Editing Mini-ITX (section)

==History==
[[File:VIA EPIA-M910 Mini-ITX Board - with Fan.jpg|thumb|A VIA EPIA-M910 mini-ITX motherboard]]
In March 2001, the [[chipset]] manufacturer [[VIA Technologies]] released a reference design for an ITX motherboard, to promote the low power [[VIA C3|C3 processor]] they had bought from [[Centaur Technology]], in combination with their chipsets. Designed by Robert Kuo, VIA's chief R&D expert, the 215×191&nbsp;mm VT6009 ITX Reference Board was demonstrated in "Information PC" and [[set-top box]] configurations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=GUO |first1=Chang-You |title= VIA Cyrix C3處理器揭露威盛另一市場雄心 |trans-title=VIA's Cyrix C3 reveals another market ambition |url=https://www.ctimes.com.tw/DispArt/tw/01050115002H.shtml |website=ctimes.com.tw |access-date=18 May 2023 |date=May 1, 2001 |quote=若從威盛自己公佈的ITX VT6009參考主機板來說，該主機板使用Apollo PLE133晶片組，VIA Cyrix III處理器，而TV-Output的選用功能則用VT1621視訊編碼晶片，此外主機板上也有Intel AMR（Advanced Modem Riser）或AMD ACR（Advanced Communication Riser）的AC-97功能（用威盛VT1611A晶片），以及一條PCI擴充槽，另外也有USB與1394（使用威盛VT6306晶片）功能。 [As for the ITX VT6009 reference board, it uses an Apollo PLE133 chipset, Via Cyrix III processor, VT1621 codec chip for TV Output, and Intel AMR/AMD ACR-compatible AC-97 via the VT1611A chip. It has one PCI extension slot, USB, and (IEEE) 1394 using VIA's VT6306 chip.]}}</ref> At that point, few manufacturers took up the ITX design, but Shuttle, Jetway, etc. produced many ITX based cube computers. Other manufactures instead produced smaller boards based on the very similar 229×191&nbsp;mm [[FlexATX]] configuration.

In October 2001, VIA announced their decision to create a new motherboard division, to provide standardized infrastructure for lower-cost PC iterations, and focus on [[embedded system|embedded devices]]. The result was the November 2001 release of the VT6010 Mini-ITX reference design (again by Robert Kuo), once again touted as an "Information PC", or low cost entry level [[x86]] computing platform. Manufacturers were still reluctant, 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&nbsp;MHz Eden processor) and EPIA 800 (800&nbsp;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{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}, capable of many of the tasks of a modern desktop [[personal computer|PC]].

Mini-ITX boards primarily appeal to the industrial and embedded PC markets, with the majority sold as bulk components or integrated into a finished system for single-purpose computing applications. They are produced with a much longer sales life-cycle than consumer boards (some of the original [[EPIA]]s are still available), a quality that industrial users typically require. 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, powering self-service kiosks, and driving content on digital displays.

VIA continues{{when|date=June 2020}} to expand its Mini-ITX motherboard line. Some earlier generations included the original PL133 chipset boards (dubbed the "Classic" boards), CLE266 chipset boards (adding MPEG-2 acceleration), and CN400 boards (which added [[MPEG-4]] acceleration). Second generation boards featured the EPIA M, MII, CL, PD, TC and MS — all tailored to slightly different markets. Legacy VIA boards use their x86-compatible CPUs — the C3, C7 or low-power Eden variants, with newer boards featuring the VIA Nano CPU, launched in May 2008.<ref name="VIA Nano PR">{{Citation | url = http://www.via.com.tw/en/resources/pressroom/pressrelease.jsp?press_release_no=2369 | title = VIA Nano Processor Family launch | publisher = VIA | type = press release | date = May 2008 | place = TW | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080530071613/http://www.via.com.tw/en/resources/pressroom/pressrelease.jsp?press_release_no=2369 | archive-date = 2008-05-30 }}.</ref> Other manufacturers have also produced boards designed around the same layout, using VIA, but also [[Intel]], [[AMD]], [[Transmeta]] and [[PowerPC]] technology.

[[Intel]] introduced a line of Mini-ITX boards for the [[Intel Atom|Atom]] [[CPU]], which demonstrates a significant increase in processing performance (but without added power consumption) over older VIA C3 and C7 offerings and helps make the design viable for personal computers. Other manufacturers saw the potential of the design, and followed suit, some even not limiting themselves to the Atom, as evidenced by [[Zotac]] GeForce 9300-ITX board<ref>{{Citation |title=Stores |url=https://www.qxlstore.com/zotac-geforce-9300-itx-wifi |publisher=qxl hardware}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}.</ref> that supports [[Core 2 Duo]] CPUs with [[Front Side Bus|FSB]] frequencies up to 1333&nbsp;MHz, two separate-channeled 800&nbsp;MHz memory slots and fully functional [[PCI Express 2.0]] x16 slot that could connect through [[Scalable Link Interface|SLI]] to the onboard video.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://techreport.com/articles.x/16642 | publisher = Tech Report | title = Review | date = 29 March 2009 }}.</ref> This new wave of offerings made Mini-ITX much more popular among home users, hobbyists, and even [[overclocking|overclockers]].