ASRock Z77TM-ITX

[ettescott]

Was browsing and it looks like ASRock is getting into the thin mini-itx game.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77TM-ITX/?cat=Specifications

My current board only supports up to 25w in the pcie x4 slot. I'm hoping there will be better options (the typical75w) in the future for my SFF build, and the fact that its the Z77 chipset makes me wonder if they've done anything to support higher power CPU's (other thin itx boards only support up to 65 or 77W). Its nice to see that this form factor is being pursued by manufacturers. The mobo doesn't appear to be on the market yet, and there is no manual posted, either.

I am curious about something listed in the specs, though.

- 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot (PCIE1: x4 mode)

Any idea what the PCIE1: x4 mode might mean?

 

[pauldun170]

Was browsing and it looks like ASRock is getting into the thin mini-itx game.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77TM-ITX/?cat=Specifications

My current board only supports up to 25w in the pcie x4 slot. I'm hoping there will be better options (the typical75w) in the future for my SFF build, and the fact that its the Z77 chipset makes me wonder if they've done anything to support higher power CPU's (other thin itx boards only support up to 65 or 77W). Its nice to see that this form factor is being pursued by manufacturers. The mobo doesn't appear to be on the market yet, and there is no manual posted, either.

I am curious about something listed in the specs, though.

- 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot (PCIE1: x4 mode)

Any idea what the PCIE1: x4 mode might mean?

It means that you won't be plugging in any graphics cards.
Also note the memory modules.
Onboard CPU graphics + laptop ram + 2 sata ports = laptop where you can use a desktop proc and shove it into whatever fancy case you like.

 

[jumpncrash]

It means that you won't be plugging in any graphics cards.
Also note the memory modules.
Onboard CPU graphics + laptop ram + 2 sata ports = laptop where you can use a desktop proc and shove it into whatever fancy case you like.

I don't think thin ITX is a form fator that is designed to support graphics cards, so either way it shouldn't matter.

 

[pauldun170]

I don't think thin ITX is a form fator that is designed to support graphics cards, so either way it shouldn't matter.

Just as an FYI:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ue=757%3A20949

 

[piasabird]

Check this out:
B75 Thin
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4463#ov
H77 Thin
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4462#ov

These motherboards seem to be aimed at the embedded market and the AIO computer market. However, it looks like the gigabyte boards can support more SATA devices. Plus it has a min pcie slot and a min MSATA slot for a SSD.

There is limited space for headers and back panel connectores so based on what you need they may not have ESATA or some other items.

 

[AkumaX]

Check this out:
B75 Thin
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4463#ov
H77 Thin
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4462#ov

These motherboards seem to be aimed at the embedded market and the AIO computer market. However, it looks like the gigabyte boards can support more SATA devices. Plus it has a min pcie slot and a min MSATA slot for a SSD.

There is limited space for headers and back panel connectores so based on what you need they may not have ESATA or some other items.

Holy crap, haha, this is the 1st time I heard of thin mini-ITX.

Is that right that the power adapter is built-in? And you could just use a laptop's AC adapter? How high in wattage can the motherboard handle?

 

[ettescott]

Holy crap, haha, this is the 1st time I heard of thin mini-ITX.

Is that right that the power adapter is built-in? And you could just use a laptop's AC adapter? How high in wattage can the motherboard handle?

Currently, Intel and Gigabyte have thin mini itx mobos. The Intel boards support CPU's up to 65W. I think the gigabytes support up to 77W. The pcie slots only support power draw up to 25W from the slot, instead of the 75w that modern gpu's expect. They have an onboard sata power connector that supplies up to 25W.

This upcoming asrock board has the Z77 chipset and says it has better capacitors and supports more power. I'm hoping that it'll support 75w draw from the pcie slot as well.

Edit: there is no mention of a cpu power rating in the manual for the other thin mini itx asrock boards. I wonder what they'll support...

Its also sexy black and would be a nice replacement for my Intel DQ77KB in my NES-PC

 

[ettescott]

Just as an FYI:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ue=757%3A20949

These aren't THIN mini itx boards.

And its true that the few boards that are currently available don't support a whole lot lf power. That doesn't mean, however, that a board can't be made that DOES support some power. This ASRock already seems to support a more powerful cpu. Maybe it'll support full fledged 75w graphics, too (btw all the power for pcie is in the first few pins, so x4 length shouldn't matter). Won't know until the manual and detailed specs are released for this board, though.

 

[piasabird]

Thin Mini-ITX has a 19v DC jack on the back and the motherboard has a SATA Power Jack on the motherboard. Not what you would call a Gaming Platform. Intel designed a kind of Heat Pipe assembly that extends over the motherboard that allows making a thin case.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4394/more-on-intels-thin-miniitx-standard

Here is an example of a low profile cpu cooler. Gigabyte also makes some AIO computer system DIY kits with Thin Mini-ITX in mind. I have not seen them for sale anywhere. It is more of a B2B OEM product.

 

[AkumaX]

Currently, Intel and Gigabyte have thin mini itx mobos. The Intel boards support CPU's up to 65W. I think the gigabytes support up to 77W. The pcie slots only support power draw up to 25W from the slot, instead of the 75w that modern gpu's expect. They have an onboard sata power connector that supplies up to 25W.

