Multiprocessing Keeps Compact Motherboard Cool

May 26, 2005
There are many ways to keep a system cool. Adding a water-cooled refrigeration unit is one way. Another method is to reduce the amount of heat, but this can be difficult without sacrificing performance. Via Technologies attacks the latter proble

There are many ways to keep a system cool. Adding a water-cooled refrigeration unit is one way. Another method is to reduce the amount of heat, but this can be difficult without sacrificing performance.

Via Technologies attacks the latter problem with a pair of 1-GHz Eden-N NanaBGA processors. The company figures that dual processors provide almost the same performance as one processor running at twice the speed but consuming more than twice the power, hence generating much more heat.

The Via EPIA DP-310 Mini-ITX motherboard employs passive cooling for its pair of processors. The VIA CN400 North Bridge supports the dual configuration. It also provides graphic support with the UniChrome Pro IGP, which integrates MPEG-2 decoding and MPEG-4 acceleration. Two dual-inline memory-module sockets handle up to 2 Gbytes of DR266/333/400 SDRAM.

The motherboard houses a single ATA-133 controller and adds two Serial ATA interfaces. It also includes a pair of USB ports, AC'97 audio support, one PCI slot, and one Mini-PCI Type IIIA connector found on the bottom of the board. It forgoes the PS/2 legacy port. Network interfaces include two Fast Ethernet ports and a single 1-Gigabit Ethernet port. As a result, the board can be used as a sophisticated gateway.

The DP-310 goes for $350.

See associated figure

Via Technologieswww.via.com.tw

Sponsored Recommendations

Board-Mount DC/DC Converters in Medical Applications

March 27, 2024
AC/DC or board-mount DC/DC converters provide power for medical devices. This article explains why isolation might be needed and which safety standards apply.

Use Rugged Multiband Antennas to Solve the Mobile Connectivity Challenge

March 27, 2024
Selecting and using antennas for mobile applications requires attention to electrical, mechanical, and environmental characteristics: TE modules can help.

Out-of-the-box Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity with AWS IoT ExpressLink

March 27, 2024
This demo shows how to enroll LTE-M and Wi-Fi evaluation boards with AWS IoT Core, set up a Connected Health Solution as well as AWS AT commands and AWS IoT ExpressLink security...

How to Quickly Leverage Bluetooth AoA and AoD for Indoor Logistics Tracking

March 27, 2024
Real-time asset tracking is an important aspect of Industry 4.0. Various technologies are available for deploying Real-Time Location.

Comments

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!