VIA Mainboard VIA EPIA M-Series Mini-ITX Instruction Manual

Operating Guidelines
VIA EPIA M-Series Mini-ITX
Mainboard Operation
Guidelines
The Ultra Compact Motherboard Form Factor
From VIA Technologies

Operating Guidelines
Contents
•Overview
•Layout
•Specifications
•CLE266 Chipset Overview
•I/O Back Panel Layout
•Power Specifications
•DVD Playback Tests
•Power Consumption Tests
•FliteDeck –System Management Suite
•Smart5.1 –Intelligent 6 Channel Audio
•Contact

Operating Guidelines
EPIA M-Series Overview
The VIA EPIA M-Series Mini-ITX Mainboard is a revolutionary, ultra-compact x86
platform optimized for today’s killer digital applications. At just 17cm x 17cm, Mini-
ITX is the world’s smallest native x86 mainboard platform, and is fully compatible
with Microsoft® and Linux Operating Systems. Available with an embedded VIA
Eden™ ESP processor core for fanless systems with ultra low-power requirements, or
an embedded VIA C3™ E-Series processor for more demanding digital multimedia
applications, the EPIA M-Series is the perfect platform for a whole range of small
form factor, low-power digital media devices and home entertainment centers.
EPIA M-Series Layout
Embedded VIA C3™ -E or Eden™
ESP processor
VIA Apollo CLE266 North
Bridge, featuring int. 2D/3D
graphics 1 x DDR266DIMM
2
x IDE Ports ATA/133/100/
Support
1 PCI Slot
VIA VT8235 South
Bridge
10/100 Ethernet
TV-OUT IEEE 1394
USB 2.0
Audio Jacks / VIA Smart5.1
Surround Sound

Operating Guidelines
EPIA M-Series Specifications
Processor -VIA C3/Eden EBGA Processor
Chipset -VIA CLE266 North Bridge
-VT8235 South Bridge
System Memory -1 DDR266 DIMM socket
-Up to 1GB memory size
VGA -Integrated CastleRock graphics
Expansion Slots -1 PCI
Onboard IDE -2 X ATA 133/100/66 Connectors
Onboard Floppy -1 x FDD Connector
Onboard LAN -VIA VT6103 10/100 Base-T Ethernet PHY
Onboard Audio -VIA VT1616 6 channel AC’97 Codec
Onboard TV Out -VIA VT1622M TV out (Optional)
Onboard 1394 -VIA VT6307S Firewire
Onboard I/O
Connectors -1 USB connectors for 2 additional USB 2.0 ports -2 1394 connectors for 2 1394 ports
-Front-panel audio connectors (Mic and Line Out)
-CD Audio-in connector
-FIR connector
-PS2 connector
-Wake-on-LAN, Wake-on-Ring
-CPU/Sys FAN/FAN3
-System intrusion connector
-1 I²C connector
-1 connector for LVDS transmitter module (Optional)
-Serial port connector for second com port
Back Panel I/O -1 PS2 mouse port
-1 PS2 keyboard port
-1 Parallel
-1 RJ-45 LAN port
-1 Serial port
-2 USB 2.0 ports
-1 VGA port
-1 RCA port (SPDIF or TV out)
-1 S-Video port
-3 audio jacks: line-out, line-in and mic-in; can be switched to 6
channel output with Smart5.1
BIOS -Award BIOS
-2/4Mbit flash memory
System Monitoring &
Management -CPU temperature monitoring -CPU voltage monitoring
-Wake-on-LAN, Keyboard-Power-on, Timer-Power-on
-System power management
-AC power failure recovery
Form Factor -Mini-ITX (4 layer)
-17 cm x 17 cm

Operating Guidelines
VIA CLE266 Chipset Overview
Combining a fully integrated video processing feature set, 2D/3D graphics engine
and ultra efficient VIA DDR memory controller, the VIA Apollo CLE266 Chipset is
designed to enable high quality digital video streaming and DVD playback in a new
generation of fanless, small form factor PCs and IA devices. For more information on
the VIA CLE266 visit the VIA website at www.via.com.tw/en/apollo/cle266.jsp.

