Blue Chip Technologies has expanded its line of digital signage controllers with two units based on 64-bit AMD Athlon processors. The Vario Elite FX and Elite FX2 (running a dual core processor) run Windows XP Embedded and make use of the latest high bandwidth technology such as PCI Express, SATA, gigabit LAN, and dual channel memory, according to the company.

Blue Chip says the Elite series incorporates Nvidia’s “Pure Video” Technology for support of HDTV resolutions, high bit rate content, and “stunning” 3D rendering. All industry standard media files are supported including MPEG 2, MPEG 4, WMV, AVI and DiVX. Content displays at native resolution with “full image rotation.”

Blue Chip lists the following key features and specifications for the Elite series signage controllers:

  • Processor — AMD Athlon 64 single and dual core; clock rate not specified
  • Memory — 4 184-pin DIMM sockets; supports up to 4 GB DDR400 SDRAM
  • Display:
    • Nvidia GeForce 6150 GPU with 300 MHz RAMDAC
    • all common resolutions up to 1920 x 1440 including widescreen and HDTV (720i/720p, 1080i)
    • custom utility for nonstandard resolutions
    • VGA, composite and S-video outputs, optional TV in
  • Storage:
    • HDD — 80 to 200 GB SATA II drive
    • CompactFlash — 256 MB to 4 GB
    • drive bay for DVD-R or DVD-RW
  • I/O ports:
    • Gigabit Ethernet with Nvidia ActiveArmor Firewall
    • 2 internal and 4 external USB 2.0 ports
    • 1 RS232 serial
    • parallel port
    • 2 IEEE 1394 Firewire, 1 internal, 1 external
    • PS/2 keyboard and mouse
    • high-definition 5.1 channel audio
  • Expansion — optional PCI slot or one PCI Express x 16 slot
  • Wireless — WiFi optionally supported via USB or PCI

The ruggedized 1U-high unit can be easily mounted to the rear of a display or in a rack, according to Blue Chip.

Currently, the Elite series is available for “product demonstration,” according to Blue Chip. The U.K.-based company says it is actively recruiting European distributors for the Vario range.