FM2 ITX Motherboards!

tutu · 4 Oct 2012 at 09:30

When will we see Trinity (FM2) ITX motherboards? I want to build a new HTPC and AMD's 24fps support is much better than Intels.. It would also make a great little system for playing the occasional game on the TV

FM2A75M-ITX (ASRock) and MSI have announced boards.. I'm not sure but hoping the ASRock supports CIR for remote turn off/on.

tutu · 4 Oct 2012 at 11:50

HeX said:
I'm sure in the other Trinity threads the OCUK bods said it'd be a 'few months' until any ITX boards appear.

HERE

tutu · 22 Oct 2012 at 20:02

I might get the Streacom FC5 and ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M (because it has a HDMI port unlike the other ASRock mATX). The ITX board ASRock make I don't think will fit (the DIMMS in the way for the heatpipes).

The thing is - I can't seem to see any comparison between A6-5600K (65W) and A10-5700 (65W) in terms of wattage, idle power, temps, power decoding films.. etc.

So I don't know if I should try the more powerful GPU/CPU.

What kind of PicoPSU would I need? It will be powering:

ASRock board, FM2 CPU + Blu-Ray (slim) + SSD drive.

I've also noticed from a (linux) review that memory speed plays a big part in igpu on trinity - can someone recommend 2 x 4gb modules? They have to have low height (42mm)

tutu · 23 Oct 2012 at 14:21

I'm still trying to decide between the FC8 and FC5. Do you think the heatpipes would clear the ASRock ITX boards DIMMs on the FC8 or the FC5?

tutu · 23 Oct 2012 at 14:25

This is a fascinating article on memory and trinity:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=amd_trinity_ddr3&num=2

Quite a big frame rate increase using 2133 Mhz (the article is for linux, but I don't see how that makes much difference)

tutu · 29 Oct 2012 at 19:51

Legion said:
Trinity loves bandwidth and scales well with it, DDR 2133 with tight timings is the sweetspot.
DDR 2400 with slacker timings see's a drop off in performance.

Paying twice the cost for 2400 probably isn't worth a couple of fps - just wondering where you saw that 2400 had worse performance?

tutu · 29 Oct 2012 at 22:15

Thanks for the link! I'm guessing the max memory a A6 5400K would support is 1867? Or can I set it separately as it's unlocked? Not sure. I will probably go for 2133. Unless I can find some cheap, low profile 2400.

tutu · 4 Nov 2012 at 19:21

Legion said:
This is more than enough for most people and good for the money.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-137-GL&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1387

Shame it went out of stock when I went to order it! :eek:

tutu · 5 Nov 2012 at 17:06

I've gone for the ASRock Pro4 FM2 board, as it's the only one that has a CIR header plus HDMI and fits in my case.

I would have preferred ITX so that I could re-use it somewhere else in the future. The ASRock ITX is not compatible with the Streacom FC5/8 due to DIMM slots being in the way.

tutu · 5 Nov 2012 at 17:15

Legion said:
Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 2133 and Gskill Ares 2133 can be had for similar money.

Thanks - brought some Corsair LP 2133. £10 more but I kind of need it

tutu · 6 Nov 2012 at 20:31

MAK360 said:
Cant seem to find any CIR header info on the MSI FM2-A75IA-E53 - Do you know if it has one?

From looking at it - don't think it does

Edit: Back to square one - FM2A75M-ITX (HDMI and CIR but no WIFI)

Yup. Choice is pretty poor!! My motherboard, CPU, RAM, CIR header all here.. Just waiting on case and PSU

My blu-ray drive will have to be sent back, no eject button

tutu · 7 Nov 2012 at 16:52

gropingmantis said:
The selection of ITX boards is so pitiful. I want a board with built in wifi and bluetooth

I would like them, but I don't really need them as I will be using gigabit ethernet, which is much better than wireless for consistent 1080p streaming from my linux nas.

I have Xbox 360 Wireless adapter I might use for connecting a 360 game pad for emulators.

