Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/23/intel_mini-itx_support_claim/
Intel may be set to promote a motherboard form-factor developed by rival chip maker VIA, it has been claimed, in a bid to beat AMD's recently announced would-be small form-factor PC standard, DTX.
The claim that Intel intends to back the 17 x 17cm Mini-ITX mobo form-factor comes from Taiwanese motherboard maker moles cited (http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20070122PD207.html?www.reghardware.co.uk) by local newssite DigiTimes. They say the chip giant will push the format next quarter for SFF machine and mini PCs.
They also claim Intel will tout SiS' SIS662 integrated chipset as the foundation for Mini-ITX mobos, though it's odd it would push a rival firm's product. That said, Intel has used third-party chippery in its own motherboards, most notably ATI chipsets when it's own production of low-end parts was being scaled back. Perhaps the sources are actually referring to product from Intel's own mobo division rather than the company as a whole.
Either way, the move - if true - can be seen at least in part as a response to AMD's recent launch of DTX (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/10/amd_pitches_dtx_for_sff_pcs/), a putative standard for mini PCs. VIA has been touting Mini-ITX for some time, primarily as a product for PC enthusiasts who want to build PCs into unusual cases. It's also had some success pitching the format at embedded applications, but it has yet to have Mini-ITX adopted as the de facto standard for mini PCs. ®
Intel picks VIA's Mini ITX for cut-price PC mobo (17 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/17/intel_unveils_mini_atx_mobo/
VIA launches 'most feature-rich' Nano-ITX mobo (14 March 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/14/via_ships_epia_nx/
VIA launches digital media chipset (26 February 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/02/26/via_unveils_cn896_chipset/
Abit launches 'pro' Fatal1ty mobo (9 February 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/02/09/abit_unveils_fatalonety_mobo/
Intel said to have Extreme-brand laptop CPU in the pipeline (30 January 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/30/intel_readies_merom_extreme/
AMD posts WHQL-approved ATI Radeon driver pack for Vista (29 January 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/29/amd_ati_catalyst_vista_update/
AMD moots SFF PC mobo standard (10 January 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/10/amd_pitches_dtx_for_sff_pcs/
Socket to me VIA (5 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/05/via_epia_pn/
VIA unveils 19W fanless mini-itx mobo (10 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/10/via_unveils_19w_epia_ek_mobo/