Via VB7001G Source?

[Zap]

Alright, if the Intel D201GLY2 is available for $69, I will buy one. :thumbsup:

EDIT: Looks like no GBe.

 

[thorin]

You might wanna check with the vendor before you purchase a D201GLY. This article from the 19th clearly shows a fan:
- http://www.theinquirer.net/en/...-off-her-little-valley

Here too:
- http://www.logicsupply.com/cat..._itx/pentium_m_celeron
- http://www.logicsupply.com/products/d201gly

 

[SleepyB]

New revision/board that's fanless D201GLY2. See above info/changes/pics.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Zap
Alright, if the Intel D201GLY2 is available for $69, I will buy one. :thumbsup:

EDIT: Looks like no GBe.

To add on to ^^that: It's about time that "they" (mini-ITX MB manuf's) started pricing these boards in the real world. I read in an article (possibly linked in this thread, can't remember ATM) that it's sort of ridiculous that a full-featured mini-ITX board is almost $200 in some case when you can buy the equivalent-featured ATX or mini-ATX board for $50 (Biostar, Asrock, etc). The price premimum for "small" is really ridiculous. I agree.

That's why after much looking, I bought the VB7001G from EWiz; it was "only" $91. Plus $12 shipping in my case, but that's besides the point.

I looked at pretty much all the mini-ITX boards out there. Most of Via's are $140+ and Jetway's are $200+. :Q Add in the case/HD/flash mem/sys mem/CD-R and you're up there in full-size PC territory.

Now, I realize that the "initial build of the PC" always involves the components I named above; it's that initial outlay that hurts. Most of those parts are reusable come your next build.

In any case, I'm really psyched about this build. Having roughly 250GB of online storage AND a full-featured, quiet PC that's no bigger than a large paperback book is pretty darn cool.

ps
We'll see, but I'm pretty sure that if you have a case fan or a passive well-ventilated case, you can get away w/disabling the CPU HSF. That's what I'm planning on doing.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
To add on to ^^that: It's about time that "they" (mini-ITX MB manuf's) started pricing these boards in the real world.

Amen, brotha!

Let us know how your VIA build works out.

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: SleepyB
New revision/board that's fanless D201GLY2. See above info/changes/pics.

Ok gotcha, now if only I could find it available somehwere at a good price.

 

[MichaelD]

It's kind of pointless to say this, but I'll say it anyway.

I received my VB7001G today! EWiz shipping really rocks.

Why is it pointless to say this? B/C I have no case, no PS, no memory and no CD-Rom to pair it up with. It's all on order from various places. Memory should be here tomorrow or the next day. Everything else is coming from Directron; I hope they get my case in today!!!

That said; gee this MB is tiny! :Q The HSF is a little taller than I imagined...I hope it fits in the case.

Anyway, I'm "that much closer" to building this thing.

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: SleepyB
New revision/board that's fanless D201GLY2. See above info/changes/pics.

According to here: http://xtreview.com/addcomment...ew-Intel-D201GLY2.html we should expect it around 21-Oct.

 

[bupkus]

Yes, I do like what the D201GLY2 represents. However, since I don't mind a small fan, I was hoping for a little more power and better IPG. Since Intel seems committed to using the SiS chips, I think that won't come to be, atleast in 2007. When CPUs from a 45nm die become available I expect, on Intel's schedule, we'll see some faster fanless offerings.

Question 1: what effect, if any, do you expect this market to have on the laptop industry and sales?

Question 2: What consumer groups are Intel targeting with their venture into the mini-itx market?

 

[widefault]

1. Not much, different targets.

1. Low-end PCs in emerging markets. Dell already sells a system based on the D201GLY in China and other far east countries. I think they see the hobbyist market in the west as a happy bonus.

 

[SleepyB]

Thanks for the release date info update thorin. Will check Fry's, newegg, and eWiz to see if they will carry it.

bupkus - there are other mini-itx solution available with more power, but they are more $$$. One is the Albatron KI690-AM2. It's Mini-Itx and uses one of the better intergrated video chipsets. Uses regular AMD AM2 CPUs.

