MSI launches a trio of Braswell Mini-ITX ECO motherboards

[HEXUS]

Meant to be "the perfect solution for HTPC or industrial devices".

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[abaxas]

Grrr, come on intel. How about a low end part with a reasonable iGPU.

4600 performance would be fine for 99% of games.

[DanceswithUnix]

Grrr, come on intel. How about a low end part with a reasonable iGPU.

4600 performance would be fine for 99% of games.

If that is what you are after, then an AM1 socket system is going to be a better choice. Available now, cheap, and if you ever want to put better graphics in the system then you aren't held back by only having a PCIe x1 socket.

[kingpotnoodle]

Grrr, come on intel. How about a low end part with a reasonable iGPU.

4600 performance would be fine for 99% of games.

If a low end CPU with a reasonable gaming GPU is what you want then AMD have got you covered... I'm not sure Intel are interested, historically they seem to keep the GPU and CPU proportionally crippled/enhanced depending on position in the range.

[DanceswithUnix]

I'm not sure Intel are interested, historically they seem to keep the GPU and CPU proportionally crippled/enhanced depending on position in the range.

It has been argued that Intel are very interested, just not the way you would hope: http://semiaccurate.com/2012/12/18/h...-door-on-gpus/

[abaxas]

If a low end CPU with a reasonable gaming GPU is what you want then AMD have got you covered... I'm not sure Intel are interested, historically they seem to keep the GPU and CPU proportionally crippled/enhanced depending on position in the range.

The issue is that the AM1 platform is not really game capable and mini-itx boards for the Ax-xxxx line are too expensive.

[Myss_tree]

AM1 as well is a 25 watt cpu, these Braswell are less than a quarter of that.
Agree that they need some high end Intel graphics, would that though mean an increase in power draw?
Can you also use one stick of 8GB so-dimm or does it have to be 2 x 4GB?

[CathalM]

I can't see where these motherboards 'fit in.' A nifty concept, but I'll stick to options with better processors, albeit older ones.

[DanceswithUnix]

AM1 as well is a 25 watt cpu, these Braswell are less than a quarter of that.
Agree that they need some high end Intel graphics, would that though mean an increase in power draw?
Can you also use one stick of 8GB so-dimm or does it have to be 2 x 4GB?

TDP is not power draw, it isn't even maximum power draw, it is just a guideline for heatsink sizing.

And yes, if you make the graphics faster it will be drawing more power.

[Neostar]

Damn why didn't they use a socket on this

[shaithis]

The issue is that the AM1 platform is not really game capable and mini-itx boards for the Ax-xxxx line are too expensive.

The FM2+ ITX boards are decently priced. Before them, most ITX boards cost 100ukp+. It's only these new SoC boards that have made ITX cheaper, which isn't surprising really as there is less on the board and therefore not only are the component costs lesser but the design and manufacturing will also be easier.

I doubt we will see any SoCs in the next year or so that many hexites would be happy playing the latest games on.