This upcoming asrock board has the Z77 chipset and says it has better capacitors and supports cpu's up to 95W. I'm hoping that it'll support 75w draw from the pcie slot as well.

Its also sexy black and would be a nice replacement for my Intel DQ77KB in my NES-PC

Cool. I see people using anywhere between 90W to 180W AC Adapters. This is assuming that the total load on the board can achieve such capacities?

This is in contrast to how PicoPSU has different 24-pin ATX adapters, used alongside with different AC Adapters.
ex 1: PicoPSU 80W + 80W AC Adapter = ~80W max
ex 2: PicoPSU 80W + 150W AC Adapter = ~80W max
ex 3: PicoPSU 150W + 80W AC Adapter = ~80W max
ex 4: PicoPSU 150W + 150W AC Adapter = ~150W max

 

[ettescott]

Please use a 19V power adaptor for the DC jack. This jack accepts dual barrel plugs with an inner diameter of 2.5 mm and an outer diameter of 5.5 mm, where the inner contact is +8 (±10%) through +19 (±10%) VDC and the shell is GND. The maximum current rating depends on the power adaptor. The following are examples of power adaptors that may be used: DELTA DELTA-ADP-150TB-150W/19V HP HP-TBC-BA52-150W/19V FSP FSP-FSP150-ABAN1-150W/19V

This is from the manual for the same board but with a different chipset.

The recommended adapters are all 150W. I'm not so hopeful with that. But it does say that the maximum current rating depends on the power adapter. Maybe they didn't list any larger suggestions because they just aren't widely available.

it also says 19V input. Any thoughts on whether or not the 330w 19.5V Dell Adapter could be fully utilized by one of these asrock boards?

 

[ettescott]

Any idea what the PCIE1: x4 mode might mean?

Looking at the manual for the H77TM-ITX, it looks like the PCIE1 is just a label for the pcie slot, as in CPU_FAN or DIGIT_AUDIO.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you want full-powered GPU support, then you don't want a thin-miniITX (the AsRock Z77E-ITX would be more your speed.) The cases don't support big GPUs with dual-slot coolers. *shrug*

(And if they did, with a riser-card or something, than you can still use a normal mini-ITX motherboard with low-profile RAM and HSFs.

If you do want a thin-miniITX, then you're not putting a GPU in that PCI-E slot anyway, so no worries.

 

[ettescott]

If you do want a thin-miniITX, then you're not putting a GPU in that PCI-E slot anyway, so no worries.

Hey now people, let's think outside the box and unconventionally here. That's what's giving me my liquid cooled NES-PC that plays the latest in full HD.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1363969/liquid-cooled-nes-pc

Its silent, cool, and relatively powerful. Oh, and did I mention sexy?!

If this upcoming ASRock has a better power profile, ill be able to upgrade from my 7750, which already does pretty well.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Hey now people, let's think outside the box and unconventionally here. That's what's giving me my liquid cooled NES-PC that plays the latest in full HD.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1363969/liquid-cooled-nes-pc

Its silent, cool, and relatively powerful. Oh, and did I mention sexy?!

If this upcoming ASRock has a better power profile, ill be able to upgrade from my 7750, which already does pretty well.

Then you use a riser ribbon cable with a single slot GPU mounted horizontally either over or under the MoBo. 4x will be adequate to feed a 7750 or similar.

 

[pauldun170]

These aren't THIN mini itx boards.

And its true that the few boards that are currently available don't support a whole lot lf power. That doesn't mean, however, that a board can't be made that DOES support some power. This ASRock already seems to support a more powerful cpu. Maybe it'll support full fledged 75w graphics, too (btw all the power for pcie is in the first few pins, so x4 length shouldn't matter). Won't know until the manual and detailed specs are released for this board, though.

Yeah...missed the "thin "part in my initial scan of his post.
Just read "ITX" and used that as an excuse to go window shopping at newegg.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah...missed the "thin "part in my initial scan of his post.
Just read "ITX" and used that as an excuse to go window shopping at newegg.

You need an excuse to do that?

 

[ettescott]

I'm still hoping this MB will come to market

 

[dj_aris]

Then you use a riser ribbon cable with a single slot GPU mounted horizontally either over or under the MoBo. 4x will be adequate to feed a 7750 or similar.

4x will be surely more than enough. I think even GPU monsters like Titan can't fully use a 16x or a 8x slot anyway. But the problem is power. A 7750 is rated at 55w TDP while all thin-mini ITX PCIe slots that I'm aware of have a 25w cap. Which is extremely low, in fact the PCIe slot is usable for anything other than a GPU.

But, what if a more powerful GPU was to be powered by a separate PSU? Like those pico PSUs capable of up to 150w (which is more than enough even for a 660/7850 GPU)? Now that would be an interesting test...

At least until some consumer Iris Pro thin-mini motherboards are out (something that I don't see happening any time soon).

 

[ettescott]

I found the H61TM-ITX on ebay, which is the same but with the H61 chipset. My guess is that none of ASROCK's other TM-ITX boards materialized was because they simply wouldn't be able to support a gaming-class GPU, making them pointless for half the premium market. Along with the launch of the z87 chipset (haswell), it probably never made sense for ASROCK to continue on the Thin Mini-ITX path. Kudos to ASROCK for being innovative and exploring new products, though!