mITX non-gaming suggestion

[StarTech]

I am planning the replacement of an old Phenom II X2 550 system with an SFF using the Streacom F1CS Evolution case.
Currently leaning toward Intel 35W TDP, i7-7700T or i5-7600T processor. Linux OS. No gaming planned. Some light embedded development and a couple of light VM images.
Ideally, 32GB. WIFI, graphics and DC power input. I will try to squeeze in case two SSDs plus the slot DVD.

Any suggestions for good quality motherboard?

 

[StarTech]

I have found the ASUS Prime H310T. It is a thin mITX, with the advantage of DC connector. Seems to have a recent chipset. I would have to add an M.2 WIFI adapter.

Does anyone know what the difference would be between the ASUS "Prime H310T" and the "Prime H310T/CSM" ? They have the same manual.

 

[Rayman30]

Compatibility Support Module

The Compatibility Support Module (CSM) is a component of the UEFI firmware that provides legacy BIOS compatibility by emulating a BIOS environment, allowing legacy operating systems and some option ROMs that do not support UEFI to still be used.

 

[VirtualLarry]

@Rayman30 , that might be correct, if we were talking about BIOS settings, but in a mobo name, it refers to "Corporate Stable Model", meaning a motherboard, with a longer planned production lifespan, with minimal / no component changes to the BOM, such that corporate images can be created for PCs based on that mobo, and deployed for several years, and that there will be an adequate supply of that mobo model for a number of years.

It's the hardware/motherboard equivalent of "LTS" Linux / Ubuntu releases, or LTSB for Windows 10 Enterprise.

 

[Rayman30]

@Rayman30 , that might be correct, if we were talking about BIOS settings, but in a mobo name, it refers to "Corporate Stable Model", meaning a motherboard, with a longer planned production lifespan, with minimal / no component changes to the BOM, such that corporate images can be created for PCs based on that mobo, and deployed for several years, and that there will be an adequate supply of that mobo model for a number of years.

It's the hardware/motherboard equivalent of "LTS" Linux / Ubuntu releases, or LTSB for Windows 10 Enterprise.

That's good information, thanks Larry.

 

[StarTech]

So it really does not matter to me. Thank you.

 

[StarTech]

Thank you guys. I have moved up to the Z370 chipset. I think I may go with the Gigabyte Z370N WIFI. My second preference would be the ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming.

I have a question. In the past, 8-10 years ago and prior, for me, the place to go to buy hardware used to be NEWEGG. Now I find the place a bit confusing, they seem to be playing a reseller channel, and is not like I can buy all components from them like it used to be. What is the best place to buy all pieces of a system nowadays? Is there such a place anymore ?

 

[Rayman30]

Thank you guys. I have moved up to the Z370 chipset. I think I may go with the Gigabyte Z370N WIFI. My second preference would be the ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming.

I have a question. In the past, 8-10 years ago and prior, for me, the place to go to buy hardware used to be NEWEGG. Now I find the place a bit confusing, they seem to be playing a reseller channel, and is not like I can buy all components from them like it used to be. What is the best place to buy all pieces of a system nowadays? Is there such a place anymore ?

My go to place is Micro Center, I have heard Fry's is good to.

 

[StarTech]

My go to place is Micro Center, I have heard Fry's is good to.

I used to go to Micro Center or Fry's over 10 years ago, when I used to live in an area where there was one. Now I am 150 miles away from MC and way more to Fry's. I see MC has some WEB presence now, but after looking at them and Newegg, Amazon... it seems to me that I will have to cherry pick where I buy different components, simply because nobody has most of what I want. In the past I might have purchased the memory from Crucial and the rest from Newegg. Oh well... Than you

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

Newegg is still a good place to buy. There is a filter in the various search menus as well as in the top of the results page that lets you filter out resellers. I will typically do that.

You can also go to pcpartpicker which will check compatibility between components and show you the store with the best price.

