Intel's first open-source PC on sale: for only $ 199

Intel's first "open source PC" have been shipped. This is a basic computer, targeting x86 application developers and hope autonomous assembly of the computer enthusiast.

This PC is named MinnowBoard, with only one board, and no shell. The open-source PC by Intel and motherboard manufacturers CircuitCo Electronics cooperative development, starting this month through several retailers selling price of $ 199.

This is the first open source adoption Inte lx86 processor PC, board schematics and design files have been released under the Creative Commons license agreement and provide replication. From VIA's x86 processor-based development kit is now available, but not open source.

Intel also through Facebook's "Open Compute Project" to share the server design, but Intel focuses on the design and manufacture their own servers of large companies. MinnowBoard size of 10.16x10.16 cm, which is Intel's first for enthusiasts and developers of open source hardware.

Other open source currently on the market are based on the ARM processor or motherboard Arduino microcontroller, one of the most well-known products include the Raspberry Pi. The starting price of this product is $ 25, has sold more than a few million.

MinnowBoard price is higher than the open-source Arduino ARM-based or motherboard, and because using older hardware, so may not be attractive. MinnowBoard equipped with a 1GHz clock speed Intel Atom E640 processor, which is the 2010 release of a 32-bit processor.

However, MinnowBoard lower prices relative to most of the PC, so you can attract the preparation and testing of business application developers. These applications will ultimately be deployed to the server, embedded devices, and other computing devices.

MinnowBoard other hardware configuration also includes 1GB DDR2 memory, HDMI interface, Gigabit Ethernet port, USB port and micro-SD card slot. This motherboard supports UEFI firmware open source boot environment customized security development. MinnowBoard preloaded Angstrom Linux system, and is compatible with Yocto Project.

MinnowBoard also supports Intel's Hyper-Threading and virtualization technologies. This is Intel's proprietary technology, AMD and VIA uses different techniques to speed on-chip data transfer. Currently Digi-Key, Farnell, Mouser Electronics, and Newark and other online retailers have started selling MinnowBoard.

Intel and CircuitCo but also for MinnowBoard established an online community site that provides information about the "open source PC" more parameters and other information.


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