Mini-ITX - motherboards. Description, characteristics, reviews

Many potential buyers believe that minimized computers of the Micro- and Mini-ITX format are inadequate and give preference to ATX-systems or laptops. That's just buying a full-length case and the corresponding components, none of the owners can not explain why 90% of the system block is empty. It turns out that somewhere the buyer made a mistake.

In this article, the reader is given the opportunity to get acquainted with the very attractive format of a personal computer, or rather, with its base element - the motherboard. The buyer will learn not only the technical characteristics of the device, but also get acquainted with the best models and see a brief overview of the basic functionality. After all, Mini-ITX are motherboards, which today are considered the most popular on the computer market, which means that this format will remain in the trend for the next decade.

Specialized segment

There is nothing unique about the small size of the system unit. If you look at personal computers ten years ago, it will be found that the Mini-ITX format was quite in demand on the world market. Personal computers of this size were used as office workstations, multimedia centers and found themselves in home use.

And do not think that the form factors of the motherboard of miniature sizes in some way limit the owner. In fact, based on the Mini-ITX, you can even build a gaming computer. The inconvenience can be felt only by enthusiasts who prefer to overclock the components of the system unit. Yes, with cooling in a miniature case there may be problems.

Kernels - pure emerald

And you do not need to believe the reviews in the media that miniature motherboards are created only for the Intel platform and have a limited series in the context of a single chip or core. As practice shows, in the domestic market Mini-ITX (motherboards) with the AMD processor are much more common than the chips of the main competitor.

As for the platforms, there are no restrictions on Socket: 775, 1150, 1151, AM1, FM2. Also on the market you can find integrated solutions from Intel, which offer a processor soldered into the motherboard. Naturally, the platform has the support of both single-core processors and chips with multiple cores.

Entry Segment

A fully integrated system will definitely be the most affordable on the market, regardless of the chip that Mini-ITX (motherboard) is supplied with. The size here plays no role, just like the power consumption of all components in the assembly. The low price is explained quite simply - the computer is difficult to improve. In fact, the user is only able to increase the amount of RAM and the size of the hard disk. This is where the upgrade ends. The reader agrees that such a solution looks like a laptop.

On the other hand, the power of the Mini-ITX board tends to zero, so purchasing a personal computer with such a motherboard allows the user to save money quite well. The maximum consumption of such a computer will not exceed 150-200 watts.

Office solutions

In an inexpensive segment, integrated motherboards built on the basis of the Intel Celeron processor with two cores proved to be good. Personal computers of this class are used in medium and large business and belong to the class of printing office equipment. The Mini-ITX case, if desired, is equipped with a horizontal or vertical chassis, and can also be accompanied by a built-in optical drive.

As for the brands, the choice here is quite large: AsRock, MSI, Gigabyte and Asus. Differences between products are not special, the difference can only be in the number and type of memory modules. So manufacturers allowed themselves to use the controller SO-Dimm to save space on the motherboard. Negative feedback from the owners of such systems can be understood - memory for laptops is more expensive than a conventional desktop shelf.

Market of available components

Some Mini-ITX motherboards based on the AMD chip, many customers refer to the budget segment. The matter is that the devices have attractive cost. However, the potential of such boards is much higher, because the manufacturer has tried to make a product that can satisfy even the demanding buyer.

It's better to begin with the fact that along with integrated network, audio and video adapters, the company's technologists have placed on the board a full-fledged PCIex16 bus. And this means that in a small case of the device you can install a modern video game card. Naturally, the potential of such a computer will directly depend on the processor in the system. There are no restrictions - you can install even a crystal with eight cores.

Home Media Server

Compactness, quiet operation and low power consumption - these are the three basic requirements that home users put to the seller in the market of portable systems for creating a multimedia center. If a small Mini-ITX casing is able to satisfy two first wishes, then consumption often very often causes problems, since most users try to purchase a productive motherboard and a powerful processor.

For multimedia, it's more important not the speed of the crystal, but rather the reaction of the hard drive to events and a large amount of RAM, for operating data in real time. The Mini-ITX board should be the cheapest. But, in conjunction with integrated components, several modern memory controllers and ultra-fast SATAIII interface should be provided on board.

The fight for the mobile device market

Yes, gaming laptops have no competitors in terms of mobility, but when it comes to portability, many buyers have doubts. It's easy to guess that the whole problem lies in decent cooling and the possibility of improving the basic components (CPU and video card). So, miniature Mini-ITX - motherboards 1150 (Socket) - are focused just on the solution of such problems.

Naturally, the buyer will have a question about the potential of full-format ATX systems that have better cooling and can be improved without problems. However, the consumer will have to give up mobility. Therefore, it is so difficult to determine the form factor before buying. As practice shows, Mini-ITX (motherboards) are a kind of compromise between a full-fledged computer and a laptop.

Recommendations of experts

With the multimedia center everything is clear - the minimum dimensions, the economical processor and the minimum of components in the device will allow the buyer to achieve their goals when buying. But fans of resource-intensive games that pay attention to compact personal computers, will have to worry about the correct arrangement of the device. It is important not to pile up the Mini-ITX motherboard format with extra components, so that the cooling system completely blows through the system unit.

Give preference to better modern processors with low power consumption (up to 65 watts), as well as pay attention to the requirements of the video adapter. Do not forget about modern technologies in the form of SSD-drives, as well as the presence of external optical drives that are available in the domestic market. The main task of any player who wants to buy an ITX-system is to increase the free space inside the computer case and reduce power consumption in conjunction with heat generation.

Finally

It is not necessary to build illusions that the form factors of the motherboard have segmentation in performance. This is a mistaken opinion. Reducing the size of the system unit is due only to ease of use, because often the majority of desktop computers do not use the space on the table or under it. On this, all the differences end.