Operating Guidelines
EPIA M-Series I/O Back Panel Layout
PS/2 Mouse Connector
Parallel Port Connector
RJ-45 LAN Port
VGA Display Connector
COM
Line-In
Line-Out
Mic-In
2 x USB Ports
S-Video Port
RCA Video
or
S/P DIF Port

Operating Guidelines
Power Specifications
The EPIA M utilizes an industry standard 20-pin ATX main connector to the power
supply. Due to the EPIA M platform’s ultra low power requirements a 90 –120 Watt
ATX power supply is ample for even the heaviest of multimedia system applications.
1+3V 11 +3V
2+3V 12 -12V
3Gnd 13 Gnd
4+5V 14 PWR_ON-
5Gnd 15 Gnd
6+5V 16 Gnd
7Gnd 17 Gnd
8PWR_GD 18 NC
95V_SB 19 +5V
10 +12V 20 +5V
Note: NC = no connection
DVD Payback Test
The table below compares VIA C3™ processor and CLE266 chipset DVD playback
performance to that of a powerful Intel® Pentium 4 1.7 GHz and 845 chipset with
Leadtek Geforce 4 MX440 VGA card. Despite giving away 1.167 GHz of processor
speed and competing with Geforce4 graphics the VIA CLE266 platform delivers
equivalent performance at a fraction of the cost and required space and cooling. Note
that this is a comparison of only the DVD playback performance, not a of overall
system performance, as digital media performance is what counts for the lifestyle PC.
DVD Playback Performance
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
2010
Intel 845 with Leadtek
Geforce 4 MX440
VIA Apollo CLE266
Platform
29.968--2529.7810—12Windows ME
Frame
Rate
CPU Usage Frame
Rate
CPU usagePerformance
Player
Cyberlink
PowerDVD4.0-(DxVA)
Cyberlink
PowerDVD4.0-(DxVA)
Vendor
Intel® Pentium 4 1.7GHzVIA C3™ 533MHz
CPU

Operating Guidelines
Power Consumption Tests
Below is an extensive set of power consumption tests that clearly illustrate the ultra
low power consumption qualities of the EPIA platform. All tests were conducted
under the Microsoft Windows® 2000 operating system and include the entire
wattage consumed by the EPIA platform.
EPIA Series Platform Power Consumption
in Watts
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Playing DVD
Playing MP3
Network ApplicationsIdle
Office Applications
EPIA-M 9000 EPIA-M E6000 EPIA 800 EPIA 5000
26.4
22.3 22.2
14.1
53
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Watts
EPIA M9000 EPIA ME6000 EPIA 800 EPIA 5000 Intel 845-
based MB
Pentium 4 1.7G
Playing DVD

Operating Guidelines
22.7 20.4 18.4 13.4
39.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Watts
EPIA M9000 EPIA ME6000 EPIA 800 EPIA 5000 Intel 845-
based MB
Pentium 4 1.7G
Playing MP3
16.7 16.2
10.7 9.6
24.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Watts
EPIA M9000 EPIA ME6000 EPIA 800 EPIA 5000 Intel 845-
based MB
Pentium 4
1.7G
Idle
25.5 21.9 20 13.84
71.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Watts
EPIA M9000 EPIA ME6000 EPIA 800 EPIA 5000 Intel 845-based
MB Pentium 4
1.7G
Running Office Apps

Operating Guidelines
19.1 18.1 14.3 11.3
25.8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Watts
EPIA M9000 EPIA ME6000 EPIA 800 EPIA 5000 Intel 845-
based MB
Pentium 4
1.7G
Running Network Apps
The following table is a comprehensive breakdown of the EPIA platform’s voltage,
Amp and Wattage values while running common system applications
EPIA M 9000 Playing DVD
Test Voltage Real Voltage Tested Amp. Watts
+3.3V 3.37V 3.38A 11.3906W
+5V 4.89V 2.52A 12.3228W
5VSB 5.02V 0.14A 0.7028W
+12V 12.51V 0.164A 2.0516W
Total Watts: 26.4678W Playing MP3
Test Voltage Real Voltage Tested Amp. Watts
+3.3V 3.37V 2.98A 10.0426W
+5V 4.89V 2.05A 10.0245W
5VSB 5.02V 0.14A 0.7028W
+12V 12.51V 0.162A 2.0266W
Total Watts: 22.7965W
Running Network Applications
Test Voltage Real Voltage Tested Amp. Watts
+3.3V 3.37V 2.92A 9.8404W
+5V 4.89V 1.35A 6.6015W
5VSB 5.02V 0.14A 0.7028W
+12V 12.51V 0.161A 2.0141W
Total Watts: 19.1588W Idle
Test Voltage Real Voltage Tested Amp. Watts
+3.3V 3.37V 2.73A 9.2001W
+5V 4.89V 0.98A 4.7922W
5VSB 5.02V 0.14A 0.7028W
+12V 12.51V 0.161A 2.0141W
Total Watts: 16.7092W