Mini-ITX

[mrchaotica]

Have y'all heard about the Mini-ITX form-factor motherboards (especially the ones from Via, based on both the C3 and EdenEden processors)?

Well, I am planning on building myself a PC using one of them. It will have an Epia motherboard along with a 30GB 2.5" IBM Travelstar HDD, a LG Electronics/Compaq Slim (notebook) 24x CD-ROM (and suitable notebook -> desktop IDE adapters) and a MicroATX PSU. I am just having trouble deciding which motherboard to get. There are 4 choices: I could get the Eden-based one, the C3-based one, or I could wait for the next-generation Epias which will use the CLE266 chipset, have slightly faster CPU speeds (667 for the Eden and 933 for the C3), have DDR memory, and a few other things. These new mobos should be coming out in about a month.

Now, I know the specs of the new ones are better, so I probably ought to wait... however, there are two other considerations:
1. I'm impatient
important one --> 2. I think the new ones might use more power

I am thinking that since the new ones are faster and have DDR memory, they would use more power. Am I right? Also, which do y'all think I should get, the C3 or the Eden?

 

[mudboy]

A MicroATX Power Supply (usually 145w or so) should handle your power needs just fine. You can find more info at the Via Hardware Small Form Factor Forum I believe someone makes a Socket 370 MiniITX Mobo, which would give you more flexibility...I just can't remember who makes it. Either way, I would certainly wait for the next-gen DDR version, the current ones are hobbled enough and any performance increase will help.

Personally, I think someone should make a MiniITX NForce2 motherboard with a single AGP slot, that would be an ideal LAN party board.

Pete

 

[NordicNINE]

Originally posted by: mudboy

Personally, I think someone should make a MiniITX NForce2 motherboard with a single AGP slot, that would be an ideal LAN party board.

The SN41 is supposed to be out later this month. It's an SFF barebones with the Nforce 2.
I don't think they'll sell the board separately for a while.
Shuttle usually doesn't.

 

[gaidin123]

I use the Eden board with the embedded C3 800Mhz CPU as a linux router...

What you haven't mentioned is what you're planning on using this system for specifically. The Eden boards are low performance compared to any Athlon or P3/4 system. You also haven't mentioned what kind of case you're planning on putting this system in. Basically the current systems make ok office workstations but they have pretty abysmal 3d performance and so-so DVD playback. They make great routers though and decent small servers.

If you haven't already discovered it, go read up on http://www.mini-itx.com. They have all the info you could possibly want on the form factor and where to buy parts, systems, and cases.

The new ones sound pretty cool but I haven't seen the specs on them yet...mini-itx.com and Via probably have all that info though (specifically on power consumption).

Gaidin

 

[mrchaotica]

Originally posted by: gaidin123
What you haven't mentioned is what you're planning on using this system for specifically.

I already have a nice, fast Athlon XP box that is my main computer. I am getting this mini-ITX to be the antithesis of it... The Athlon is big, fast, noisy, and runs Windows, while the ITX will be VERY small, quiet, and will run Linux. Also, I have aspirations of making it portable or even wearable, which is why I want the board that uses the least amount of power... it might eventually be running on batteries. I am thinking that if the ones that are out now use less power than the DDR ones I can get one now, and move that to a portable one later and replace it with a DDR for a case that isn't portable.

 

[gaidin123]

Though the mini-itx ones may use less power than these depending on what you put in them, check out this http://www.saintsong.com.tw company. They are the ones that make the Espresso, Capuccino, and several other really small PCs. They have DC input whereas the standard mini-itx requires AC current. The Cupid case for mini-itx form factors does have a model which uses an external power supply as well but the Saintsong ones are smaller than the mini-itx form factor...

These things are sold under a bunch of names but usually "mini PC" or something similar.

If you don't really care about the possibility of it running on battery power then I'd recommend the Eden systems as they are going to be a good bit cheaper than the Saintsong all in ones. I'm happy with my Eden.

Gaidin