Galaxy Prepares Atom-embedded ATX Board

[btarunr]

Following several companies coming up with nettop embedded platform boards based on the Intel Atom processor, Galaxy seems to have taken the initiative to build a ATX size board. This board features an Atom 230 processor aided by the i945GC + ICH7 chipset. It features a PCI-Express x16 slot along with five PCI slots. The i945GC provides integrated Graphics Media Accerator 950 to handle display, while the ICH7 provides four SATA ports. The board provides two DDR2 slots for 533 MHz or 667 MHz modules. The provision of a fan connector near the CPU suggests active cooling for the CPU.

The board provides only a D-Sub connector for display output though, several smaller form-factor boards even include DVI connectors, something that's lacking here. There's 8-channel audio provided, and the PCI-Express x16 provides the option of upgrading the graphics sub-system though don't expect to build a gaming machine out of this, it uses only an Atom 230 that isn't top of the line for Atom series either. Besides, Galaxy seems to building this for the OEMs, indications are this won't hit the retail market.



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[alexp999]

beaten to it again!

I dont get the point in this. Surely even an Micro-ATX is kinda pointless? Isnt the whole point in the atom platform to be small? You may as well have a much more powerful board in a full atx case.

 

[lemonadesoda]

I think a mini-ITX, and micro-ATX, Atom solution DOES make sense... since that format is a standard office PC size. The Atom is perfect for a low power, always on, web, email and MS Office machine.

However a full size ATX, well that is strange. What kind of 5x PCI devices would you want to put in there?

INTEL pwns its partners with the Atom 230 when IT just released a mini-ITX with the far superior Atom 330.

 

[NamesDontMatter]

perfect for a linux file server/print server no?

 

[lemonadesoda]

perfect for a linux file server/print server no?

No. The Intel Atom 330 ITX that btarunr posted yesterday would be a BETTER fileserver/printserver. http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=69226 Faster, small, cheaper, with IDE and 2x SATA is more than enough for a fileserver/printserver.

If you are talking enterprise fileserver, then of course NO, to both.

 

[Baum]

isn't this pointless because of its price/performance? even if it is used for surfing and office it will be extremly weak and thus an normal cheap mobo with clocked down cpu would beat it?

Just another thing that is too special for me

 

[NamesDontMatter]

No. The Intel Atom 330 ITX that btarunr posted yesterday would be a BETTER fileserver/printserver. http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=69226 Faster, small, cheaper, with IDE and 2x SATA is more than enough for a fileserver/printserver.

If you are talking enterprise fileserver, then of course NO, to both.

Why shoot me down about this? It would be just fine. I wasnt looking for an answer its called a rhetorical question. I question how often you make file servers based on Linux. I have several running in small businesses interfaced with both OSX and windows networks. Most are small networks of course with small servers. But definitely either setup would work just fine depending on how much your willing to pay. I just don
t find mini-itx cases to be cheap enough to make it useful as a server(a cheap cost effective one at that). I stick with ATX/micro atx cases when building for cost, and looks. I recently bought a macish looking full ATX case for a mac networked business at about 30$. Its not just the components on the motherboard that makes motherboards ideal for file servers, but their formfactor too.

 

[DaJMasta]

Yeah the form factor is strange..... the CPU isn't powerful enough to support the expansion cards really. Even a good graphics/sound card with full HD decoding wouldn't be able to smoothly play back a video and take some advantage of the PCIe x16 slot. While 5 PCI slots are nice.... if you even came close to using all of them I have a feeling you'd be maxing CPU load a little too often..... even useful low processing power cards like dedicated raid cards or networking cards would use too much CPU to use all 5.




That all being said, if they include mounting holes for a full sized cooler and a good bit of OCing options, that may be an interesting board

 

[lemonadesoda]

Why shoot me down about this? It would be just fine. I wasnt looking for an answer its called a rhetorical question. I question how often you make file servers based on Linux. I have several running in small businesses interfaced with both OSX and windows networks. Most are small networks of course with small servers. But definitely either setup would work just fine depending on how much your willing to pay. I just don
t find mini-itx cases to be cheap enough to make it useful as a server(a cheap cost effective one at that). I stick with ATX/micro atx cases when building for cost, and looks. I recently bought a macish looking full ATX case for a mac networked business at about 30$. Its not just the components on the motherboard that makes motherboards ideal for file servers, but their formfactor too.

I'm not shooting you (personally) down. Just counterargument. If you cry "its rhetorical" dont answer me... then dont post!

A ITX mb fits in a regular ATX case or micro-ATX case, FYI. This mainboard will only fit in FULL SIZE ATX. What is the point? There is no reason in a modern (simple) file or print server for 5x PCI slots. Its unnecessary manufacturing expense. A micro-ATX or ITX mainboard is more than enough for your suggested purpose. IF you had control applications, or a serious PC where you needed 5 PCI slots, then you will want a much better mainboard, more RAM slots and better CPU.

The combination as shown is just a misfit.

 

[kwchang007]

How about a truly passively cooled HTPC?