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Motherboard for a mobile CPU?
BlindZenDriver
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm planning on building a completely silent PC for none-gaming needs. Looking at what could be a suitable CPU my eyes have hit this one: Core i5 I5-520M
It's a CPU with integrated graphics unit found in lots of laptops sot it's low power and all that. Finding a place to buy the thing has been no problem but strangely I have been unable to find a motherboard to go along with it o_O
Intel's CPU specs
Apparently the CPU socket has two names: G1 and PGA988 (Also BGA1288 but I think that is for a different version of the CPU).
Any ideas?
It's a CPU with integrated graphics unit found in lots of laptops sot it's low power and all that. Finding a place to buy the thing has been no problem but strangely I have been unable to find a motherboard to go along with it o_O
Intel's CPU specs
Apparently the CPU socket has two names: G1 and PGA988 (Also BGA1288 but I think that is for a different version of the CPU).
Any ideas?
Bones heal, glory is forever.
BlindZenDriver on
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You could probably get a similarly quiet system (noting that even laptops have CPU fans) by underclocking a desktop processor and going with a nice quiet aftermarket cooler.
EDIT: I suppose you might be able to find a laptop motherboard, and somehow mount that inside a case. But I'm pretty sure all those laptop parts (including CPU coolers) are all pretty custom, based on the design of the laptop in question...probably more trouble than it's worth.
If only the Mac Mini was not so damn expensive I'd properly buy one of those. I have also looked at some of the copies from Dell and the like but they are not as silent as I'd like and buying and modding one seems silly.
*Core i7-870, SSD drive...
Here is a link to the shop HRT Informationstechnik GmbH and a picture of the least expensive for those just wanting a picture :P
Priced at €277 = $384 and up I shall have to take a different route. After all on top still comes PSU, CPU, RAM, storage and a case, so the new plan is to go with a dual-core Atom CPU solution.
Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB 2.5IN SATA Solid State Disk Flash Drive
Kingston KVR1066D3S7/2G 2GB 1X2GB PC3-8500 DDR3-1066 204PIN SODIMM Memory
ASUS AT5IONT-I MINI-ITX Motherboard
MINI-BOX M350 Universal MINI-ITX Computer Case Black
PICOPSU-150-XT Power Kit
about $450 all total.
Thank you for the list.
I'll likely end up with something along those lines. My initial plan was for something with more power, hence the Core i5 CPU, but having been forced to give that up now I wonder if it's to be an ATOM on a ION2 based board like the one you suggest. Or perhaps one with just the Intel "GPU" since I'm not gonna attempt 3D on it and seeing how cheap I can go could also be fun.
One detail is bugging me about that ASUS board - unlike a few other options it does not come with a external DC connector. With a DC connector one does not need the PICOPSU thing just a power brick and that saves a few $ since those PICOPSU's are a bit pricey.
Decision, decisions... 8-)
the Asus AT3IONT-I DELUXE comes with it's own power brick, and also a remote, costs about $20 more than the AT5IONT, but you'd save money not needing the pico-psu, and it's also passively cooled, slightly slower processor, and uses a previous generation ION chip so graphics are a little slower too, but it's probably only 20% less performance, still a great option for a net-top or htpc.
there was susposed to be a AT5IONT-I DELUXE coming out that would have the power brick, but no news on it's release date have ever come out since the board was released. my guess is ASUS scrapped it and will wait for the next version to do a deluxe.
Gaming was never a plan and for the planed duty of mail, light surfing and acting as music server and torrent client ION does not really matter. However if I am to think a little ahead going with an ION2 there is a big difference to all other Atom based solutions and that is the platform is then able to play Full HD material. In other words the most flexible solution is an ION2 based board and there I see two candidates.
There is the Asus AT5IONT-I with it's signature blue heat sink and then there is the Jetway JNC98-525-LF looks a lot less flashy. The later is more expensive but it has an 12V DC input so this saves the need for a PicoPSU meaning in reality means the cost is about the same. The ASUS board comes with 2xSATA, ESATA and USB3 where the Jetway brings 4xSATA (two of which can do RAID 0, 1 - nice in a server).
Ignoring the graphics side of things means looking at boards with just the Atom CPU and Intel graphics and while it would save me aprox. $100 it also means no DVI or HDMI and to me VGA is getting old. The lack of DVI could be fixed in that those boards usually have an okay PCI Express expansion port but this then eats most of the money saved - on the plus side a discrete graphics card would not be limited to the 1920x1080 resolution like the ION2 boards are.
Right now I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on the following:
Jetway JNC98-525-LF motherboard, D525 Atom CPU and Nvidia ION2 chipset and graphics.
Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5C, 2 x 2 GB ram
Intel X25-M G2 80 GB SSD drive
Samsung SpinPoint M7 (Enhanced) HM641JI 640 GB
FSP FSP0601AD101C712-RS (Not to see here it's just a 60 watt power brick)
What is missing is a case for the thing and my plan is to go all DIY here. Most cases one can buy are a bit on the big side and usually comes with a front plate meant for a slim optical drive which I don't need. Instead I imagine something as slim as possible with a heat sink or two sticking out 8-)
The AT3 DELUXE is tempting but it's to slow to play Full HD which I think is a big downside. Somehow it's not cheap enough for what it brings unless one is gonna hook it up to a 720p TV.
LOL - I have been reading all over about that board but it does look like ASUS has killed it even before it got on the market. Likely they are waiting for the next big Atom thing supposed to come in Q2 or Q3 2011. Unfortunately I can not wait that long.
Edit: btw, still heavily recommend a i3 build, it'll do everything better and gives you more upgrade/reuse possibilities.
What Zell said, the asus board has zero issues with full HD.
Maybe I'm misinformed about ION1 but the tests I have seen tell delivering stable 1080p is not happening on that platform, if possible please point me to a article which says differently. Also as for the resolution my post should have said 1920x1200 but going above that I can't find. This is for example looking at specs ASUS lists for their AT5IONT-I.
I like the Core i3 but it draws a lot more power than an Atom based solution so I worry about making it work without fans. An Atom D525 uses 13 watt max where the mobile version of Core i3 is 35 watt (except for the 1.2 Ghz version which is likely slower than an Atom) and a desktop Core i3 is 73 watt on top which goes the motherboard which will also eat a lot more power. Anyway I'm gonna take another look but I think it's uses to much power for me to make a system with just passive cooling. If you know of any silent Core i3 systems do let me know.
I'm not too worried about upgrade/reuse options. After I do have a gaming system as well which is getting most of the love (eg. upgrades) :P
Edit: That is, as long as you offload the video to the nvidia chipset you're fine.