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The Summary Of Six Mini-ITX Mainboard Based On Intel Z77 Chipset (Part 1)

7/13/2013 11:27:10 AM

After the Intel Z77 chip was released, it is likely to provide the function of a large computer system in Mini-ITX form-factor. We plan to talk about six mainboards that could be used as a platform for an overclocking or gaming system. These will be the products from ASRock, Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte and MSI Zotac.

The Mini-ITX platforms recently were related to lower performance and lack of overclocking. However, the process keep going on. Here we have highly energy-efficient processors and single-chip core logic sets, encouraging the emergence of miniature system with full functionality, even from the perspective of computer enthusiasts. Hence, Mini-ITX system is not only a nettop, micro servers and media center, but also a high-performance gaming PC, even though it seems quite contrary. A great illustration of this revolutionary development is Falcon Northwest Tiki gaming PC, which is built inside a Mini-ITX case with a Core i7 quad-core CPU and a flagship graphics accelerator GeForce GTX. And if the professional system developers have begun installing such a system, why cannot we, as a normal user, do the same thing?

Six Mini-ITX Mainboard Based On Intel Z77 Chipset

Mini-ITX Mainboard Based On Intel Z77 Chipset

The release of the Intel Z77 chipset that combines all the LGA 1155 functionality in a single chip stimulated the development of numerous Mini-ITX mainboards, which could easily compete with their full-size counterparts in terms of functionality and features. Today products designed in Mini-ITX format even offer a full range of overclocking-friendly functions, not to mention previous accomplishments such as support of top processors and high-performance graphics accelerators.  And I'm not talking about a few unique mainboards, but about the overall growth of the market of Mini-ITX solutions like that. Every major player in the mainboard market offers such products.

This is one of the reasons why we put this summary on top. Here we will compare the existing LGA 1155 Mini-ITX mainboards that could be used to build an advanced gaming computer that will also allow overclocking the processor. And I have to admit that we uncovered quite a few mainboards like that. Of course, if you choose to build such a compact high-performance gaming computer, you will need to find a suitable Mini-ITX system case with a PSU powerful enough and the internal cooling organization efficient enough to handle a high-performance system.  But, frankly speaking, this is no longer a problem anymore. A key element of such a system is the mainboard and we intend to find out the best option among the existing products from ASRock, Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI and Zotac.

Comparing specifications of the test participants

If based on the same chipsets and platform, mini-ITX mainboards from different brands tend to have a lot in common, largely due to the restraints of the form-factor itself. There is not much space on a 17x17cm PCB for an engineer’s imagination to unfold, particularly as there are a number of obligatory requirements.

Any mini-ITX LGA 1155 mainboard which is based on the Intel Z77 chipset public and aimed at high-performance configurations must have at least one PCI Express x16 3.0 slot for a discrete graphics card and two DDR3 SDRAM slots for a dual-channel memory subsystem. It must be full-size memory slot, as high-speed DDR3 modules are not manufactured in the SO-DIMM form-factor. All LGA1155 mainboard must also be equipped with video outputs to enable integrated graphics core CPU.

Some common features of the mainboard which we discussed here stems from the ability of the Intel Z77. Every mainboard has two SATA 6 Gbit / s, two SATA 3 Gbit / s, at least four USB 3.0 ports and a couple of USB 2.0 connectivities. On the other hand, their developers have the flexibility to choose any network and sound controllers and can add onboard controllers for more SATA and USB ports. They can install mini-PCIe and mSATA expansion slots or not. And they can also choose to bundle the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth controller with their product or leave that to the user.

Mini-ITX mainboards are quite different in terms of their overclocking capabilities. Compact form-factor does not allow to deploy a multi-phase voltage regulator with advanced cooling, so the developers have to look for compromises of some kind or another. Some of them limit the mainboard's BIOS options while others hope that extreme overclocking will be limited naturally, meaning that by the parameters of the employed CPU cooler. There are Mini-ITX product looks like the full-size enthusiast-targeted mainboards and even provide Power and Reset buttons, as well as POST indicators.

Therefore, there are variants of mainboard specifications. To help you compare Mini-ITX products based on Z77 we have mentioned it in this review, we have gathered their basic specs in the following:

Test participants

ASRock Z77E-ITX

In 2012, ASRock released many successful Intel Z77 based mainboards. Therefore, we are very eager to get our hands on their Mini-ITX product, especially when its model name doesn’t give away any exciting details other than the Mini-ITX form-factor. ASRock has announced a very convenient naming convention for their full-size mainboards, where the models range from Extreme3 to Extreme11 allowing us to determine their positioning quite definitively. As for the positioning of the compact Z77E-ITX, it is quite difficult to outline it immediately. However, the combination of these features allows us to assume that it belongs somewhere in the vicinity of the Extreme3 ½, although any full-size ASRock mainboards do have a more powerful voltage regulator.

The design of the ASRock Z77E-ITX is based on a very simple principle

The design of the ASRock Z77E-ITX is based on a very simple principle

The design of the ASRock Z77E-ITX is based on a very simple principle. The function of this mainboard is the combined result of the Intel Z77 and features two additional controllers: USB 3.0 and WiFi. They used the ASM1042 chipset for the USB 3.0 controller, supporting UASP mode,  unlike the chipset USB 3.0 controller. WiFi is deployed around a Realtek RTL8191SE controller, operating in the 2.4 GHz range and supports 802.11 b / g / n.

The diversity of the additional controls on ASRock Z77E-ITX seem relatively modest, but it's important to remember that we are talking about Mini-ITX mainboards here, so arranging any number of components conveniently on a PCB of this size is quite a challenge. However, ASRock engineers have managed to find space not just for the parts and most important and necessary ports, but also for USB 2.0 two pin-connectors, one USB 3.0 pin-connector and two infra-red port connectors.

The number of SATA ports had been reduced to four

The number of SATA ports had been reduced to four

The number of SATA ports had been reduced to four two of them work as 6 Gbps and two – as 3 Gbps. The two remaining ports supported by the Z77 chipset also didn’t go to waste. Some of them are located in the back panel, while the other becomes a mSATA slot. Because there is not enough space on the front of the mainboard, they moved this slot to the bottom side of the Z77E-ITX mainboard, which is a very smart move.

No screw is included

No screw is included

However, ASRock engineers have missed a thing. If you are using an mSATA SSD, it should be fixed by a special set of screws. For example, the ASRock mainboard clearly has a special stand with the threading for this screw in it, but unfortunately, no screw is included with the mainboard's accessories. And this is actually a problem, because a screw like that is usually not included with the mSATA SSDs. Therefore, if you intend to use a compact drive with your Z77E-ITX mainboard, you may end up figuring out how to resolve the missing-screw issue on your own.

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