Mini-ITX motherboards

	Unicorn Computer's ENDAT-9401F is a 5.25in SBC that features an Intel Core 2 Duo/Core Duo processor and 2D/3D VGA display.

Smaller form factors rising for industrial PC, mini PC and other special applications

Taiwan suppliers of motherboards do not categorize their products by form factors, but by structure or platform. Many companies on the island are strengthening their capabilities to design nonstandard motherboards to be able to customize to the different size and function requirements of clients. In contrast, the standard small form factor (SFF) motherboard has limited expansion capabilities because of the small space and few slots supported. Many of these are suitable for industrial PCs such as slot machines that require simple features.

A growing number of companies are developing motherboards that have smaller form factors. The Mini-ITX is the smallest solution in the mainstream, measuring 171mm per side, or about 62 percent smaller than ATX motherboards. Some companies use BTX for SFF PCs, aside from the VIA released Pico-ITX, which measures 100x72mm. Motherboards for desktop PCs generally support ATX and Mini ATX form factors.

SFF motherboards from Taiwan are designed for two areas—industrial PCs and mini PCs. For industrial PCs, buyers can choose from two products—customized motherboards and standard industrial main boards (IMBs).

The commonly adopted boards for IMBs may be based on Mini-ITX, microATX, 5.25in, 3.5in, EPIC and ETX. Motherboards for industrial PCs, meanwhile, support 5.25in, 3.5in, EPIC and ETX boards. Mini-ITX and microATX are used for both consumer and industrial PCs, although Mini-ITX is regarded by many as the mainstream form factor for industrial PCs. Single-board computers (SBCs) comprise 5.25in and 3.5in boards.

For personal computers, SFF motherboards are used in home theater PCs, including cubic models and barebone systems. AOpen Co. Ltd uses Mini-ITX for its mini home theater PCs, such as its i965GMt-LA motherboard. The company offers open-platform SFF PCs based on Mini-ITX structure. Gigabyte Technology and Albatron Technology Co. Ltd can offer DTX motherboards.

	Avalue's EMX-M690E is an AMD M690E Si Mini-ITX motherboard that supports an AMD S1 CPU, ATI M690E + SB600 chipset and two 200-pin SODIMM.

Taiwan is currently the main sourcing hub for SFF motherboards for either personal or industrial PCs. The center of development activity is Taipei, with production carried out in the city, as well as in Guangdong, Shanghai and Zhejiang in mainland China.

More than 70 suppliers offer SFF motherboards in Taiwan. These include motherboard makers of consumer and industrial PCs, as well as of barebone systems and mini PCs such as Biostar Group, Shuttle Inc. and AOpen. Some notebook PC makers likewise have the capability to make small motherboards for notebook PCs or other portable devices such as Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPCs).

The major players are leading motherboard makers in the personal computer sector, including AsusTek Computer Inc., Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd, Micro Star International Co. Ltd, First International Computer Inc. (FIC), Elite Group, Biostar, Shuttle and Albatron Technology Co. Ltd. Leading players from the industrial PC motherboard space include Avalue Technology Inc., Advantech Co. Ltd and IEI Technology Corp.

Leading makers in this field have large production capacity reaching about millions of units per month. They also have the capability to design and produce customized motherboards.

Biostar supplies SFF motherboards based on Intel, VIA or AMD platform. According to the company’s product manager, Jack Lin, VIA platforms feature power-saving functions and lower cost compared with the other two x86 platforms. Motherboards based on VIA platforms are generally marketed as entry-level and midrange models. Biostar said that AMD can support the platform that supports HDMI directly without other chipsets and configurations as against Intel and VIA platforms.

Biostar’s SFF motherboards built around VIA solutions are used for POS systems and factory control equipment.

Biostar’s SFF motherboards are used for treadmills, industrial PCs and home theater PCs. The company can offer 3.5in, Mini-ITX, microATX and proprietary motherboards. The company supplies both x86 and SoC motherboards. For its x86 motherboards, dual-core is mainstream. The Mini-ITX platform is used for home theater PCs, and microATX and proprietary boards are for cubic PCs. Lin said one trend is pointing to the use of notebook PC platforms with mobile CPUs to save power and reduce noise.

Unicorn Computer Corp. can offer Mini-ITX, 5.25in and 3.5in motherboards, as well as riser boards (daughterboards) for expansion. It uses Mini-ITX motherboards with Intel, VIA and AMD platforms for digital signages, POS systems, ATMs, vending machines and factory control equipment. It has midrange models that support vending, voting and ticketing applications.

Unicorn Computer’s 5.25in models are available with Intel and AMD platforms. Its 3.5in motherboards typically use VIA platform for power saving. The company’s ENDAT-9401F motherboard is a 5.25in model with an Intel 945 chipset to offer high-definition video for digital signages. Unicorn Computer has no plans to produce ATX and microATX models, as these are usually used for consumer products.

Avalue specializes in industrial motherboards, offering ATX, Mini-ITX, microATX, 3.5in, 5.25in and EPIC models. Avalue can offer both hardware and total solution services, or OEM and ODM services. Mini-ITX motherboards dominate the company’s shipment. Its ATX and microATX motherboards are usually for special projects.

Avalue’s SFF motherboards comprise 3.5in, 5.25in and EPIC mainboards for industrial PC applications. Avalue can offer 3.5in fanless boards that can fit in various types of machines, including slot machines.

The company noted growth in Mini-ITX boards for gambling applications, where Mini-ITX offers cost efficiencies due to its simple design. Its support for open platform makes Mini-ITX boards easy to assemble and design. Yet, Mini-ITX boards have only one slot and require riser cards for expansion. Meanwhile, microATX can support more powerful features and boost graphics capability. The microATX board has three slots that can support more functions.

Taiwan makers are looking to the overseas market to boost the industry. Unicorn Computer generates 95 percent of sales from exports. Its main markets are Europe and Southeast Asia. All of Unicorn Computer’s products are sold under ODM business. The company can produce 8,000 motherboards per month. Its monthly shipment volume reaches 4,000 units. The company has a factory in Taipei, Taiwan.

Biostar exports all its SFF motherboards. The company plans to expand its markets in the Middle East and BRIC. Biostar can produce 500,000 motherboards per month.

More than 90 percent of Avalue’s sales revenue comes from exports. Its export markets are Europe, the US and the Asia-Pacific.