VIA Technologies today launched their new EPIA-M mainboard with more advanced functions and higher performance compared to the predecessor announced back in April this year. Frankly speaking, the novelty has very little in common with the original EPIA: the mini-ITX form-factor, C3/EDEN EBGA processor and the LAN controller.

So that you were easier to learn the differences between the EPIA and EPIA-M, we made a table representing all the differences between mainboards.

EPIA and EPIA-M Comparison Table
	EPIA	EPIA-M
Form-Factor	Mini-ITX
Processor	Integrated C3 or EDEN in EBGA form-factor
North Bridge	PLE133 (VT8601A)	CLE266 (VT8623)
South Bridge	VT8231	VT8235
Memory Type	PC100/133 SDRAM	PC2100 DDR SDRAM
Number of memory slots	2	1
Integrated graphics core	Trident Blade 3D	CastleRock (Savage XP derivative)
TV-Out	VIA VT1621	VIA VT1622
Number of PCI slots	1	1
IDE	ATA-33/66/100/133	ATA-33/66/100/133
FDD connector	no	yes
USB	USB 1.1: 4 ports	USB 2.0: 4 ports
FireWire (IEEE1394)	no	VIA VT6307S controller
Ethernet	10/100 Ethernet ( VT6103)
Sound solution	VT1612A	6-channel AC'97 VT1616

Although FireWire ports does not seem to be something really necessary for the consumers of highly-integrated cost-effective platforms, they still present. On the other hand, a 56K modem is sometimes really needed (when the broadband connection is on maintenance, for instance), but there is no such device integrated in this all-in-one product.

The VIA EPIA M-Series Mini-ITX mainboard is available now through VPSD global distribution partners. The target retail price for both the VIA EPIA M9000 and the VIA EPIA ME6000 is below $200, according to VIA. Stylish cases from manufacturers including Casetek, CoolerMaster, G-Alantic, Morex, and Bleu Jour from France would be in place in the living room as well as the office.