VIA reveals the system of 4 world's smallest x86 cores

VIA Technologies has presented the Artigo A1250, a miniPC that has a quad-core x86 processor 1 GHz and the VIA VX11H multimedia chip, all in a conventional book-sized design and a TDP the 32W. Among its possibilities, DirectX support stands out 11, 3D stereoscopic, sound HD and 1080p video playback, and has support of up to 8 DDR3.

VIA has added a new member to its family of ultra-compact Artigo machines , which can be used for applications ranging from basic desktop computing to home automation, streaming media, surveillance and digital signage. It is the world's smallest quad-core x86 system, with only 17,7 x 12,5 x 3,0 cm.

The A1250 E-series processor has 1 MB of L2 cache and can use up to one DDR3 1333MHz memory module 8 GB, while its VX11H media system processor features a Chromotion GPU that provides support for DirectX 11. As would be expected from such a system, The A1250 is capable of decoding H.264 video, MPEG-2, VC-1 and WMV9 at 1080p without any problem. Thanks to the quad-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz and the VIA VX11H multimedia processor, The PC can play all types of multimedia files, including stereoscopic 3D content.

The computer can output display resolutions of up to 2560×1600 and offers a wide range of connectivity, including HDMI, VGA, two USB ports 2.0 y 3.0, Ethernet gigabit, as well as microphone, headphone and line jacks. There is also an optional 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi antenna accessory. In addition, The Artigo A1250 can act as a standard PC or a main server and even as a means to convert an HDTV into a Smart TV.

x86 architecture

Espap, the head of the VIA Embedded Platforms Division, has pointed out: “Taking advantage of the ultra-compact Pico-ITX form factor, The VIA Artigo A1250 is capable of offering a pleasant computing experience on x86 architecture in the most compact design on the market”.

The power consumption of the new system is 32W, lower than a normal light bulb, despite the presence of a “HDD SATA or SSD Flash 2,5 inches with capacity up to 8 GB and lots of ports (VGA, USB 3.0, Gigabit LAN, etc)”.

Like many other compact system designs, The A1250 has a 10x10cm VESA mount, so that it can be hung on the back of a display. The Artigo A1250 is compatible with Windows XP, Embedded XP, 7 y Embedded 7, as well as with Linux.