Taiwan-based small-form-factor (SFF) PC specialists AOpen and Shuttle and own-brand PC companies Acer, Gigabyte Technology, and Micro-Star International (MSI) are gearing up to introduce new desktop PCs based on the Intel Viiv platform in January 2006, with mass production slated for early February, according to sources at the companies.
Intel"s Viiv platform will consist of the dual-core Pentium D 800/900 CPU line, 945 and 955 chipsets with ICH7 DH southbridge chip and Intel Pro/100 PM/PL/VE/VM network cards, indicated the sources. The new platform will be capable of Intel"s Audio Codec 5.1/5.1-channel connector with 2.1 SPDIF digital output, NCQ-enabled SATA drive and only support the Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) operating system, the sources added.
Intel is scheduled to launch the Viiv PC platform for the digital home solution on January 9, 2006, the sources stated.