Help, Can't find the right Micro-ITX MoBo

Smiler

Smiler

Smiler

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Hello folks,

I'm having trouble sourcing a suitable Mini-ITX mother board to suite my needs for my HTPC build.

The requirements are:
Socket 1155
SATA 3 6gb/s

I also want 2x HDMI output - so I can send full sound & vision signal to both the TV and the monitor.
2x Digital audio output - Either optical or coaxial, to feed the AV processor and the DAC for the normal stereo amp.

I thought I'd found just what I wanted in the form of:

Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3-B3

But it's out of stock everywhere and apprently discontinued.


The closest I can seem to find is:

Zotac Z68ITX-A-E

But this only has one SPIDF for digital audio out.

Are there any motherboard configurating/hunting sites out there?


Alternatively, are USB DACs up to the job for fussy gits?

Cheers,

Smiler.
 
Someone not long ago on here said that external DACs are a better idea anyway? So as to prevent noise from the PSU and other components?

If I remember correctly, I did have trouble with my headset on my old Zotac ITX (socket 775) with noise when using USB for example.
 
Yes, that may have been in answer to one of my previous posts. It's due to interference from the not very audiophile friendly PSUs. I am planning to use an external DAC and was hoping to feed it from a dedicated source. I was rather hoping that the USB option wouldn't be afflicted by any issues which would open up my options somewhat.
 
Smiler said:
Yes, that may have been in answer to one of my previous posts. It's due to interference from the not very audiophile friendly PSUs. I am planning to use an external DAC and was hoping to feed it from a dedicated source. I was rather hoping that the USB option wouldn't be afflicted by any issues which would open up my options somewhat.
Click to expand...

Sorry beyond that I don't know much :P

But there very few ITX boards, so chances are you will have to compromise somewhere. The Zotac having 2 HDMIs seems good though.
 
I didn't think the Gigabyte was EoL already?

edit: oh looks like it is. I had better stop recommending it to everyone. What the hell are GB playing at? They had better have either a Z68 or a Z77/75 on the way :mad:
 
It take it that the Gigabyte is a good board then? I have read a few reviews saying they've experienced problems, including one with hdmi playback.
 
After seeing the cost of an adapter to seperate the HDMI into DVI and audio for the monitor and speakers, I have decided to drop the spec to 1x HDMI and 1x DVI and run a DVI cable and thin audio cable from the green socket to the monitor and speakers.

I am also resigned to the fact that I am going to end up with a USB DAC for the stereo.

So with that in mind, I'm looking at this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-012-ZT&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2071

Cheers for the help.
 
If you're a fussy git for audio via USB, you probably want an async DAC. This is whgere the DAC derives the clocking, asking for data when its buffers become empty rather than the PC just shovelling data at it when it thinks it needs to...
 
Gigabyte EoL'd the H67 board a while ago and brought out a H61 version without SATA3 but with USB3. I have voiced my flabbergastery to the local distributor here ;).

ECS do a nice H67 mITX board which is also pretty cheap and fairly fully featured. Intel also do a few (DH61DL, DH67CF media series, and DQ67EP spring to mind).

MSI do a H61 board.

Asus do a few as well (H67I, H67I-Deluxe and H67I-Pro )

That should give some options for you to take a quick double check over. I am using the Intel H67CF and Q67EP boards myself and have built clients machines around the Intel H61DL, Gigabyte H61 and ECS H67 boards as well. I have not come across any particular issues with any of them.

RB
 
Thanks for that, I have just ordered a Zotac H67ITX-C-E. In fact, the whole machine has now been ordered, though not all from overclockers. The case for example is only available through certain HTPC specialists.
 
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