Hardware Mini-ITX motherboard shootout

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/09/05/mini-itx-shootout/1

 

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

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.

 

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.

 

+/- same height, maybe a milimeter difference give or take - http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/336842_10151087056731827_902660431_o.jpg .

 

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

 

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!

 

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.

 

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

 

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?

 

I do not see any issue with the Asrock SATA for DIY or well thought cases . 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.

 

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 :


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

@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.

 

What it the CPU heatsink you are using ?

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

@GuilleAcoustic - this isn't my system but if you check out the location of the top fan and the mobo you'll see my issue.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQI-S0LQ6uwTrj2PAbh3pKPU5nkCcY86e1N-2mkoTjvdqCWFF7irg&t=1

 

better image

http://images.tweaktown.com/content/4/2/4294_29_lian_li_pc_q25_mini_q_sff_chassis_review_full.jpg

 

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 ).

 

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.

 

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