Micro ATX Motherboards

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Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
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I'm looking for new components to put into a SilverStone SG03 case (once it's released).

I need a Micro ATX board with the following:

Supports C2D and upcoming Intel quad core CPUs

At least 4GB of RAM

As legacy-free as possible
- definitely no parallel port
- no serial port
- no PS/2 ports


Does such a board exist?
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
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"At least 4GB RAM" means you're looking at Vista, 64-bit if you want more than 4. I can't find any uATX boards without parallel and serial; Asus, Gigabyte, ECS, Foxconn C2D boards all have a parallel and serial port on them, and especially PS/2 ports.

Why is it you don't want these ports? PS/2 isn't legacy yet and you'd be hard pressed to find any motherboard that doesn't have them; even my old Abit without parallel and serial ports had two PS/2 ports.
 
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hjo3

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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I've seen some that meet all your criteria except the "no PS/2 ports" bit. All the ones I've seen have those.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
My keyboard is USB only and doesn't work with USB to PS/2 adapters. My mouse (MX Revolution) doesn't work with PS/2 adapters either. Parallel, I have no use for, it's big, and it's just an eyesore when I look at the back of the case (which is often since I keep my PC on my desktop). Serial is ok I guess since I can use a serial to USB adapter with any low speed USB device I have.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
Originally posted by: hjo3
I've seen some that meet all your criteria except the "no PS/2 ports" bit. All the ones I've seen have those.
Click to expand...

Mind posting the brands and model numbers?
 
R

Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
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Try Abit; they started to try doing away with the parallel and serial ports three years ago.
 
H

hjo3

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
Originally posted by: hjo3
I've seen some that meet all your criteria except the "no PS/2 ports" bit. All the ones I've seen have those.
Click to expand...

Mind posting the brands and model numbers?
Click to expand...
The EVGA 122-CK-NF68-TR and Biostar TF680i, for example. Probably others as well, but mostly those brands.

EDIT: Woops, I forgot you were looking for micro ATX -- these are full ATX. Sorry bout that. Those companies might have micro boards though.
 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
I'm looking for new components to put into a SilverStone SG03 case (once it's released).

I need a Micro ATX board with the following:

Supports C2D and upcoming Intel quad core CPUs

At least 4GB of RAM

As legacy-free as possible
- definitely no parallel port
- no serial port
- no PS/2 ports


Does such a board exist?
Click to expand...

ASUS P5LD2-VM. You must have REV 2 I believe to suppore C2D and Extreme.

Link



 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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Yeah, the P5B-VM is the 965G chiset and it will do Quad core in addition to C2D. The 945G rev. 2 boards will do C2D, but not Quad core 660 an 6700.

You sparked my interset. I want a micro i680!
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
Ah the "DO" version has the Q965 chipset. Never heard of that one. Is it better than the G965?
 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
243
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I have had the 945G Asus micro running for many months. I have the P5B-deluxe 965 also, but not the micro. The 945G is a very nice micro. It does not have a full array of OC ability, but I manage to run my 805D Smithfiels at 3.5 with better than 700MHZ. RAM speed. Not bad at all.
 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
243
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A couple of things you lose with the micro versions are 8 phase power switching which really helps when overclocking. And the BIOS for the micros does not have the full ASUS utilities. They have lesser selection of overclock options. Makes sense. The asus boards are still far, far better overclockers than the micro intel boards I have seen. I had to do a BIOS update on my Intel Micro to get RAM CAS LATENCY selections! ASUS coes with those 4 major RAM timing settings out of the box.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
I've never overclocked any of my systems. I've always run at stock configurations / settings. So all the overclocking stuff doesn't really matter.

I've narrowed (or broadened, whichever way you want to look at it) my criteria. All I need now is:

mATX board with any 965 variant + ICH8 that supports current C2D and upcoming quad cores from Intel.
 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
243
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I have 2 micro systems. The ASUS 945G with the 805 D and and Intel P4 3.0 I put together two nights ago. The ASUS board is a much better overall board than the Intel. I mMy 945G was purchased almst a year ago and is REV. 1, I can not drop a C2D in it because it doesn't have the voltage regulators to support it. Need 945G rev 2! What the heck. I think I'll get one of the ASUS 965-VM's! I can just swap out MB and drop my e6600 in when I upgrade my P5B-Delusxe to an i680 or Quad core.
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
Ok, these are the best I could find:

Asus P5B-VM DO
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1421&l1=3&l2=11&l3=371

Asus P5B-VM
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1312&l1=3&l2=11&l3=332


Not exactly sure what the differences are though besides the "DO" model supporting "vPro" whatever that is and an Intel gigabit controller vs. the Realtek gigabit controller in the non "DO" model.
Click to expand...

So since I'm not overclocking, which of the above boards is "better"? These are the components I'm putting in:

E6600
4GB (4 x 1GB) Corsair XMS DDR2-675
150GB Raptor
NEC ND7170A DVD Burner
GeForce 8xx0
Theater 550 Pro. TV Tuner


I have all of the above already except for the GeForce card. All of the parts I have are being re-used from another system I have. Not sure what PSU I'll be getting, but I am waiting on the Silverstone SG03. I'm also waiting for these "mainstream" 8xx0 series GeForce cards.
 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
243
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0
I would put all that on the ASUS P5B-VM for sure. Here is my P5B-Deluxe system. I can tell you from experience that that AUSUS 965 MB you are considering will perform beautifully.


e6600 C2D
ASUS P5B-Deluxe
G. Skill PC6400 (3 GB) 2 x 1 GB + 2 x 512 MB on Vista Home Premium 2
Corsiar Turbo flash 1 GB for Vista Readyboost
EVGA 7900 GTO
Dual Boot with XP Pro 74 GB SATA Raptor + 2 x 250 GB WD SATA
Thermaltake Mozart tower
LED Remote Control Panel
ASUS Lightscribe DVD-R
Eleven LED 120 mm fans
Thermaltake 700 watt PSU
Zalman 9500 LED
 
Synomenon

Synomenon

Lifer
Dec 25, 2004
10,547
6
81
Thanks guys. I guess I'm going with the Asus P5B-VM, unless something better comes out by the time the SG03 is available for purchase.
 
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crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
243
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0
THe P5B-VM does e6600C2D since BIOS ver. 0207 (original BIOS). For the Quad Cores you will need BIOS vers. 0405 for quad 6600 and 0602 for quad 6700.

If you need help updating your BIOS after you get a quad core, PM me. I'd be glad tio help you out with any questions you may have about anything.
 
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