MITX Build

[WoodButcher]

I'm thinking of a new mitx build with one of these boards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813500035
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813500041

Using an E7200. I plan to use a Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1250 (pci-ex1) will be used in the pci-e x16 slot.
This will be a basic use PC, win 7 ultimate OS, web, TV, word processing, light gaming.

This is the comp page from the egg,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...TabStoreType=1

My questions are these, Will this be a snappy system and how will it compare to my Q6600?, the 7200 is a dual core but for general apps it should be equal to the quad, no?
What are the differences in these boards?
Do they both have the pci-e x16? (is the 2.0 backwards compatible?)
At the end of the comparision the I-E model lists a bit of nvidia salesmanship, NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology NVIDIA Hybrid SLI w/GeForceBoost NVIDIA CUDA ready NVIDIA PhysX ready,
Isn't this part of the 9300 package? wouldn't this be on both boards?
the better graphics are a must for HDTV. My display is a gateway FHD2401 1080P or my 42" LG 720P TV.

One has dual channel memory listed, this to me would be important to speed, so this is an important option I believe.
8 channel audio, and more raid possibilities, integrated 802.11b/g WiFi, while these are good things I don't really need them, they won't give me cause to spend more.

 

[Zap]

I remember hearing one of the boards has a "lite" version of the chipset that is missing features, but there might be a software hack around the issue.

Either way, do not expect it to be a decent gaming experience. The CPU will be fine, but if your game expects to have a decent GPU, then prepare to be disappointed.

The CPU should be fine. Most average users probably wouldn't notice a thing if someone swapped their quadcore with a dualcore of the same design/MHz.

You may want to do some research into putting a non-graphics card into the PCIe x16 slot. Some boards have had issues with this, and I don't think Zotac is immune to that. I know their H55 chipset mini ITX board had major issues with TV tuners in that slot.

This thread might be of interest to you:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1111996

 

[updawg]

No, their is no light version on either of these zotac boards. The only difference is the IE has a new heatsink and is overclocked to the speeds of a 9400. I've owned both boards and currently have the IE. I'd say get the GE because it is cheaper. The only reason I got the IE was because their was a combo deal with a SG06 case.

 

[llee]

If you want graphics, you will surely be disappointed with integrated solutions. This is especially true if you plan on gaming on an HDTV. A dedicated graphics card is a must.

 

[heyheybooboo]

I think the h264 hardware acceleration of the 9300 chips is very good --- HD playback should not be an issue and cpu utilization should be minimized (as compared to non-accelerated older IGPs).

'Light' gaming at medium settings would be available on less intensive games on the 720p --- fuggitaboudit at 1080p (twice as many 'pixels' as 720p).

It would really blow if the tuner has issues with the PCIe slot --- hopefully, the differences in the arch from the h55 will be of benefit to you in making it work without problems.





--

 

[WoodButcher]

Thanks for the replies guys, the gaming is very light, video and TV are most important so I'm ok with that.
I'm thinking to go up to the Q8400 cpu, at the egg the combo is $50 more than the 7500. Somehow I feel better if every build in my house is an upgrade if only a small one.
I've been scratching my head over the case and psu issues, size, shape, psu on top of cpu, you name it, well, I built a book style case awhile back with some success so
I think I'm going with this pair,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811234033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151090
or these,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151063 Because this case will fit a full height card if every I decide to change things up,,,,,
too many choices.

 

[WoodButcher]

How do these boards OC? any at all?
Thanks Zap, the thread / novel that you posted is quite a bit of reading, I've found a few points to ponder but it will be some time before I read it all.
I considered the silverstone 05 or 06 models as they are top quality w/ good psu but I think the hotter chips will have problems with heat under the psu in this style case.
With the winsis direct outside air on the sink would make a big difference.
Any thoughts or suggestions for cases? I've looked around a bit but found nothing that caught my eye. The two I posted were the closest to what I'm after.
I may just build my own. Full size DVD, 2 or 3 2.5" HDs and one of those seasonic PSU, seems to me a with a little thought, a better layout than stacking the psu/ cpu could be arranged.

 

[wwswimming]

how about Intel dual core CPU + Intel ITX motherboard for $85 ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121399

 

[Spikesoldier]

Thanks for the replies guys, the gaming is very light, video and TV are most important so I'm ok with that.
I'm thinking to go up to the Q8400 cpu, at the egg the combo is $50 more than the 7500. Somehow I feel better if every build in my house is an upgrade if only a small one.
I've been scratching my head over the case and psu issues, size, shape, psu on top of cpu, you name it, well, I built a book style case awhile back with some success so
I think I'm going with this pair,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811234033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151090
or these,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151063 Because this case will fit a full height card if every I decide to change things up,,,,,
too many choices.

i think you can only use a 65w tdp cpu on those boards, that means you would have to get the q8400s at a premium

 

[WoodButcher]

how about Intel dual core CPU + Intel ITX motherboard for $85 ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121399

Sadly I can't deal with the speed of the atom, I have a netbook. I'll use it at work or at my acountants office but unless I'm forced to it stays in the case.

i think you can only use a 65w tdp cpu on those boards, that means you would have to get the q8400s at a premium

Good catch spike, I would have been tearing my few remaining hairs out over that one. I checked the zotac site and you are correct, the "tested on CPU memory" page lists only 45 and 65nm tech.
http://downloads.zotac.com/mediadrivers/mb/cpu/a105.txt
The 8400 in the combo deal could swap with my Q6600 so I might still pick that up.

