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Hardware Mini-ITX motherboard shootout

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by brumgrunt, 5 Sep 2012.

  1. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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  2. faugusztin

    faugusztin I *am* the guy with two left hands

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    Just a small typo on page 1 : "dinky little onboard 108.11 b/g/n card " - should be 802.11 i think :D.

    And the CPU location on the ASRock board is actually the norm for Sandy/Ivy Bridge ITX boards, ASUS P8Z77-I and the upcoming EVGA Z77 ITX boards are the exception.
     
  3. CampGareth

    CampGareth What's a Dremel?

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    How tall is that VRM board compared to the rear I/O ports because I'm looking to build a computer that's in the old under-monitor style. As such I require a wide, deep but particularly short system. The closer to the three centimetres required of a dual slot GPU the better.
     
  4. faugusztin

    faugusztin I *am* the guy with two left hands

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  5. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    P8Z77-I? Practically the same height. It fits within the standard intel heatsink 'keep-out' area and mini-ITX spec.
     
  6. CampGareth

    CampGareth What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks for the replies, though that does look a bit tall as does the ASRock with that back panel audio section. Oh well, let the googling commence!
     
  7. blacko

    blacko What's a Dremel?

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    one issue ive got with the Z77I is if i fit it to my Lian Li PCQ25. The daughter board covers at least a half of the exhaust fan. from a design pov i would have put the daughter board at the bottom of the board just above the PCIE slot rather than at the top.
     
  8. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    That would almost definitely infringe on the CPU socket keep-out area though :/ That's why the Z77 heatsink has to be so flat.
     
  9. Paradigm Shifter

    Paradigm Shifter de nihilo nihil fit

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    The Asus board looks like it could be fun. The layout of the Asrock is crazy, though... I understand the limitations and difficulties on laying out a full featured ITX board, but SATA ports just there?
     
  10. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    I do not see any issue with the Asrock SATA for DIY or well thought cases :D. better on the edge of the board than just above the PCIe like on the Asus one (just like the USB headers too), easier to hide those fugly cables.

    I really think it's easier to route and hide cables with the Asrock than with the Asus. Plus, here in France, it is 149€ vs 205€ ... the choice is easily made.
     
  11. faugusztin

    faugusztin I *am* the guy with two left hands

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    Actually, the biggest issue with P8Z77-I Deluxe is... The PCI-E socket release thingy in cases like Lian Li PC-Q08. You can't access it from bellow - it is the bottom of the case. You can't access it from the top - it is not the push down, but the push from the side lock, and unfortunately it is from the other side. You can't access it from the side - the card is in the way. In pictures :
    [​IMG]

    Good luck removing the graphics card without removing the whole board at the same time :D.

    @blacko: If PC-Q25 is not that much smaller compared to PC-Q08, then i think the top cooler got plenty of breathing space above the VRM board, see the picture above again.
     
  12. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    What it the CPU heatsink you are using ?
     
  13. damien c

    damien c Mad FPS Gamer

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    Thank's for the shoot out as I am thinking of building a small media pc, that is also capable of playing any game out there for lans using the Bit-Fenix Prodigy case fully watercooled because, of the massive amount of space available for radiators.
     
  14. faugusztin

    faugusztin I *am* the guy with two left hands

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    Noctua NH-L12. And no, it won't fit on the ASRock board with a graphics card.
     
  15. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    What cpu are you using and what are the temp ? I'm considering a Lian Li PC-Q08 :D
     
  16. blacko

    blacko What's a Dremel?

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  17. blacko

    blacko What's a Dremel?

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  18. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    I'm not a fan of this Asus. The chipset position is nice, but the SATA + USB header would be better on the edge of the board. The VRM daughter board is a nice feature, but involves issues with top fans on very small cases, which are not aimed at overclocking (so no use of that VRM board :D).
     
  19. iajo

    iajo What's a Dremel?

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    If i was looking to stick a 3570k 4-4.2ghz oc in a bitfenix prodigy with a 7950 and ssd am i going to run in to cooling issues? Dont particularly want to watercool the lot, could get a h80/h100 for cpu if air isnt substantial enough. Also with no drive cages i believe a 200mm fan fits the front of the case so i would think airflow would be decent.

    Really hope we get more choice in this form factor soon particularly with mobos.
     
  20. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    Too bad that DTX and mDTX aren't available for consumers.
     
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