The best solution to a problem is always the simplest one. I am sure that is something I learned in school or read or saw in a really bad thriller movie. It is true that sometimes you just don’t need a huge PC system in a full tower case, but a small power efficient system with a few bonuses. ECS’ new line of Ready-to-Go motherboards could be the start of a great family desktop powered by the Intel Bay Trail platform.
The ECS BAT-I is a mini-ITX motherboard with an embedded Intel based SoC (System-on-a-Chip) and a maximum power consumption of just 10 watts. Combined with great options like one Mini PCI Express Gen. 2 x1 slot, one USB 3.0 port, two 3 GB/s SATA connections, and two serial port (COM) headers, it gives you plenty of room for options in a compact design. The ECS BAT-I could be the start of a very small family computer, HTPC, or home media hub. Some of you can also imagine the possibilities for commercial applications like POS, displays, and more.
No matter what you use the ECS BAT-I board for, you can always rest assured you will save money on power use. The BAT-I is designed for Windows 8 and fully supports all touchscreen functions thanks to WHCK (Windows Hardware Certification Kit) and a BIOS designed for Windows 8 from the start. The best part is, you still have a choice between the Intel® Pentium J2850, Intel® Celeron J1850 and Intel® Celeron J1750 to fit your needs the best.
At this time there is no pricing or availability but expect to see these out in the channel sometime soon. More details are in the press release below.
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Energy Efficient Mini-ITX Motherboard Line with Integrated Bay-Trail Processors
22 October, 2013 – Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) today reveals its latest Mini-ITX motherboard line ― BAT-I ― featuring the new Intel® System-on-a-Chip (SoC) processor family, formerly codenamed “Bay-Trail”.
Energy Efficiency
Based on the new low-power consumption micro-architecture “Silvermont”, ECS BAT-I is the ideal solution for small-form-factor PCs and AIO systems. With a maximum power consumption of 10W, BAT-I delivers power efficiency and features a fan-less heatsink design. The Bay Trail-D processor line is the first Intel® SoC platform and is also the smallest-ever package for desktop processors. Three SKUs are available: Intel® Pentium J2850, Intel® Celeron J1850 and Intel® Celeron J1750. ECS BAT-I also has electrostatic discharge protection (ESD) and 100% solid capacitors around the CPU and memory in order to maximize reliability and longevity.
Excellent Extension Support
Even with the Mini-ITX format of the BAT-I, ECS has kept in mind the expansion needs of its customers. BAT-I has one Mini PCI Express Gen. 2 x1 slot for wireless cards and TV tuner cards, one USB 3.0 port, and two 3GB/s SATA connections. For industrial applications, BAT-I is equipped with two serial port (COM) headers. Moreover, users can enjoy high-definition applications as BAT-I supports 1080p HD and Blu-Ray playback through HDMI and VGA ports. BAT-I is also bundled with additional software including Norton™ Antivirus, Muzee, Cyberlink Media Suite, and ECS iEZ Utility, which combines eBLU BIOS Live Update, eDLU Drivers Live Update, and eSF Smart Fan.
Windows 8 Support
ECS BAT-I has the official Windows 8 WHCK (Windows Hardware Certification Kit), which allows users to take full advantage of the touch function oriented design of Windows 8. Moreover, ECS BIOS and drivers are specially designed for Windows 8, making the BAT-I an optimal motherboard for Windows 8 users.
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