AOpen being a valued partner of Microsoft is working closely with the Windows Embedded team to show the benefits of the AOpen Digital Engine combined with WES 7.

At Embedded World, AOpen will demonstrate the latest AOpen Digital Engine DE67-HA that includes support for the Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family i3, i5 and i7. It is the strongest and most powerful AOpen Digital Engine to date. The system supports Intel Active Management Technology 7.0 to enable remote system management from a single location. AMT technology enables the system to be managed from for instance the UK while the systems are located at several locations in Europe. The system also allows to be connected to multiple displays while maintaining quality performance, thus eliminating the need to buy more media players than necessary and reducing implementation costs.

AOpen is ready with its LGA-775 ION ITX platform. The AOpen nMCP7AUt-V resembles most Atom-ION motherboards, but supports an LGA-775 (up to 95W TDP) Pentium, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad processor with its 2+1 phase power circuit. The ION chipset packs a GeForce 9400M class mGPU. AOpen overclocked this a little, 580/1500 MHz (core/shader, versus 580/1400 MHz reference). The chipset supports GeForce Boost, which allows a low-end discrete GeForce GPU to work in tandem with it, and save power. The chipset is actively cooled by a fan-heatsink. The board holds two SO-DIMM slots for dual-channel DDR2 800/667 MHz memory, commonly available as laptop memory.

The lone expansion slot is a PCI-Express 2.0 x16. Storage is care of three SATA II ports, with RAID 0,1,5, and JBOD modes. The GeForce mGPU connects to its display through DVI-D and HDMI connectors. Audio is care of a high-grade Realtek ALC889 HD audio CODEC. Apart from the 8 USB 2.0 ports on the rear-panel, four more are provided through internal headers. The AOpen nMCP7AUt-V is selling in Japan for 18,770 JPY (US $198).

In the market to compete with the likes of Shuttle, AOpen released a the new XC Encore OE700 barebone PC, that makes for the basic framework of a PC, requiring you to add a compatible processor, memory and storage. Measuring 106 (H) x 200 (W) x 321 (D) mm, the XCore OE700 sports a motherboard based on the Intel GM45 chipset, that supports Intel Core 2 Duo processors, with GMA X4500 integrated graphics that supports output using DVI-D and HDMI. 7.1 channel HD audio and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of the connectivity. Three SATA ports are provided internally. An LED display and slot-in DVD-Writer are provided on the front-panel.

Harnessing an adequately powerful processor in the Intel Atom 330 dual-core, AOpen is ready with a nettop system board in the mini-ITX form factor, the AOpen i945GCt-DN. AOpen has taken care of the essentials, making it an entry-level platform.

The i945GCt-DN embeds an Atom 330 processor clocked at 1.60 GHz, with provision for a single DDR2 memory module of the standard 240-pin DIMM size. It takes its power from an external 12V input or from the Molex connector. It lacks an ATX power switching input. Of all the components, the i945GS northbridge is actively cooled with a fan. The Atom 330 makes do with a heatsink, while the ICH7 southbridge is cool enough to run without one. Display output is via a D-Sub connector. A total of 8 USB 2.0 ports are provided (4 on the back-panel + 4 by headers). Also provided are the essential 10/100 Ethernet and 6-channel audio. A single PCI-E x1 slot provides expansion. Pricing is yet to be known.

AOpen Inc. has extended its XC Cube range to include the new XC Cube EU965. The EU965 uses Intel's latest G965 chipset and has been purpose-designed to offer 64-bit processing power in a compact package, provide outstanding thermal performance and allow the use of low-noise technology. This chipset's ability to support Core 2 Duo desktop 64-bit processors and Microsoft Windows Vista promises users a whole new computing experience!