New VIA EPIA M700 Mini-ITX Enables Brilliant Dual Digital Displays

First board to feature the new VIA VX800 digital media chipset delivers enhanced video playback, dual display and dual Gigabit LAN

Taipei, Taiwan - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EPIA M700 Mini-ITX board, the first to feature the VIA VX800 chipset, for sophisticated digital signage and retail display systems.

As today's information, entertainment and commercial display system feature ever more immersive content, the VIA EPIA M700 addresses the increasing demands for enhanced media playback and visual clarity across multiple displays in digital multimedia applications with support for dual-DVI or DVI plus HDMI configurations with unique resolutions, pixel depths and refresh rates.

Featuring a 1.5GHz or a fanless 1.0GHz VIA C7 processor, the VIA EPIA M700 leverages the uncompromising multimedia performance of the VIA VX800 unified chipset with its integrated VIA Chrome9 HC3 integrated graphics core for DirectX™ 9.0 3D graphics and up to six-channel VIA Vinyl HD Audio rich surround sound, while the VIA Chromotion video engine provides advanced hardware video acceleration and an improved visual experience for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DivX video, plus a VMR capable HD video processor.

As multimedia file sizes grow, so speedy server connectivity is becoming increasingly important in dynamic digital signage and kiosk solutions, so the VIA EPIA M700 boasts two PCI-Express based Gigabit LAN ports to facilitate wideband data transfer for large video and other files over networks.

"The VIA VX800 system media processor brings digital content to life on embedded systems," said Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The VIA EPIA M700 harnesses the power of the VIA VX800, delivering a product that embraces the latest digital multimedia experience while maintaining our commitment to rigid power and heat efficiency".

The VIA VX800 media system processor
The key to the outstanding multimedia performance of the VIA EPIA M700 is the latest media system processor from VIA, the VIA VX800. An all-in-one, highly integrated digital media IGP chipset, the VIA VX800 offers incredible versatility and multimedia performance on the latest display standards on a single chip measuring just 33x33mm.

About the VIA EPIA M700 Mini-ITX Board
Available in two skus, the VIA EPIA M700 uses either a 1.5GHz or fanless 1.0GHz VIA C7 processor, depending on system performance, size and thermal requirements, and supports up to 2GB of the latest DDR2 system memory.

As well as a front panel DVI port, pin headers for an additional DVI or HDMI port through a daughterboard are also included, as is support for 18-bit TTL displays. Digital video input is available through pin headers supporting CCIR-656/601//transport stream video, and there is also an S/PDIF connector. The VIA Vinyl VT1708B HD Audio codec supports up to six high definition channels with a 192kHz sampling rate, delivering a richer all-round digital media experience.

Storage includes both an IDE port with a shared Type I Compact Flash port, 2 SATA II ports and up to 6 USB 2.0 ports, two through onboard connectors. Connectivity comes in the form of dual Gigabit LAN ports on the high speed PCI-Express bus. Data protection is assured with the integrated VIA PadLock Security Engine and the onboard MFX-01 module.

VIA EPIA M700 Mini-ITX board samples will be available in early June to project customers and in channel distribution later; for more information see here.