iTX Motherboards - Products & Debate

[liguhy]

Seems hard to find an iTX motherboard of enough quality, versitility, and performance worthy of XS forum users. This is in regards to Intel and AMD solutions.

For example, one of the specifics that doesn't quite seem to make the cut is each motherboard's PCIE slot - even if it's x16 compatible, isn't x16 rated.

Throw in lack of AM3 support, low watt thresholds for CPUs, et - you get an array of options that don't quite fit the bill.

Intel and Zotac (http://www.zotacusa.com/products/motherboards) seem to have the more robust options, and I've heard about J&W (http://www.jwele.com/product.php) as well.

Either way, there's two sites I've found to be the main way in discovering iTX boards. Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200000%201075720949&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=RATING), of course, and a new site I found the other day catering to the iTX form factor (http://www.mini-itx.com/) in general.

I'll reply with my personal quest to find an iTX motherboard, but figured this first post could be more official. Maybe this thread can turn into an iTX center for help if enough people post!

[liguhy]

Ok, buying Silverstone's AWESOME Sugo SG05-B case for a general computer I'm building for an older female friend. Was pretty much set on a Zotac GF9300 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500022) motherboard, but have recently heard issues with the 9300 chip (hopefully whomever mentioned this will chime in here).

Was also referred to a J&W MiniX (http://www.jwele.com/motherboard_detail.php?419#_view), but even though it has some funny features, I need LGA 775 support as I am giving her my old Pentium4 3.0 HT CPU.

She doesn't need any aftermarket video (hence why I liked the Zotac above), but I would like a fully-functional PCIEx16 slot for the future.

Any thoughts?

[zanzabar]

the 9300 was pulled by almost every exept for apple who is in contract to only use it, and the minx is supposed to be under $100 so that would make it and a cpu the same price as the zotec (if u can find it)

[bot@xs]

i think with finally being able to harness a decent amount of graphics power onboard and not having to rely on dedicated GPU's, the market for ITX really has just opened up.
intels 4500HD and nvidia's 9300/ 9400 series gpu's are leaps compared to what was available prior.
i would not rule out VIA from the ITX, there products also have come a long way and finally shape up to become usable
another good site for ITX stuff is:
http://www.logicsupply.com
and of course
http://www.viaarena.com/

[bot@xs]

here would be a intel X4500HD option with pci-e
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0308813

not ITX but micro ATX thou

[Speederlander]

the 9300 was pulled by almost every exept for apple who is in contract to only use it, and the minx is supposed to be under $100 so that would make it and a cpu the same price as the zotec (if u can find it)

And yet the reviews on the zotac 9300 itx boards are on the whole quite good looking around various places on the net. :shrug:

With small itx boards there will be fewer things to be incompatible. Also, nVidia chipsets are notoriously sensitive to memory. Only pick memory tested by Zotac and listed as good on their site. That takes away a huge chunk of issues right there. Finally, how many of the complaints were centered around things like RAID and issues possibly tied to overclocking? Two things 99% of the mini-ITX market has zero interest in.

[Speederlander]

Nice premium case here: https://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-12062N1
Has 200W PSU and front display. It's a true miniITX only case, not miniITX plus microATX, so it's much smaller than the dual-use cases. Looks slick too, not some ugly book-shaped box.
There are better pictures on the egg but it's like $70 more expensive there: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133081

[liguhy]

And yet the reviews on the zotac 9300 itx boards are on the whole quite good looking around various places on the net. :shrug:

With small itx boards there will be fewer things to be incompatible. Also, nVidia chipsets are notoriously sensitive to memory. Only pick memory tested by Zotac and listed as good on their site. That takes away a huge chunk of issues right there. Finally, how many of the complaints were centered around things like RAID and issues possibly tied to overclocking? Two things 99% of the mini-ITX market has zero interest in.

I'm taking what both Zanzabar said above and what I quoted from Speederlander truthfully - I don't believe they're mutually exclusive. Bummer the Zotac board doesn't seem to have the headroom to fully utilize all its capabilities, but I'm not buying this board for myself and therefore would be more inline with something you'd buy for your parents than XS users would want. Heck, I'm not even going to put in a video card!

So, keeping both points in mind, what's the best LGA 775 board?

[chinaguy]

If I was to use the Zontac board I think I would cough up the extra $$$ and buy a E5200 $70. Any cheap Duo would be better then the P4 3.0Ghz chip. I know I am running 3 PCs based on the same chip including the one I use for my HT. You may want to run Windows 7 on it soon. The little upgrade will give the whole system longevity compared to usin the P4.