New mini-ITX board by Intel at CeBIT

[bupkus]

Here's a couple of pics of a new mini-ITX motherboard by Intel and displayed at CeBIT.

http://www.anandtech.com/trade...howdoc.aspx?i=3252&p=8
http://journal.mycom.co.jp/pho...ebit06/images/001l.jpg

Notice in the 2nd pic:
1. intel chipset
2. G45 label to the left of the pic next to a C2D label

 

[Zap]

OMG they totally ruined it with the PCI-E 1x slot... should have been at least 4x if not the full 16x.

Now, if this will only be cheap enough... but G45 chipset means it'll be around $80-130 if priced "normally."

I wonder if you can cut out the back of the 1x slot and pop a normal video card in there... works with 4x slots.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I wish there was enough demand for Intel to get more actively involved in producing nano-BGA packages that would save a lot of board space and enable the use of more slots / even smaller boards. As seen on the mac air, the CPU is nearly smaller than the chipset. Looks like that's the next place to start shrinking things. What process is Intel on with their chipsets nowadays?

 

[widefault]

Considering the cheapest current LGA775 mini-ITX is well over $300 and has a regular PCI slot and GMA950 for video, I'd gladly pay $130 for this one.

 

[renethx]

There are (at least) two Intel mini-ITX boards: DQ45EK (Q45 chipset) and DG45FC (G45 chipset). Q45 is for business users and does not support HD hardware acceleration.

Expreview.com - Intel preparing a mini-ITX G45 mobo (March 6, 2008)

HDMI 1.3!? If it can send Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio bitreamas through HDMI, it's the first PC solution of this capability.

 

[bupkus]

For me nothing means more than the price. I know it's ridiculous to hope that any of these new mini-ITX boards will be priced anything like the D201GLY? so all this is beginning to mean nothing to me.
I could hope that a cheap 45nm cpu will appear in a mini- priced <$100. The chips per wafer of the 45nm process should allow for some cheap embedded models.

 

[Roy2001]

It is really good for pure HTPC usage, no gaming.

 

[IntelUser2000]

The G45/P45 chipset will be on the 65nm process technology. Traditionally, Intel chipsets lag process technology generation by 1 over the latest so the fabs are all utilized.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: IntelUser2000
The G45/P45 chipset will be on the 65nm process technology. Traditionally, Intel chipsets lag process technology generation by 1 over the latest so the fabs are all utilized.

True. And this is something I accept without argument. I suspect the D201GLYx chipsets by SiS were 65nm or larger. Intel's pricing may have been promotional although if they were testing the marketplace for these boards they should have also been testing for a price point as well.

Upon rereading this post I find I'm probably wasting my time on this speculation. When and if these products are released I'll either find them desirable or not with pricing I find favorable or not.

 

[bluemax]

I'm very, very excited about this new lineup!

They're planning 4 boards - 2 based on the standard chipsets, and 2 with embedded processors like the xxxGLY2 is.

Hey, if I can get a cheap, cool, silent embedded dual-core unit that can take up to 4GB of RAM along with the plenty-enough new Intel video, COUNT ME IN!!!

The GLY boards are already cheap like borcht.... I hope they can keep it up!


Heck, if they can keep the other proposed mini-ITX boards close to $100-ish (and I think one was planned with more than PCIe-1, like 4 or 16.....) then I could happily use my own processor - cheap dual-core now, quad later.

ITX cases are coming up more, too.


I like it. I really like it.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: bluemax
Heck, if they can keep the other proposed mini-ITX boards close to $100-ish (and I think one was planned with more than PCIe-1, like 4 or 16.....) then I could happily use my own processor - cheap dual-core now, quad later.

I'd like that too. Socket 775 mini ITX board with PCI-E 16x? Oh yeah, that's my new LAN party box. The PSU will be as big as the PC! BSEL mods should work too.

 

[bluemax]

Well, considering THIS case comes with a 250W power supply, you could certainly power a nice midrange video card without lugging a big box - or even a shuttle cube!

 

[v8envy]

Originally posted by: Zap


I'd like that too. Socket 775 mini ITX board with PCI-E 16x? Oh yeah, that's my new LAN party box. The PSU will be as big as the PC! BSEL mods should work too.

PicoPSU. I keep asking newegg to start carrying them.

I won't be happy until I can fit a gaming rig into a can of altoids.

 

[hnzw rui]

Originally posted by: Zap
OMG they totally ruined it with the PCI-E 1x slot... should have been at least 4x if not the full 16x.

No they didn't. G45 has onboard video with dual DVI/HDMI and hardware HD decoding. Target demographics would seem to be the HTPC crowd. The PCI-E 1x slot is there for TV tuners, etc.

 

[Zap]

PCI-E 16x should support 8x (SAS cards), 4x (SATA cards?) and 1x just fine, so I think having a 16x slot would make it more universal.

:beer: Here's to hoping.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Those boards look great, but I wouldn't hold out TOO much hope for a PCI-E 16x. But man, what a nice layout. Is that a DVI port or HDMI? I would think the latter, but it's hard to tell.

 

[hnzw rui]

Both. There is one DVI port and one HDMI port.

 

[Chucko]

I have been following this mobo closely. I having a hard time finding a case that will accomodate it. The problem I see with alot of cases is the use of a pci riser card and limited clearance for a heatsink under the psu. The biggest problem is the heatsink clearane imho. I have found two cases that would work well with the mobo and have no issues to me other that the price and possibly us availabilty.

The two cases:

Nexus Psile

It is $$$ and has a slot loading optical drive. I don't even really need a optical drive, but I don't think you can buy the case w/o it.

http://mini-itx.com/76731267


I have been waiting to buy a media center extender, but I can't see spending roughly 300 bucks on something that will still have limitations with formats and capabilities. I could hopefully get an ultra small 500-600 itx htpc that will have virtually no limitations for my intended purposes.

 

[bluemax]

Chucko, look up about 5 posts where I mention a great, cheap ITX case!

 

[Chucko]

Originally posted by: bluemax
Chucko, look up about 5 posts where I mention a great, cheap ITX case!

I saw that one, but I would be curious to know some precise measurements to ensure the heatsink would have proper clearance. Its look like a nice case especially for the price, but I would like to see some detailed measurements.

 

[bluemax]

Well I read all the Newegg user reviews... LOTS of people are using that case with the x??GLY2 board. Gets hot though... some clever people came up with a voltmod and best way to bend the heatsink fins to really minimize the heat!