 

[Spikesoldier]

if you are wanting to cram a system into a mini itx case, i think that getting a athlon II x4 and underclocking/undervolting it like mad would result in a very good system lets say 4x 2.0ghz. i really wonder how much heat that would generate in comparison to the stock config.

 

[WoodButcher]

if you are wanting to cram a system into a mini itx case, i think that getting a athlon II x4 and underclocking/undervolting it like mad would result in a very good system lets say 4x 2.0ghz. i really wonder how much heat that would generate in comparison to the stock config.

Never played with AMD but pricewise today it would be a smart move.
I do want a small box with balls. Oddly enough hot chip in a small box is part the game for me. The last "small" system I put together was a prescott in a book style case, not much larger than these but I was able to OC with temps that rivaled guys with towers. I've got an idea for a heatpipe sink I want to try.

 

[WoodButcher]

Update- She's up and running.
I got these goodies,

Winsis WT-02 Black SGCC / ABS Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 200W Power Supply
ZOTAC GF9300-I-E LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
SeaSonic SS-300TFX Bronze 300W TFX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM

and I took a chance on the motherboard combo deal and got the 65w tdp Q8400. Purrs like a kitten. The board won't OC worth a damn. I got it to 3.0 with a little voltage bump but she freezes up, I'm fairly certain it's the on-board graphics causing the hang. I'm unsure of how far I can push this board so until I hear of failures and or successes for what I want stock speed will work fine.
I replaced the NB cooler w/ an old silenx copper cooler and 40 mm fan, the CPU cooler is a coolermaster 3 heatpipe downdraft model I bought a few years ago. Load running intelburn topped out at 50 while it idles around 30. I may put a backplate on this for my next bit of surgery as the board bends quite a bit with the pushpins. Apparently this causes problems for the stock NB cooler, when the board bows the the stock cooler is easily moved.
The case is a flimsy, tin can. It looks decent but when cutting the grills, an 80mm on one side, 60 on the other and a window in the top for the CPU fan I used the standard dremel wheels and was amazed at how long the wheel lasted for the cut I made, tin foil.... I got a 1T 3.5" drive, 200G 2.5" for the Win7 ultimate and a standard DVD all inside so I'm content. (for today)
The PSU I bought is great but the cables were long enough for my RocketFish! No way could I fit them in and have room for the box to breath. I cut about a foot from the 24 pin and 4pin connectors, chopped the floppies, added a sata and sleeved them all.
I haven't gotten to install the TV card yet but in my reading of the zotac forum it should work fine.

 

[Zap]

Sounds like a nice setup.

I actually just finished my first ITX build Monday evening (I now have owned around 7 boards just sitting around). It will be for my mother and is in one of the ubiquitous Apex cases. I'm using the included crappy Allied PSU, a Zotac 630i ITX WIFI motherboard, Celeron E3300, 2GB Patriot DDR2-800, Samsung DVRW and Seagate 250GB 7200.12 HDD. I haven't done any super loading tests, but peak power draw has been around 52W, it idles in Windows at 43W and sleeps at around 34W. Power draw numbers are from the wall using a Seasonic Power Angel. System is pretty quiet - if it were under a desk I wouldn't hear it at all, but on the desk it is barely audible if I think about it and nothing else is making noise in the room. I don't like the Smart Fan implementation of the motherboard because it seems to spin the fan around 1700RPM (maybe max) and then over time (many minutes) it gradually slows it down to around 900RPM. That's retarded!

 

[WoodButcher]

It is interesting to say the least, a neat toy. I'm looking for a quiet PWM 92 or 100 mm fan that will push some air. The coolermaster I have is decent but I think I could find better. I have a gentle typhoon 92 that has the airflow I'm after but not the PWM.
I like the smartfan, mine runs fast for a few seconds and then quiets down once the bios loads, what case did you use? I'll bet it runs fast longer than mine because of a grill. My heatsink and fan are about a 1/4" from the top panel where I made the cutout/ window. Very similar to my P4 build a while back but smaller.

I cut an area just a little larger than the punched grill on the top for the plexi then cut the fan opening, otherwise the fan would have no air but what it sucks through the grill unlike the stock fan pulling from all sides.
By pulling strictly fresh air it helps keeping the board cooler and made a big difference for the OC on my old P4. As I mentioned before I'm a little nervous about putting the volts to this board, It wouldn't be the first board I've cooked....