-AG

 

[wdb1966]

If you have to go with Intel, it’s hard to beat a Shuttle XPC. Personally I would go with a Ryzen 5 3400G and a B450 board that would easily be on par with the 7700T in processing, but head and shoulders above on graphics.

Also keep in mind the cost difference. For what you would pay for just the Intel CPU, you can get the Ryzen CPU and ITX board with considerable change left over...and fewer security issues to deal with too.

FYI, I just bought a refurb 7700T on Amazon at considerable savings (for my daughters XPC), and it would still be about the same cost for a factory new Ryzen and board combo.

 

[matheusber]

If you have to go with Intel, it’s hard to beat a Shuttle XPC. Personally I would go with a Ryzen 5 3400G and a B450 board that would easily be on par with the 7700T in processing, but head and shoulders above on graphics.

Also keep in mind the cost difference. For what you would pay for just the Intel CPU, you can get the Ryzen CPU and ITX board with considerable change left over...and fewer security issues to deal with too.

FYI, I just bought a refurb 7700T on Amazon at considerable savings (for my daughters XPC), and it would still be about the same cost for a factory new Ryzen and board combo.

I second that, I was planning an Intel from the low tdp type but the price for it and after some reading that made me see them more like a much slower part for too much money, I then got the 3400G from AMD and next week I will get them all and start to put it all together.

Note that the slower Ryzen have both the 45w and 65w tdp on wikipedia, so I guess they are not that far from the 7700T on this matter.

matheus

 

[StarTech]

Late thanks for the answers. As an update, I went with an AMD solution based on a 2200GE on an ASROCK B450 ITX. All in a MX500 case. I have it booting with Linux, but the project is on standby due to other summer priorities.

 

[Iron Woode]

Late thanks for the answers. As an update, I went with an AMD solution based on a 2200GE on an ASROCK B450 ITX. All in a MX500 case. I have it booting with Linux, but the project is on standby due to other summer priorities.

I did something similar for my HTPC build. I used the regular R3 2200G and the Asrock B450 Gaming Fatal1ty ITX/ac. I used the Thermaltake Core V1 case.

 

[misuspita]

I would use Asrock A300 today. So small it's like a toy.

 

[StarTech]

I did something similar for my HTPC build. I used the regular R3 2200G and the Asrock B450 Gaming Fatal1ty ITX/ac. I used the Thermaltake Core V1 case.

That is the board I used. For cooler I used the heat sink block of an AMD stealth with the fan replaced with a thinner TITAN one. I got the idea from a member in small factor forum. It fits well in the case.

 

[Iron Woode]

That is the board I used. For cooler I used the heat sink block of an AMD stealth with the fan replaced with a thinner TITAN one. I got the idea from a member in small factor forum. It fits well in the case.

I used the stock cooler since I wasn't going to use it for anything more serious than playing music and videos.

with pic:

 

[StarTech]

I used the stock cooler since I wasn't going to use it for anything more serious than playing music and videos.

with pic:

View attachment 9672

In my case, the 2200GE does not have stock cooler. In fact I got it used from China. So I had to pick a cooler. The case I selected has limited heigth, so I had to look for something small. I saw this idea of replacing the 27mm fan from AMD Wrath Stealth with the 15mm Titan. I am sure I am loosing some cooling capability, but my thinking is that it should be enough for the 2200GE power envelope.

 

[Iron Woode]

In my case, the 2200GE does not have stock cooler. In fact I got it used from China. So I had to pick a cooler. The case I selected has limited heigth, so I had to look for something small. I saw this idea of replacing the 27mm fan from AMD Wrath Stealth with the 15mm Titan. I am sure I am loosing some cooling capability, but my thinking is that it should be enough for the 2200GE power envelope.

My case has more headroom so if I wanted a more aggressive cooler it would have been easier:





Still, cases are a subjective issue. I like this one due to excellent airflow. It is a little tall and doesn't allow for long video cards.

I am pretty impressed with my build. My next build will be my main rig with an R5 3600. I am just working on which mobo I want.