Product category:
Embedded Computing and Control
News Release from: VIA Technologies
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 04 April 2008
Compact board spec set for
standardisation
Standardisation of the Pico-ITX form factor will drive the x86 platform into ever smaller systems and whole new embedded device categories.
VIA Technologies is to transfer its Pico-ITX specification to the Small Form Factor Special Interest Group (SFF-SIG), which is leading a broad industry effort to create and promote standards for tiny computer and controller boards and modules, for the purpose of creating an official governing standard In return, the SFF-SIG will draft a formal specification document and promote it with the goal of broadening the number of suppliers and customers who build and purchase Pico-ITX-compatible single board computers (SBCs)
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 24 Aug 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The SFF-SIG intends to publish a specification within the next few months.
As a worldwide organisation that seeks to identify and standardise appropriate small form factor technologies and building blocks, SFF-SIG sees Pico-ITX as an ideal platform for the new ultramobility CPUs and chipsets, highlighting the key benefits of smaller size, reduced power consumption, and greater reliability over larger legacy products.
"Based on the positive customer interest and feedback so far, we see a good opportunity to rapidly build the market for Pico-ITX by working with the SFF-SIG to standardise it", says Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Technologies.
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"Pico-ITX was developed to meet the evolving needs of the rapidly expanding embedded industry, and its adoption by the SFF-SIG will enable more concerted development of the specification and its infrastructure".
"Adopting Pico-ITX is the first step toward creating a unified embedded platform for ultra mobility silicon", says Colin McCracken, President, Small Form Factor SIG.
"Our next order of business is to define the Sumit expansion interface".
"OEMs have requested both high-speed and low-speed serial buses for space efficiency, with an emphasis on low power and easy connectivity".
"We are working with chipset vendors to determine how ultra mobility silicon can best meet these needs over a ten year time horizon".
Representing the latest advance in board design, the Pico-ITX board form factor is a complete, native x86 board measuring just 100 x 72mm, smaller than all existing standard industry form factors, and leverages VIA's extensive expertise in miniaturisation at the silicon level through major advances in power efficiency, thermal management and feature integration.
75% smaller than VIA's successful Mini-ITX form factor introduced six years ago, the Pico-ITX truly embodies VIA's "small is beautiful" technology design strategy of shrinking the form factor to drive the x86 platform into ever smaller systems and whole new embedded device categories.
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