ASUS Packs a Load Onto Mini-ITX for AMD Users

[btarunr]

ASUS is ready with a feature-packed socket AM3 motherboard in the mini-ITX form-factor, based on the AMD 880G + SB710 chipset. The ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe, as it is called, supports AM3 processors, probably with a TDP limited at 95W or 125W, and supports up to 8 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory using SODIMMs (laptop memory). It far from stops here. The 880G chipset packs a DirectX 10.1 compliant ATI Radeon HD 4290 graphics, complete with SidePort memory and HD video acceleration features. The SB710 gives out five SATA 3 Gb/s ports on this board, of which three are internal, and two eSATA. The lone expansion slot is a PCI-Express 2.0 x16.

Connectivity includes 6-channel HD audio with optical and coaxial SPDIF output, WiFi b/g/n, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, and display connectivity which includes DVI and HDMI (with 7.1 channel HDMI audio). The SB710 comes with the unintended functionality of unlocking disabled cores on some processors.



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[FreedomEclipse]

AHH!!!!

it runs off laptop ram Dimms. good stuff - though ram latancy is pretty piss poor with laptop dimms

 

[wiak]

DDR3 timing suck anyway atm hehe
you can find DDR2 SO-DIMMs at 5-5-5-25 now
you just need to wait a year or two for DDR3 SO-DIMM to go that low

 

[Semi-Lobster]

Well its about time somebody made some AMD based mini-ITX motherboards that are actually worth owning!

 

[xkche]

I like it!!! ...but, SO-DIMM... i don't know...

 

[ASharp]

Man, that's awesome. Was hoping something like this would finally come along. There aren't too many mini-ITX boards for AMD. Too bad, as mentioned, it's SODIMM.

 

[Imsochobo]

Well its about time somebody made some AMD based mini-ITX motherboards that are actually worth owning!

Okey, you can put on 6 core 3.2 ghz 8 gig ram and 5970!
On a mini ITX!!!!

 

[btarunr]

What's wrong with DDR3 SODIMM? They have the same timings as desktop parts for any given frequency.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

What's wrong with DDR3 SODIMM? They have the same timings as desktop parts for any given frequency.

I was about to say their expensive but just googling some prices....they are actually not bad at all!!

a (1Gbx2)2Gb OCZ value kit is £42 ish. & a 4gb kit costs around £100

 

[Fourstaff]

What's wrong with DDR3 SODIMM? They have the same timings as desktop parts for any given frequency.

Compatibility. Its hard to sell the parts once your ITX build reaches retirement.

 

[btarunr]

Compatibility. Its hard to sell the parts once your ITX build reaches retirement.

There are millions out there who use notebooks, and DDR3 SODIMM is new. So that's a non-issue.

DDR3 SODIMM is also easily available, and prices are nearly identical to regular DIMMs.

 

[Fourstaff]

There are millions out there who use notebooks, and DDR3 SODIMM is new. So that's a non-issue.

DDR3 SODIMM is also easily available, and prices are nearly identical to regular DIMMs.

Market for notebook memories is much smaller than normal sized sticks. But I should have phrased my comment on "harder" instead of "hard"

 

[Grings]

I would also rather see full size ram, theres plenty of intel itx boards with full size ram slots, yet all amd ones i've seen use laptop dimms, amd's huge socket/heatsink bracket maybe?

Also, why do ALL these itx board have crappy sound chips, given that most people would want to use the single pci-e for a gpu, theres no way of upgrading this. Asus should stick one of their rebranded c-media chips on it..

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I would also rather see full size ram, theres plenty of intel itx boards with full size ram slots, yet all amd ones i've seen use laptop dimms, amd's huge socket/heatsink bracket maybe?

1. its to save space
2. it really makes no difference if its laptop or desktop ram. there shouldnt be any negative performance impact or at least not extremely negative.

Also, why do ALL these itx board have crappy sound chips, given that most people would want to use the single pci-e for a gpu, theres no way of upgrading this. Asus should stick one of their rebranded c-media chips on it..

because these ITX boards are mainly used for Media Pcs to stream music & movies. also Realteks HD codecs aint too bad. not as good as dedicated audio but its not so bad at all.

there is a way to upgrade the audio & thats to use a USB audio card if thats what bugs you the most

 

[ERazer]

looks like a good cruncher rig

 

[suraswami]

Well its about time somebody made some AMD based mini-ITX motherboards that are actually worth owning!

+1. Long wanted to build a iTX based machine but always something is missing. Finally Asus got it right.

What is that gold connectors shown in the picture? Is it built in TV tuner?

 

[robn]

What is that gold connectors shown in the picture? Is it built in TV tuner?

Wifi RF connector I think. Says it has B, G and N.

 

[btarunr]

Market for notebook memories is much smaller than normal sized sticks. But I should have phrased my comment on "harder" instead of "hard"

But availability is not harder, even if the market is smaller.

 

[Fourstaff]

But availability is not harder, even if the market is smaller.

Nah, I was more concerned about selling, not buying. I understand your stance though.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

This was something I was looking for a while back. Every other board I found that fit what I needed was missing something like Wifi or decent GPU, which would have cost me any extra $35 to $50. This always put the package a little on the uncomfortable range.

I think I am going to build that set top box now cause my HTPC is just overkill for what I use it for.

I am starting to really like MSi.

 

[Zubasa]

DDR3 timing suck anyway atm hehe
you can find DDR2 SO-DIMMs at 5-5-5-25 now
you just need to wait a year or two for DDR3 SO-DIMM to go that low

DDR3 already has lower actual latency than DDR2.
You can't just look at the numbers alone.

 

[Wile E]

Does SB710 support port multipliers?

 

[Cuzza]

Yes please, I'll take one right now. How much?