Can Mini ITX solution work for me?

[bupkus]

I have several Mini ITX cases that my friend gave me after he mistakenly bought them on ebay. They're labeled as by IBM and each has a 90 watt PSU. Is that enough power to drive the JetWay J7F3E-PB?

I plan on using this, not as a full purpose pc, but for an XP or W2k box that will run a daycare turn-key solution. IOW, not much power is needed, but here small is very good. Yes, either a harddrive or some other memory tool is needed to boot the os and the very small timeclock program networked to a larger pc holding the data files.

 

[Zap]

It possibly could. Most mini ITX PSUs are pretty lightweight. Alternately look into VIA solutions as those may (or may not) use less power.

 

[bluemax]

Daaang... mini ITX stuff just seems so darned cool.

 

[bupkus]

My wish list at newegg:

• VIA EPIA-CN10000EG 1.0GHz VIA C7 nanoBGA2 Embedded Processor VIA CN700 Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Set

• Seagate Momentus 5400.3 ST980815A 80GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache ATA-6 Notebook Hard Drive

• Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) System Memory

• iStarUSA S3 STORM SERIES Black SECC body, ABS and aluminum front panel Mini-ITX Tower Entertainment Computer Case 80W Power Supply

• GVISION L15AX-JA-452G Black 15" Serial 5 Wire ELO Compatible "GTouch" Resistive Touchsceen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 400:1 Built in Speakers 0.297mm Pixel Pitch

This will ultimately be used for a networked kiosk.

 

[stevf]

got to get a nano-itx when they are FINALLY available, my mini-itx board is just TOO big - but yes the form factor is just plain neat

 

[MichaelD]

Might want to modify your wish list just a bit. That motherboard takes standard 333MHz (PC166) DDR memory, NOT DDR2.

I've been lurking this thread; I think it's cool that someone's building a tiny 'puter. Always wanted to do it, but never found the need to.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Might want to modify your wish list just a bit. That motherboard takes standard 333MHz (PC166) DDR memory, NOT DDR2.

I've been lurking this thread; I think it's cool that someone's building a tiny 'puter. Always wanted to do it, but never found the need to.

I think one of the key differences between the C3 and C7 is the C3 supports DDR and SDRAM whereas the C7 supports DDR2.

VIA EPIA-CN10000EG 1.0GHz VIA C7 nanoBGA2 Embedded Processor VIA CN700
VIA EPIA-ML8000A VIA C3 800MHz Processor VIA CLE266

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: bupkus

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Might want to modify your wish list just a bit. That motherboard takes standard 333MHz (PC166) DDR memory, NOT DDR2.

I've been lurking this thread; I think it's cool that someone's building a tiny 'puter. Always wanted to do it, but never found the need to.

I think one of the key differences between the C3 and C7 is the C3 supports DDR and SDRAM whereas the C7 supports DDR2.

VIA EPIA-CN10000EG 1.0GHz VIA C7 nanoBGA2 Embedded Processor VIA CN700
VIA EPIA-ML8000A VIA C3 800MHz Processor VIA CLE266

Something's definitely wrong here. Manuf product page.

Socket 462, AKA SocketA NEVER supported DDR2 AFAIK. It was strictly normal DDR memory. In the link I provided, the text at the top of the page says DDR2, but the text in the copy itself says DDR.

AFAIK, Socket462 (and it's supporting chipsets) don't support DDR2.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: bupkus

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Might want to modify your wish list just a bit. That motherboard takes standard 333MHz (PC166) DDR memory, NOT DDR2.

I've been lurking this thread; I think it's cool that someone's building a tiny 'puter. Always wanted to do it, but never found the need to.

I think one of the key differences between the C3 and C7 is the C3 supports DDR and SDRAM whereas the C7 supports DDR2.

VIA EPIA-CN10000EG 1.0GHz VIA C7 nanoBGA2 Embedded Processor VIA CN700
VIA EPIA-ML8000A VIA C3 800MHz Processor VIA CLE266

Something's definitely wrong here. Manuf product page.

Socket 462, AKA SocketA NEVER supported DDR2 AFAIK. It was strictly normal DDR memory. In the link I provided, the text at the top of the page says DDR2, but the text in the copy itself says DDR.

AFAIK, Socket462 (and it's supporting chipsets) don't support DDR2.

I agree, but fortunately I'm just comparing the C3 to the C7 to respond to your statement.

Also, I just spoke to an online vendor of mini-itx products and he was pushing the AMD Geode and suggesting problems with the C3 and C7 onboard cache and Windows compatability.

 

[piasabird]

I recommend throwing away and Mini-ITX Junk. I think all VIA MINI-ITX is pure junk. That is my personal opinion.

 

[Zepper]

I thought all the Via C3 processors are socket 370 not Socket A... It is possible that Via made their own chipset for the mobos to support DDR or DDR2 on Sock 370. But that Jetway is a Socket A so you'll be using a Geode NX processor on it and it does support DDR memory. Want to keep the CPU power draw low.

.bh.

 

[bluemax]

The VIA stuff is NOT Socket A - this is an entirely different beast. $150 and comes with a 14Watt 1.4GHz processor is pretty cool!

The socket 754 version just isn't worth $300.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: piasabird
I recommend throwing away and Mini-ITX Junk. I think all VIA MINI-ITX is pure junk. That is my personal opinion.

Do we have personal experience to support this opinion?

I just wish I could feel good about the Geode and get it with opinions from newegg.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: bupkus
Also, I just spoke to an online vendor of mini-itx products and he was pushing the AMD Geode and suggesting problems with the C3 and C7 onboard cache and Windows compatability.

That's total BS. Plain and simple.

I bought an EPIA-M10000 board back in 2003. Used with Windows XP running 24/7 as an htpc and ran without error for years. Only recently replaced it to get a better connection to my hdtv, but disappointed with several different things, this past weekend I switched again to a board with a C7 processor. It's been running flawlessly for 48 hours now, recording tv shows on a daily basis.

No speed or compatibility issues, the cpu runs as it should.



But seriously, miniITX is an overpriced novelty item. I bought the EPIA-M10000 back when it was a good value compared to the other htpc options out there. The C7 board I have now is a flexATX board and is sold at a significantly less price. Unless you have a desperate need for low power or low heat output, you're going to be much happier putting together a microATX Sempron bases system.

 

[cubby1223]

If you do want to build a miniITX (or smaller) system, check out this site:
http://www.mini-box.com

They have a far greater selection of products at same or better prices.

And, I will always take a VIA system with a CN700 chipset over a SiS 741 based chipset.



What you *really* need to do with those mITX boards is build some of these:
http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/amdcase/

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: fyleow
I looked into getting one for my 24/7 file server because I wanted low power consumption but they are simply too expensive and have fewer pci slots compared to micro atx or atx offerings. The EPIA M1000 is $150 + shipping on Ewiz. I can get a Core 2 Duo E6300 + motherboard or an AMD X2 5000+ with motherboard for $10-20 more at Fry's.

Mini itx makes sense if you need the small size but I think the extra cost outweighs any power savings.

That's kinda the products with the mini ITX products. I found the invoice for one of the EPIA boards I had. On 9/6/2003 I bought an EPIA-M10000 from Newegg for $178.00 shipped. 3 & 1/2 years later it is still $160 shipped at Newegg.