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VIA define Pico-ITX with VT6047 Reference Design
April 21, 2007

VIA Technologies have announced their VT6047 Pico-ITX form factor reference design, which packs a full featured x86 motherboard and processor into 50% the surface area of a Nano-ITX and 25% the area of a Mini-ITX board.

The tiny 100 x 72 mm VT6047 was designed to be powered by a VIA C7 or fanless VIA Eden V4 bus processor in a 21 x 21 mm NanoBGA2 package at up to 1.5GHz. When running in optimised low voltage mode, the onboard CPU delivers power consumption below one watt. A Pico-ITX power supply is only required to provide 22W max and 25W peak power, giving an idea of the power consumption of a typical Pico-ITX system.

The VX700 chipset combines core logic, multimedia, connectivity and storage capabilities within a single-chip package. The VX700 supports up to a 533MHz FSB; VIA's Unichrome Pro II graphics core with MPEG-2/4 and WMV9 hardware acceleration; LVDS/DVI connectivity with dual monitor support (in conjunction with the VGA connector); 7.1 channel high definition audio; and SATA, PATA, USB, PS/2, Ethernet and Serial connectivity.

The Pico-ITX mainboard form factor was designed specifically for small footprint appliances such as the Embedded PC, Digital Signage, Thin Client, KIOSK, or VIA's reference Set Top Box design pictured here. VIA hope the Pico-ITX form factor will "enable system developers and OEMs to create smaller, lighter, quieter and even more mobile devices than ever before, opening up a new world of possibilities across multiple embedded PC, system and appliance segments".

Attentive readers will have spotted the "VT" and not the "PX" moniker. VIA traditionally introduces their reference designs as an introduction for embedded computing builders, followed by retail product aimed at PC enthusiasts and smaller scale system builders. The EPIA 5000 and 800 were the first retail Mini-ITX motherboards back in 2002, but were preceded a few months earlier by the VT6010 reference design.

VIA's press release

VIA VT6047 Pico-ITX Mainboard Reference Design Specifications

VIA VT6047 Pico-ITX Mainboard PCB Layout: Top

Connectors starting from the top left: 44-pin IDE, SATA connector, RJ45 Ethernet port, VT6106s Ethernet controller, LPC BIOS, CRT connector, CMOS reset, COM port, VX700 system processor (centre of the board), 4 x USB 2.0, PS2, Front Audio, Front Panel, Multi Media, C7 or Eden processor, Fan connector, LVDS, 12 pin Pico-ITX power connector. The CRT and Ethernet connectors are the only full-size connectors on the board.

VIA VT6047 Pico-ITX Mainboard PCB Layout: Underside

A 400/533Mhz DDR2 So-DIMM sits on the underside of the board, together with the battery, VT1212 Super IO Lite controller and VT1708A Audio Codec. Unlike the Nano-ITX, there is no room for a Mini-PCI socket.

Processor: VIA C7/VIA Eden V4 bus processor

• NanoBGA2 package up to 1.5GHz
• 128K L1 and 128K L2 cache

Core Logic

• VIA VX700 all-in-one system media processor

Main Memory

• 1 DDR2 400/533 So-DIMM socket
• Up to 1GB memory size

Graphics

• Integrated VIA UniChrome™ Pro II 3D/2D AGP graphics with MPEG-2/4 and WMV9 video decoder
• Integrated LVDS and DVI interface
• VIP port for video overlay function

Storage (ATA)

• UltraDMA 133/100/66/33
• One 44-pin right-angle IDE connector
• One SATA connector

Audio System: VIA VT1708A

• 7.1 channels high definition audio codec
• 7.1 channels audio out and SPDIF in header
• Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro compatible

Ethernet (LAN): VIA VT6106S

• 10/100Mbps Ethernet Controller

TV Out: VIA VT1625M TV Encoder integrated (optional)

• Integrated Macro Vision 7.01
• High quality scaling and filtering
• S-Video or Composite video output
• Support NTSC/PAL TV

On-board I/O Ports

• One USB header for four USB 2.0 ports.
• One Front audio header for 7.1 audio, Line-in, and Mic-in
• One LVDS and DVI connector
• One PS/2 mouse/keyboard header
• One COM port header
• One Pico-ITX power connector
• One optional multi-media connector for HDTV and capture port expansion

Rear I/O Ports

• One RJ45 Ethernet port
• One CRT connector
  

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The "Digg" Case
April 14, 2007

Alex 'Qtip42' Wiley's latest creation isn't a Mini-ITX based project, but it does deserve an honourable mention and a link here. Why? Because Alex is a member of an elite group of people - he contributed not one but two projects to the site all the way back in 2003 - the ironically Mini-ITX (and not AMD) powered "AMD Case" and the rather marvellous "Spider Case". Alex now runs a case modding company based in Oregon, USA called Computer Choppers. Nice one Alex.

"Digg" Case Project Log and Gallery at Computer Choppers

The "AMD Case"

The "Spider Case"

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