But like I said before, I would have preferred it as I could re-use it later down the line (the board, cpu etc.)

tutu · 19 Nov 2012 at 19:54

Would the MSI FM2-A75IA-E53 fit in the Streacom FC8?

I received my FC5 today, but I am sending it back. The company (not overclockers as they were out of stock) sent me the wrong colour. After seeing it in the flesh, it's huge.

So I was thinking of getting the FC8 instead.

tutu · 27 Nov 2012 at 10:00

I have my MSI FM2-A75IA-E53 and Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 2133.

I am using it with a A10 5700 (locked). When I enable Intel XMP (2133) it boots up 'overclocking failed'.

When I set it manually to 1866 (the highest setting) - overclocking failed.

I can set it manually to 1600 and it boots.

Question is - will this ever work at 2133 or is it locked to max 1866? Not sure about FM2. Should I just buy 1866 RAM and return it? Or will it run at 2133 if it has a XMP profile? (if I can get working sticks!)

I also noticed the Samsung Green RAM.. 1600 but can be run at 2133 (I'm guessing I'm limited to 1866 by the BIOS) - would that be a good option? The Geil is also back in stock, and that should have a XMP profile for 2133? Anybody know?

tutu · 29 Nov 2012 at 14:27

Well I took the DIMMs out. Had a look at the sockets, there was a spec of mx-4, cleaned it off with a pin. Now it boots at 1866

I also tried the Geil DDR3 2133, booted at 1866. But not at 2133.

MSI have sent me a beta BIOS to try.

tutu · 29 Nov 2012 at 14:29

MSI are saying it's not possible to add manual voltage control? Are they talking out of their arse? Because I want to undervolt

tutu · 3 Dec 2012 at 20:09

fizban1980 said:
Also did you manage to make 2133mhz memory work?

Nope. I'm having issues running it at 1866 (it was working, now it isn't). The RAM runs quite hot.

I've noticed the Samsung Green 30nm - any idea what my RAM is CML8GX3M2A1600C9B? Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3? What process? I'm thinking the Samsung might run cooler.

tutu · 3 Dec 2012 at 20:11

Legion said:
It could well be the case.
Does using the bios's overclock Genie increase the voltage to any overclocks it applies?

P.S. that gallon of MX-4 all over the heatpipes in your XMBC build log won't do your kit any favours.
You're lucky you haven't fried anything up to now if you've dripped it all over the place.

I haven't dropped any - but when attaching the heatpipes I got some on my hands. Tried to clean it off!!

I shouldn't have followed the manual.. it's easier to attach the blocks to the side of the case and leave the screw loose and then slide the heatpipes in. Otherwise you need 3 hands!!

The voltage seems to fluctuate - e.g. sometimes 1.2xx and sometimes 1.3xx. I've noticed it go lower if I set it to 2.8ghz instead of 3.4ghz.

tutu · 3 Dec 2012 at 20:15

fizban1980 said:
Hi mate,

thinking of same build and just wondering if there were any problems fitting that MSI board into FC8 evo and are you happy with speed/temperatures?

Regards

With the MSI you will have an issue with the PICO power supply and the bottom right heatpipe. As their are only 2 ITX boards available, the ASRock is not suitable.

I got around the issue by using a ATX extender. So the MSI now fits.

I have an A10 5700 in the case and I think that was a mistake. Should have used a A6 5400K. But, looking at it the motherboard chipset actually runs hotter than the CPU!

I am having some serious issues with load temps. At idle and playing films it's fine.

I can get perfect 23.976 Hz output (confirmed). Not something you can get from Intel.

tutu · 4 Dec 2012 at 21:51

Is there some thermal paste that is sticky? I was thinking of buying a heatpipe and sticking it to the chipset heatsink on the motherboard and attaching it to the site of the Streacom FC8 case. I don't know if that is even possible.. If not could I replace the heatsink with another? Do they use push pins (confused) I would not want to remove the motherboard again