ECS has entered the brand new Mini-STX market with their H110SU-02 motherboard, one of our first looks at a motherboard based on Intel's 5×5 concept for a sub-mITX form-factor.
The ECS H110SU-02 (Image credit: Maximum PC)
As you can see this tiny motherboard offers a standard LGA 1151 socket for Intel processors up to 65W, and uses SoDIMM memory (DDR4). The board only offers one SATA port, with a pair of M.2 slots in a stacked configuration for both full-length (2280) SSDs and the shorter (2230) cards such as wireless network adapters.
Specifications:
- Platform: Intel H110/B150 chipset
- CPU: LGA1151 socket for Intel i3/i5/i7/Pentium/Celeron Processors (65W)
- Memory: 2x SO-DIMM DDR4 slots
- Storage: 1x M.2 Slot (2280); 1x SATA
- Networking: RJ45; 1x M.2 Slot (2230) for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4.0 card
- USB: 1x USB 3.1 Type-C; 2x USB 3.0 ports
- Audio: 3.5 mm combo jack
- Power Supply: DC-in 19V, 90W
- Dimensions (W x D) 140 x 147 mm
Mini-SFX vs. Mini-ITX comparison (Image credit: Maximum PC)
Maximum PC posted this video with their overview of the motherboard:
With no PCI Express slot and the limitation of a 65W processor (which eliminates current high-end models such as the Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K, both at 91W) this is targeting a different audience than those choosing mini-ITX for a small gaming rig, for example. Still, there will undoubtedly be a number of applications for a system of just over 5 inches square; though Intel's existing NUC platform provides essentially the same experience in a smaller package, minus the socketed desktop CPU support, of course.
No details were given on pricing or availability.
So what’s the point of this?
So what’s the point of this? What niche is it designed to fill? Mini computers that need only fast CPUs but no GPU? Mini computers designed for just one monitor?
I’m confused as well since we
I’m confused as well since we already have nano-itx, so what’s the point of this aside from creating even more useless standards?
The key word is
The key word is “Standard”.
5×5 is a good size for many nieche aplications, and if things keep going the way they are it will only be a matter of time until intel has a top i7 with 750ti-ish graphics on chip at 33W, 5 years max is my guess. TVs keep getting thinner and lighter and it’s almost at the point where a vesa mounted mini-itx system changes the balance of these paper thin TVs.
Setting standards allows for various partys, to work on interchangable parts for future needs. It is not for us, or for anyone to declare what will be good or not good, we all just have to wait and see what sticks.
Lets not forget, back in the day when VIA released Mini-ITX all most of us saw was a piece of shit x86 cpu soldered to a tiny board destine for cash-registers, and yet 15 years later it’s even more common than micro-atx usta be.
mITX is “standard” as well,
mITX is “standard” as well, so what’s the point? By the time a top i7 has 750Ti-ish performance, you’ll need 980-ish performance just to be passable.
It seems pointless since Intel already markets NUC and Compute Sticks, let alone the countless Brix-style devices on the market. This just doesn’t seem necessary. Nothing special about 5×5 either. If you’re going to make a new mobo standard, then make it substantially smaller than mITX…
It’s for some that may want
It’s for some that may want to build a hackintosh mini, if some other maker will add TB3 support, and again with the “1x USB 3.1 Type-C” confusing/non USB-IF standard naming, is that a Gen 1, or a Gen 2 version of the Type-C plug. I still like the industrial versions of the Mini-motherboard PCs as they have much more in the way of connectivity options than the majority of the gimped down consumer versions.
It’s Only when they begin to offer TB3 versions of these STX motherboards that users will have some great options for these STX based devices, TB3 has some serious networking/external expansion options that the other TB versions do not offer, and that includes the introduction of optical TB cables this year for long runs between devices.
YES! MORE!!
I need smaller
YES! MORE!!
I need smaller and more powerful PCs!
So i can mount them to the back of all these 120hz 21:9 OLED monitors i have here in 2020.
What is this? A motherboard
What is this? A motherboard for ants?