The thing is, how do you cool one of these AM2 CPUs in a mini-itx form factor? I have a regular Athlon 64 3000+ AM2 desktop system with a big Arctic Cooling Freezer 64. It's undervolted, and runs at 32C at idle, but cranks up to around 50C at full load.

There's so some other mini-itx that can take Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile mini-itx mb. Also wondering what's the cooling solutions for these in a little mini-itx case.

The laptop market is much, much larger, even surpassing desktop sales now. I don't see mini-itx affecting laptops, but I do see the opposite happening, laptops affecting mini-itx.

I think Intel will offer a SoC (System on a Chip) next year (CPU, chipset, video, I/O, etc... all on one chip). These will go in to low cost laptops, but I can see this also being made into cheap mini-itx. Also, I can see laptop SSD tricking down to mini-itx for cheap/fast booting for kiosk solutions.

Like widefault said, Intel's target is for emerging markets like China, India, SE Asia, etc... They're trying to push out sub-$300 systems.

Dell announces cheap-o Mini-ITX desktop for China EC280

 

[widefault]

I've dealt with quite a few ITX and smaller Pentium-M and Core2 systems. Cooling is trivial. A good board will come with a low profile copper heatsink with 40mm fan. You really don't need much more, although I'll usually swap in a larger copper one, lose the fan, and compensate with good airflow in the case. Helps that I build my own cases from scratch now. For a regular mini-ITX case it helps to see if the board layout fits with the case design. If the board has the CPU in the same area as on a VIA mini-ITX, you'll probably be okay. Seems most cases are designed around VIAs layouts for CPU and RAM.

 

[MichaelD]

I agree with what's been said about powerful CPU's on a mini-ITX board; it's great that they are available, but the cooling requirements kind of defeat the purpose of having a tiny MB to begin with.

"System on a chip" sounds really, really cool. Think about how far technology has come with the PICO ITX power supply. :Q That's the whole PS right there!

System on a chip, pico ITX power supplies...ah the future is looking bright.

Maybe 10 years from now we'll have a 5GHz CPU/2GB RAM/100GB storage/wireless LAN @ 1GB/s in a box no bigger than an Altoids tin. :laugh: Wouldn't that be cool?

@WIDEFAULT - I'd like to see some of the cases you've built. Any home-built project is interesting to me.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Maybe 10 years from now we'll have a 5GHz CPU/2GB RAM/100GB storage/wireless LAN @ 1GB/s in a box no bigger than an Altoids tin. :laugh: Wouldn't that be cool?

Yeah, and there can be this really thin cable to connect between the tiny computer and the video card in its own tower case with a 1.5kW PSU for itself. :roll:

 

[widefault]

MichaelD, check www.widefault.com for links to some of the cases I've built. Last four links are the PCs. I'm actually posting from this one right now.

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: SleepyB
Thanks for the release date info update thorin. Will check Fry's, newegg, and eWiz to see if they will carry it.

Ya I just hope it's right

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: widefault
MichaelD, check www.widefault.com for links to some of the cases I've built. Last four links are the PCs. I'm actually posting from this one right now.

Nice stuff! You seem to switch up hardware a lot (even during your build processes) do you buy most of your stuff off eBay?

 

[widefault]

I buy some on ebay, but most of the recent stuff has been bought new through other sources. I'm a hardware junkie, so things change pretty often as the latest and greatest becomes available.

 

[MichaelD]

WIDEFAULT: You've got some awesome projects, man! :Q I really liked the detailed worklogs and pics. By far, my favorite is the tiny PC. :heart: It's so darn small AND it's got wireless LAN too boot. The black mesh cover makes it look like an OEM product. Great job!

I'm just going with a premade case. But at least it's small...well, not compared to ^^that^^, but small enough.

My stick of memory came today. One step closer to building this thing. Still waiting on the case/CDRW/HD. Hopefully Monday.