Thread: LianTec ITX alternatives

I have been looking around at the various platforms to use as a CarPC, i.e. mATX, FlexATX, ITX, etc. I stumbled across the LianTec website which offers 3 different ITX soultions; AMD Geode NX, Intel Centrino, and Intel 915 Express. They all make use of "Liantec Tiny-Bus flexible expansibility supports modular addons". These addons are different depending on which board you choose
http://www.liantec.com/index.html
AMD:
supports AGP / PCI-based and VGA extended modules including DVI, SDTV, HDTV, LVDS, WLAN, mini-PCI, mini-AGP, PCMCIA, video capture, MPEG encoder, TV-tuner, multi-Ethernet, switch hub, and customized AGP / PCI-based modules for industrial embedded computing application.

Centrino:
supports AGP / DVO / PCI-based interface modules including DVI, SDTV, HDTV, WLAN, mini-PCI, mini-AGP, PCMCIA, video capture, MPEG encoder, TV-tuner, multi-Ethernet, switch hub, and customized function modules for industrial embedded computing application

915 Express:
supports modular PCI-Express / PCI / SDVO-based interface daughterboards including the PCI-Express Graphics, DVI, HDTV, 2nd CRT, WLAN, ExpressCard, mini-PCI, video capture, multi-Ethernet, and customized interface modules for embedded computing application.

There aren't any prices and I'm sure they are expensive, but they offer tons of features, esp the 915 Express built in WiFi, LVDS, Intel Azalia High Definition (HD) audio with Intel ICH6 and ACL880 Supports 7.1 channel, 5.1 channel and S/P DIF interface. Heck you don't to use the addons with that board. Only downside to the Intel 915 board doesn't offer mini-AGP and i haven't found any mini-PCIE video cards.

Mini AGP seems pretty cool as you can buy the ATi M10 chipset, Mobile 9600 for added graphics boost. http://www.globalamericaninc.com/new...ec2.php?id=176
Performance:
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDk0

The AMD board seems nice, but lacks built in LVDS support, Wifi, and uses an older Audio codec- ACL655 AC'97 3D audio codec Supports 5.1 channel and S/P DIF interface. Does anybody know if you can purchase the AMD Geode NX processors alone? You can buy a Biostar bundle for about $90 which includes an mATX mobo and Geode NX 1750 processor http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?Inv...g&cm_ite=total
You could keep the board and use it or probably get $20-30 for it on ebay if you need the smaller ITX foot print. The AMD processors might not be as quick as the Ms, but they do have low power consumption going for them. I know you can buy low volatage and even ultra low voltage Pentium Ms, but I bet they cost a pretty good bit. As always you need to weigh your choices, i.e. what are your demands and how much you can afford to spend, then go from there.

Intel Azalia Audio specs, makes me wish the AMD soultion used Nvidia chipsets.
32-bit, 192 kHz multi-channel
48 Mb/s per SDO, 24 Mb/s per SDI
Dynamic bandwidth assignment
General purpose DMA’s
Support for multiple streams (in & out)
Clock provided by the Intel® ICH
Unique Microsoft bus driver
Full device sensing / jack retasking
16-element array mic support

ALC655 info:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/p...odelid=2003051