relatively quiet, or even silent Mini-ITX systems, capable of many of the tasks of a modern desktop PC.
Mini-ITX boards are still primarily industrial boards, with the majority sold in bulk for less exciting applications. They are produced with a much longer sales lifetime than consumer boards (the original EPIAs are still available), something that industrial users need. Manufacturers can prototype using standard cases and power supplies, then build their own enclosures if volumes get high enough. Typical applications include playing music in supermarkets and advertising display boards.
To date there have been three generations of VIA's Mini-ITX boards, the original PL133 chipset boards (affectionately known as "Classic" boards), CLE266 chipset boards (adding MPEG-2 acceleration), and CN400 boards (which added MPEG-4 acceleration). Second generation boards include the EPIA M, MII, CL, PD, TC and MS - all tailored to slightly different markets. The EPIA SP is the first CN400 board to be released to date. All current VIA boards use their x86-compatible CPU - the C3, or its lower power Eden variant. In 2006 the next generation C7 CPU was released in new line of VIA boards. Other manufacturers have also produced boards using the same form-factor, using VIA, but also Intel, AMD, Transmeta and PowerPC technology.
Wikipedia.orgLabels: embedded, mini-itx, via
Mini-ITX Definition
Mini-ITX is a low-power
motherboard form factor developed by
VIA Technologies. Mini-ITX has similarities to
ATX,
microATX,
FlexATX and
BTX form factors, but is significantly smaller: 170 mm (6.7 inches) square. Mini-ITX boards can often be passively cooled due to their low
power consumption architecture, which makes them useful for
home theater systems, where fan noise can detract from the cinema experience.
Wikipedia.orgLabels: embedded, mini-itx, via
How the Mini-ITX Form Factor Is Changing How Your Computer Looks
Until just recently, consumers have been forced into buying desktop computers that have very little variation from model to model. I'll be the first to admit that some of the better manufacturers are doing a great job of making the boring old "box" look very nice, but there are not many of them. Typically these "out of the ordinary" computers systems are reserved for hi-end gaming machines that start around $2,000.00. Why don't we have computers that don't look like computers? Wouldn't it be great to have a computer that fit into your home without looking like a computer, or better yet one that you don't have to hide under a desk or in cabinet? The answer to that question is simple. Size. The sizes of the components that are in a desktop computer are just too big to allow for any alternatives to the "box". That is until now......
Over the past few years a new size mainboard has been on the rise in the computer industry. The Mini-ITX form factor motherboard is just 6 inches square. Just for reference, a dollar bill is about 6 inches long. That is amazing! The Mini-ITX mainboards began utilizing the VIA processors. For most home users, this processor just wouldn't cut it against a Pentium-based system. The industry obviously became aware of this bottleneck and soon began producing the Mini-ITX mainboards that support the Intel Pentium 4 processors.
At 6 inches square, the possibilities for new and unusual spins on the old "box" are being realized worldwide. One of the main uses for these mainboards is in car computers. That's right; computer systems that mount inside of automobiles are already being manufactured and sold. Most utilize touch screen technology for ease of use (because you would have a hard time with a mouse in your car!).
You can also find a desktop computer that will actually fit in the palm of your hand! This particular model can be found at www.cappucinopc.com. This site is what sparked my interest in this relatively new technology.
After pondering the possibilities, my two neighbors and I decided to create our own "out of the ordinary" desktop computer. After about a year and endless tests and designing, we now have the "Compucar". The Compucar is a desktop computer that looks like a car. We utilize a Mini-ITX mainboard and a patented chassis design to create something you can only find in O'Fallon Missouri. We are currently found on the web at www.compucarllc.com. This started out as a challenge to create something different utilizing new and emerging technology and ended up becoming a very unique business venture.
I believe that over the next few years, you will begin to see very "different" looking desktop computers. I just wonder how long it will take the big companies to start becoming a bit more creative.
Labels: embedded, mini-itx, via
