Hot Kabini quad-core mini-ITX CPU / mobo / case combo $100 @ Newegg

[Zeldak]

I'd expect picoPSU to be the smallest (it's DC-DC so there's an external brick required). There is an 80w version (96% Efficiency) and that should easily cover this. You would need a molex->4pin CPU adapter for the Kabini mobos. There's also a 60w version but it's rarely any cheaper so why do it?

Sweet, and thanks for the heads up about the adapter.

 

[cnjmorris]

I don't know much about sockets. I have a HTPC currently with a AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE, and a ASUS HD6450 silent (low profile).

Since this case says it can use a standard PSU would this motherboard/case be a good fit?

It is listed as an AM1 processor, while mine is a AM2+ , but I don't know what that affects and if it would fit. I searched for ITX AM2+ with no results so I began to wonder if this would work.

I live in a really small space and I'm tired of a white mid tower case on my floor when I could have a black ITX on my shelf.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't know much about sockets. I have a HTPC currently with a AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE, and a ASUS HD6450 silent (low profile).

Since this case says it can use a standard PSU would this motherboard/case be a good fit?

It is listed as an AM1 processor, while mine is a AM2+ , but I don't know what that affects and if it would fit. I searched for ITX AM2+ with no results so I began to wonder if this would work.

I live in a really small space and I'm tired of a white mid tower case on my floor when I could have a black ITX on my shelf.

I'm not sure what you are asking. The combo comes with an AM1 ITX mobo, an AM1 CPU, and an ITX case that takes a standard (but short-depth) PSU. It has nothing to do with your AM2+ rig.

AFAIK, there are very few if any ITX AM2+/AM3 boards. There is only one ITX AM3 board that I know of, and Zotac made it, and it is not being made any more.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=880G-ITX-PB

 

[cnjmorris]

I apologize for not being more clear. Your answer, however, answered my question. I wasn't sure based on the recent use of the AM1 socket if it was compatible with AM2+. I assumed it wasn't but because of the major use of AM1 I hoped it was a tier issue... as in AM1 is best, AM2 is not as good, etc.

Sucks because I have a processor that blows away all these budget builds but it would cost me more for a motherboard than it would for a whole barebone for the AM1 socket.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Praxis]

I really want to love these Kabinis, but I'm not getting it if you are not a gamer. Near as I can tell they are barely an improvement over newish Baytrails like the J1800 in CPU performance but they are 25 W TDP compared to 10 W TDP. And you can get a J1800 SoC motherboard/CPU for under $60. They use so much more power that the Kabinis require a fan, unlike the passively cooled Celeron J1800. The Intel rig is cheaper, lower energy and lower noise. And I think they have enough juice to do what a HTPC needs to do play 1080p, etc. Then you have to deal with AMD's drivers, which are generally a PITA for me (using Linux) compared to Intel.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7933/the-desktop-kabini-review-part-1-athlon-5350-am1/3
http://www.directron.com/j1800nh.html?gsear=1

I may end up getting one of these rigs anyway because I have an irrational atavistic fondness for AMD stemming from the old XP Athlon/P-IV days when they were cheaper, lower energy and faster than Intel, plus I'd like to see competition in the CPU market. What ticks me off about the Intel builds and most of the Kabini boards I've seen is that they only support 2 SATA ports, heck, I can't run an optical drive, boot SSD & a large spinning hard drive, much less a decent home server without getting a PCI-E SATA card.

EDIT:The Coolermaster case, Sempr0n 3850 Kabini CPU, & ASRock AM1B-ITX mobo combo for $100 comes with $16 shipping to me in California as well as tax, so it is really $122. But the board comes with 4 SATA ports so you could probably run a DVD-RW, a couple of conventional hard drives and cram a SSD into the case somewhere (though there are only 3 drive bays in the case).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1594348

 

[bleucharm28]

I ordered one for my brother. He wants an HTPC. Is a GREAT DEAL for 100. Can't beat, the case looks nice too.

 

[cnjmorris]

What power supply would work best with this small case if all I want to do is use it to run windows 8 and a single hd, no optical.. I know my normal psu won't fit.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What power supply would work best with this small case if all I want to do is use it to run windows 8 and a single hd, no optical.. I know my normal psu won't fit.

Pretty sure that case takes an ATX PSU. Might have to make sure it's a short-depth one.

 

[bleucharm28]

Supports standard length ATX PSU

Hooray!

 

[Ranulf]

What power supply would work best with this small case if all I want to do is use it to run windows 8 and a single hd, no optical.. I know my normal psu won't fit.

I've fit a standard atx supply in there, a basic rosewill:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182199

Its tight but workable. Modular PSUs make small cases much easier to work with though.

If you want smaller, I've installed a FSP brand SFX PSU in one too (comes with a bracket to fit in the case) :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104075

 

[BenJeremy]

Not to tread crap but I really miss the days when CPU performance from 10 years ago was outdated and not even sold.

Nothing illustrates the longevity of modern CPUs (and how little they have advanced) than people clamoring over something with such low performance.

Heh... CPUs are stagnating for the same reason we don't buy cars that go 300mph... most people don't need a lot of speed, they just need something economical to do the tasks they need to do daily.

Of course, there is always a market for a faster car... at a price... but that market is much smaller. Same applies to HDD capacities, monitors (and TVs), and GPUs. Improvements reach a point of diminishing returns. Gillette can only add so many blades.

I think we've reached saturation with computers. Lowering power consumption is the new frontier for most manufacturers right now.