Mini-ITX/775 advice please

clv101 · 3 Aug 2010 at 12:25

I'm looking to build a mini-ITX system. I need more power than an Atom but don't like the cost of the i3 system. Processor wise, something like the £47 E5400 2.70GHz is enough. So I'm looking for Socket 775 mini-ITX systems.

Can anyone recommend a good board? I guess I'm looking at the G41 or G45 chipset?

WLAN is also required, are the boards with build in WLAN a good idea, or is a USB dongle the best way?

Are Shuttle systems any good?

I know nothing about Zotec, but they seem to have a few interesting boards including:
ZOTAC GeForce® 9300-ITX-WiFi
Looks pretty good, is it?

Guardsmon · 3 Aug 2010 at 16:17

Depending on budget, graphics and how many SATA connections you want - it might be worth looking at something like the zotac 610i-itx board. OK not much too it, but cheap and you can pick up a PCI-E 1x wireless card or USB.

chipps101 · 3 Aug 2010 at 16:22

i have a zotac g41 itx and a 9300 itx and they are both good boards, the 9300 chipset does run rather hot though.

clv101 · 3 Aug 2010 at 16:48

Guardsmon said:
...the zotac 610i-itx board.

That looks pretty good, certainly cheap.

clv101 · 6 Aug 2010 at 00:51

I built a system around the Zotac G41 ITX board tonight, E5400, 4GB, 500GB, DVD-RW... complete system including LG 1920x1080, MS mouse & KB with Win7 for ~£500. I'm really impressed with the ITX format. The CPU max temp reaches 58C under the stock cooler.

randal · 6 Aug 2010 at 00:54

Have remedied the temp issues on my GF9300 with a 40mm Fractal Designs fan, a couple of bolts and an application of AS5. Great board, shame it won't do any anything above DDR2-850 but still enough.

neil_g · 6 Aug 2010 at 08:11

chipps101 said:
the 9300 chipset does run rather hot though.

interesting, ive never had any heat issues with mine (rev 1 i think). i stressed mine for 10 hours when i built it and the whole thing never really went over 57c

chipps101 · 6 Aug 2010 at 10:21

neil_g said:
interesting, ive never had any heat issues with mine (rev 1 i think). i stressed mine for 10 hours when i built it and the whole thing never really went over 57c

i think i'll need to take the heatsink off and reapply some as5 to it and see if that helps, i bought my board from the members market so maybe the heatsink has loosened or something but even in my sugo sg03 with plenty of airflow my temps are in the mid 80's while watching films (was hitting the low 90's in the q07).