New VIA EPIA M10000 now available at a speed of 1GHz and boasting ultra quiet operation, with less than half the noise levels of an average PC

Taipei, Taiwan, 25 February 2003 - VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the worldwide availability of the VIA EPIA M10000 mainboard, the ultra compact Mini-ITX platform that integrates the VIA C3™ 1GHz processor to ensure robust performance across multimedia and productivity applications yet running quiet enough to minimize noise irritation for home entertainment appliances.

Coupling the onboard low power 1GHz VIA C3™ E-Series embedded processor with an innovative new “fansink” (heat sink and fan combination), the highly integrated VIA EPIA M10000 delivers all the functionality, connectivity and performance required for the fast emerging new generation of small form factor PCs and living room digital entertainment devices - at less than 50% of the usual noise levels emitted by a conventional PC.

“The background noise from the loud cooling fans running in most of today’s PC systems has become a very real problem, and is the single most important concern raised by our customers developing systems targeted at the living space,” commented Richard Brown, Associate Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “With the introduction of the EPIA M10000, we are enabling them to design quiet running small form factor PCs and digital entertainment devices that don’t compromise on features, functionality, or performance.”

PC Noise: The Next Major Challenge to System Design

Most PC noise comes from internal components with moving parts and, in particular, the high speed cooling fans of the CPU, power supply and also on the case itself. As computers have become more powerful, so cooling requirements have increased, leading to larger - and increasingly noisy - fans. Excessive noise has been shown to be a significant problem, diminishing the performance levels of office workers by as much as 60 percent*, and is an even more critical factor in home-based systems.

Average PC noise, as measured with the A weighted decibel scale (dBA), ranges between 35dBA and 50dBA** and can be equated to the noise made by an old refrigerator. The dBA scale is logarithmic, so a difference of 10 dBA, e.g. 35 dBA compared to 25dBA, is approximately twice as loud. By adopting the VIA EPIA M10000, system designers can not only take advantage of the board’s new quiet fansink that has been independently tested at the University of British Columbia’s anechoic chamber as producing a mere 25dBA at one meter***, but also further reduce system noise by employing fanless small form factor cases and external AC power adaptors like those used with notebooks.

About the VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX Mainboard

The VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX Mainboard is the second-generation 17cm x 17cm platform optimized for today’s killer digital video and audio applications. In addition to its integrated 1GHz VIA C3 processor featuring the Ezra T core, the board features the VIA Apollo CLE266 chipset with embedded MPEG-2 decoder and a new integrated 2D/3D graphics core to ensure smooth DVD playback and a rich overall entertainment experience. With the sizable memory bandwidth of DDR266 SDRAM and the high data transfer speeds of ATA/133, the VIA EPIA M10000 ensures the high performance levels required of today’s most popular digital media and productivity applications. The user’s digital media experience is further enhanced by support for 5.1 surround sound, courtesy of the onboard VIA VT1616 6 Channel AC’97 codec.

The latest in high-bandwidth connectivity is supported with IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0 connections provided, as well as S-Video and RCA TV-Out (NTSC & PAL) and 10/100 Ethernet for seamless broadband connectivity. The VIA EPIA M-Series also offers support for a growing number of LVDS embedded LCD panels, has a PCI slot for expandability options, and is compatible with a full range of Mini-ITX chassis as well as FlexATX and MicroATX enclosures. It is also fully compatible with Microsoft® and Linux-based operating systems.

The VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX mainboard is available in volume now from VIA’s global distribution partners, including leading US online stores http://www.mwave.com, http://www.newegg.com, and http://www.outpost.com, at an estimated retail price of US$179. Further information on the full range of VIA EPIA M-Series Mini-ITX mainboard may be found at:

http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia_m_spec.jsp?motherboardId=81.

About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, optical storage, communication and networking chips. VIA delivers value to the PC industry by designing, marketing, and selling high-performance VIA Apollo core logic chipsets for the full range of PC platforms, and cost-effective VIA C3™ processors for Value PCs and Internet Appliances, as well as developing complete solutions for the PC platform through its VPSD Business Unit. Its customers include the world's top OEMs, mainboard manufacturers, and system integrators. VIA is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, at the center of the Greater China high-tech manufacturing engine, and has branch offices in the US, China and Europe. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2388), and achieved annual revenues of nearly US$1 billion in 2001. Additional information can be found at http://www.via.com.tw.