Pre-production µA1s Now Available to Developers for Purchase

[Argo]

Limited quantities of pre-production Micro-A1's now available to dealers and developers.
 
We have now received the first batch of MiniITX-sized (17x17cm) MicroA1 boards. These are pre-production versions but, apart from the slot for optional enhanced I/O board and on board memory scheduled for the production version, these have essentially the same functionality as we currently expect to implement in the volume production version.

We have had this small run produced so that dealers have a product to show their potential industrial customers now, and gain feedback on the exact functionality - and particularly the enhanced I/O capabilities - required in their respective target marketplace. In addition, several individual developers have asked to purchase a board ahead of the official volume release in order to port utilities or applications ready for the launch. Developers will be able to buy these boards via Amigaone Main dealers listed here(1).
 
These pre-production MicroA1 boards have the following specifications:
 
Size: 17cm x 17cm x 3.5cm high (excluding PCI riser card)
 
CPU Module: 8cm x 8cm standard AmigaOne module - 750Fx @ 800MHz
 
Memory: Single socket SODIMM. 256MB PC133 CL3 supplied
 
Graphics: Radeon 7000 series, 32MB non-shared memory on board
 
BIOS: Uboot 1.0.0 socketed, with OS4 enabling code
 
Southbridge: VIA 82C686B
 
Ethernet: 10/100 with 3COM 920-ST06 controller
 
Sound: Cmedia CMI8738 6 ch controller
 
IDE: 44 way (2.5") and 40 way (3.5") connectors UDMA100
 
Legacy I/O: Parallel, 2 x PS/2, game/MIDI sockets
 
Video I/O: 15 pin SVGA, SVHS (miniDIN), composite video (RCA)
 
Sound: 3.5mm mike, aux and speaker jacks
 
Fast I/O: RJ45 10/100 ethernet, 2x USB1.0 ; 2 x USB1.0 headers
 
PCI: PCI-32 slot expandable to 3 x slots via a suitable riser
 
The board will run with Debian or Yellow Dog Linux, or OS4.0 when available. These boards are not designed to be distributed to the general public and therefore do not fall within the scope of the 'Earlybird' offer.
 
Finally we have had a few boards made up with a suitable Morex MiniITX case. These cases have space for slimline (notebook style) CD/DVDROM and floppy/flashcard drives, for 1 x 3.5" hard drive and for a single PCI card (using the riser card supplied). They have front panel sound and USB connectors, and a built-in 12v to ATX PSU converter. They are supplied with a universal voltage IEC socket to 12v DC adapter.
 
Pictures of this case are available here(2) and here(3).
 
Any developers that are interested in purchasing either the bare board or the cased pre-production MicroA1 please contact your nearest AmigaOne Main dealer for pricing.
 
Main Dealers should email us at info@eyetech.co.uk for pricing and send official purchase orders by fax (+44 1642 713 634), or email a PDF of your offical purchase order to dealerorders@eyetech.co.uk
 
Thanks again for your interest and support.
 
(1) http://www.eyetech.co.uk/dealers.php
(2) http://www.eyetech.co.uk/PRODPIX/MA1CASE1.JPG
(3) http://www.eyetech.co.uk/PRODPIX/MA1CASE2.JPG

[ikir]

This news is fantastic! Finally!

[Seehund]

This news is fantastic! Finally!

Finally what?

[ironfist]

This is nice, but I would like to warn you about the
Morex-case. It's a good case, no doubts in that.
However, the fanless PSU is total crap. It is supposed
to handle 55W, but that is not true. It produces alot
less and there are many unstable Mini-ITX-boards out
there because of this.

So if you want to use a silent system - buy the mother-
board seperately and buy another Mini-ITX-case.

I can tip you about a nice ITX-forum I visit frequently
LinITX with lots of discussion about cases and power
consumption.

[ikir]

Finally what?

Eyetech has updated its website! And with good news for A1/OS4 fans!

[bloodline]

My Morex 54W PSU runs my 800Mhz Via Mini-ITX perfectly.

[lempkee]

YES! , finally!

:-)  , now what? ... ..i am bored :-(

[DFergATL]

Wow, they have finally sent out pre-production boards with hardware specs 5 years old!  I would be impressed if it was 1999.

[Damion]

--edit--

Well, the 750Fx is (currently) the best choice for a "G3" style proc
(I really wish Genesi had used them on their "G3" cards, it's MUCH
better than the Cxe). But it seems that this board won't be taking
advantage of the Fx's bus speed, so that kinda sucks...and the
worst thing IMO is the 32 meg Radeon 7000 graphics...that's totally
pathetic. Even a standard 9000 series would have been OK, but a
7000?? That's like from when, 1999??

BUT...for just plunking around with general WB things, browsing and etc
it should be fast enough.

[MaDDuck]

AT LAST......
This is the kind of INNOVATION that we have all been waiting for!

Whenever they announce a price (and ship date!) I'll preorder one.
Too SWEET!!