Decisions! Decisions!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have decided to actually scrounge together some more pennies together and do a bigger upgrade to the following system:

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...ml#post2062174

Since AM3 based mini ITX motherboards are quite expensive and there is not much choice ATM, I will probably go for an Intel system. ATM,I am looking at a socket 1155 based system. However the budget is around £200 for the CPU,motherboard and RAM.

I am looking at the following motherboard:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...dlb3-intel-h61

http://www.intel.com/products/deskto...L-overview.htm



The Foxconn H67S also looks good but seems to be not available any more:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/mot...-h67s-review/1



There are some more expensive socket 1155 motherboards but they around £90 to £100 but part from SATA 3.0 and USB 3.0 is there any reason to go for them?? Since the processors won't be overclocked the VRM sections of the cheaper motherboards should be fine with even a Core i5??

Regarding the processor, I am debating about getting a Core i3 2100 or a Core i3 2100T or even a Core i5 2300.

The system will be mostly used for web browsing,word processing and gaming at 1024X768. I may add an HD5670 GDDR5 at a later date.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Moose droppings!! The Intel motherboard does not have a full length PCI-E slot!!

Is it worth investing in a cheaper socket 1156 based mini ITX based system especially since you can get parts second hand much more easily?

[Terbinator]

Moose droppings!! The Intel motherboard does not have a full length PCI-E slot!!

Is it worth investing in a cheaper socket 1156 based mini ITX based system especially since you can get parts second hand much more easily?

For the tasks you've mentioned, it would be worth a look IMO. Even an i3 is as good as an Athlon II X4 in multi-tasking and is a very capable gaming CPU - and comes with the IGPU to save on initial cost, provided you get a H67 board.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The think the main advantage of a socket 1156 based setup would be cheaper but the advantage of socket 1155 is the better upgrade path ATM.

I wish I had got the Zotac H55 mini ITX motherboard when CCL had them at around £62 excluding delivery.

Edit!!

I just did some costings.

A second hand Core i3 and a new Gigabyte H55 ITX motherboard will probably be around £140.

A new socket 1155 Core i3 2100 or 2100T and a H67 ITX motherboard will be around £180 to £185.

ATM, I am not sure whether the newer setup is worth £40 more or not!!

[El Juan Pablo]

You'll get more mileage out of the newer stuff obviously but its upto you, if it fits into the budget buy it.

[Bagnaj97]

A quick google found this: Intel DH67CF iH67 Socket 1155 Mini ITX DDR3 Motherboard - BLKDH67CFB3SINGLE
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/I...ard_39686.html

I've not used overclock.co.uk but a socket 1155 with pcie x16 mini-itx seems to be what you're after.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A quick google found this: Intel DH67CF iH67 Socket 1155 Mini ITX DDR3 Motherboard - BLKDH67CFB3SINGLE
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/I...ard_39686.html

I've not used overclock.co.uk but a socket 1155 with pcie x16 mini-itx seems to be what you're after.

I am still waiting for an answer from OcUK whether they are going to be re-stocking the Foxconn H67S.

I can get a new 65W Core i3 2100 for around £80 or a new 95W Core i5 2300 for around £120. I don't know whether it is worth pushing the boat with a Core i5 as it consumes more power and will mean I would go over budget too. I can get a new 35W Core i3 2100T for around £85.

[Bagnaj97]

I don't know whether it is worth pushing the boat with a Core i5 as it consumes more power and will mean I would go over budget too. I can get a new 35W Core i3 2100T for around £85.

According to this http://www.itxgamer.com/motherboards...t-impressions/ that mobo I just linked appears to support 95w processors but Intel were worried about temps in itx enclosures. The Intel blurb says "Using the Intel® Desktop Board DH67CF with a 95W TDP Core and the supplied standard Intel thermal solution may not meet thermal requirements if used in a mini-ITX chassis. For specific processor compatibility, please visit http://processormatch.intel.com." and several sites have successfully tested the board with 95w processors. That said it is more expensive than the Foxconn but at least there appears to be stock out there...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

According to this http://www.itxgamer.com/motherboards...t-impressions/ that mobo I just linked appears to support 95w processors but Intel were worried about temps in itx enclosures. The Intel blurb says "Using the Intel® Desktop Board DH67CF with a 95W TDP Core and the supplied standard Intel thermal solution may not meet thermal requirements if used in a mini-ITX chassis. For specific processor compatibility, please visit http://processormatch.intel.com." and several sites have successfully tested the board with 95w processors. That said it is more expensive than the Foxconn but at least there appears to be stock out there...

I will probably stick to the 65W Core i3 2100 or the 35W Core i3 2100T then:
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=53422
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=53423

Is a 20% reduction in clockspeed worth it for a 30W reduction in TDP though??

[Ricco]

I will probably stick to the 65W Core i3 2100 or the 35W Core i3 2100T then:
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=53422
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=53423

Is a 20% reduction in clockspeed worth it for a 30W reduction in TDP though??

I would say so, but depends if you think your really going to need the extra CPU cycles or not?

[badass]

Based on your plans for gaming with an HD5670, I'd say the lower TDP CPU will not bottleneck it. It's still a 2.5 GHz dual core.
Of course, if you don't need it now, you could always wait for Llano. It could turn out to be perfect for this type of setup.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Based on your plans for gaming with an HD5670, I'd say the lower TDP CPU will not bottleneck it. It's still a 2.5 GHz dual core.
Of course, if you don't need it now, you could always wait for Llano. It could turn out to be perfect for this type of setup.

I would have liked to go with Llano but it is supposed to be launched in May or June. On top of this I really need the motherboard to be mini ITX and AMD has not had a good track record regarding this for desktop CPUs,ie, they take their time!

One or two of the SATA channels on my Shuttle are a bit temperamental too!

Anyway,I have ordered the following parts now:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...3-b3-intel-h67

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-%...-9-24-xmp-150v

Since I am using the stock cooler the height of the RAM should not be an issue but I hope the heatsink is not too wide:
http://www.******.net/articles_pages/corsair_vengeance_ddr3_12gb_1600mhz_review,3.html

[watercooled]

IMO the 2100T has an impressively low power draw, I'll try to find some power draw comparisons between it and the normal 2100 though. The AES instruction set on the i5's is interesting but probably wouldn't be useful beyond benchmarks for most desktop use.

Edit: I'm not sure if this would be possible with the locked multiplier now on Intel CPUs (downward-locked too?) but you might be able to underclock/volt a 2100 to the same sort of specs as a 2100T for less money then return it to stock in the future.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I may go with the Core i3 2100 as it gives me more leeway TBH!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

New shiny!!





The motherboard does not come with many accessories. Two SATA cables and a I/O shield is your lot apart from the blurb and driver disk. Since this motherboard has a pair of HDMI outputs and a VGA output you need to buy a separate adapter if you want to use a DVI monitor.

[watercooled]

mmmmmmmmmm new hardware boxes...

Got everything you need for the build now then?