AOpen has formally announced its latest small form-factor MiniPC, touting the machine's "silent computing" ability - courtesy of its notebook components such as Core Duo CPUs - and support for Intel's Viiv platform.

The 16.5 x 16.5cm-footprint MP945-VXR contains a motherboard based on Intel's 945GM integrated chipset providing Gigabit Ethernet, DVI output, Firewire and USB. The SATA hard drive and slot-loading DVD burner are mounted on a riser card for easy removal and replacement. AOpen said. The AOpen miniPC also includes a built-in component, S-Video, composite out port as well as 5.1 channel audio.

Essentially, the new model shares the same specification as the MP945-VX AOpen unveiled at the CeBIT show in March 2006. There's still only a single memory slot: a DDR 2 SO-DIMM connector supporting memory clocked at up to 667MHz. And there are no PCI Express slots - just a MiniPC connector, used for a Wi-Fi adaptor card.

The MSRP for a fully configured MP945-VXR with Core Duo will start at €749 ($955/£514) excluding local sales taxes, AOpen said. ®