14 DAY TRIAL // Since AMD's Fusion processors, and the platforms that go with them, cover the whole market, from the low-end to the high-end, it is not surprising to hear that HTPCs will use them, and MSI just finished announcing a product for this particular segment.
As end-users know by now, AMD's Fusion architecture is what allows the company to create processors with built-in DirectX 11 graphics.
Dubbed Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), the chips will be on show, within various systems, at CES.
Of course, Advanced Micro Devices will be actively trying to get its new chips inside HTPCs, desktops and laptops, but it won't be the only company working towards that end.
For instance, Gigabyte recently showed off a mini-ITX motherboard, and MSI has now released its own such board.
Micro-Star international has unveiled the E350IA-E45, based on the Brazos platform.
The E-350 APU is present, a dual-core chip with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz and which features the Radeon HD 6310 built-in graphics.
This chip can be assisted by one or two DDR3 modules, thanks to the pair of DDR3-1333 memory slots.
The mini-ITX motherboard also has a PCI Express x16 slot, which operates at x4, as well as no less than four SATA 6.0 Gbps connectors.
Other specifications include Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, a D-sub port, an HDMI output and, finally, two USB 3.0 ports.
Micro-Star International did not offer any details on availability and pricing, but one can assume that it won't take more than a month or so for shipments to start.
No doubt the outfit will even have it on show at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, there to face off against potential competitors.
What remains to be seen is how it fares against the likes of Gigabyte and all others that decide to approach the HTPC market.