Dirk Broer
02-09-2014, 12:20 PM
The Mini-ITX format (17x17 cm or 6.7x6.7 inch) is considered by non-crunchers to be the ideal APU mobo, as they will mostly stuff it into a HTPC.
You can however do more than that with a Mini-ITX mobo, though they have their limitations, as in only one PCIe slot.
I haven't been able to find any FM2+ ITX boards from the tier-two manufacturers: Biostar, ECS, Jetway or Zotac.
What's on the market with the tier-one?
Asrock:
FM2A88X-ITX+ (http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A88X-ITX+/?cat=Specifications) A max of 32GB 2400MHz in two slots!, 4x USB 3.0, 8x USB 2.0, 6x Sata3, 1x eSATA, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot and WiFi.
FM2A78M-ITX+ (http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A78M-ITX+/?cat=Specifications) A max of 32GB 2400MHz in two slots, 4x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, 6x Sata3, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot.
Asus:
none yet.
Gigabyte:
GA-F2A88XN-WIFI (http://ee.gigabyte.com/products/page/mb/ga-f2a88xn-wifirev_30/) A max of 64GB 2400MHz -in two slots!-, 4x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, 4x Sata3 and 1 x mini-PCI Express slot, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot and WiFi.
MSI:
A88XI AC (http://www.msi.com/product/mb/A88XI-AC.html#/?div=Basic) A max of 32GB 2400MHz in two slots, 4x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, 4x Sata3, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot and WiFi.
Based upon these specifications alone, the Asrock FM2A88X-ITX+ is the winner of this comparison. I'll look for some reviews though, to support the claim of best of the test.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/photo/FM2A88X-ITX+(m).jpghttps://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT4FJAktoSywJr5BnSPH6MQDUs51ikFr wMjmQOfXv58rmc2a-f-AHLwuG9I
Hardware.info goes for the GA-F2A88XN-WIFI, due to the better WLAN-module. Overclock.net mentions that earlier Asrock ITX boards could run so hot that they catched fire.
When you don't care about WiFi-WLAN and put your Mini-ITX in a good cooled BitFenix Prodigy, I'd go for the Asrock. When you have a Itsy-Bitsy-Teenie-Weenie-Yellow-Polka-Dot HTPC casing, i'd choose the Gigabyte.
http://ee.gigabyte.com/products/upload/products/3694/5c59_6.jpghttp://www.mikanet.com/museum/images/itsy_bitsy.jpg
cute, not?
You can however do more than that with a Mini-ITX mobo, though they have their limitations, as in only one PCIe slot.
I haven't been able to find any FM2+ ITX boards from the tier-two manufacturers: Biostar, ECS, Jetway or Zotac.
What's on the market with the tier-one?
Asrock:
FM2A88X-ITX+ (http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A88X-ITX+/?cat=Specifications) A max of 32GB 2400MHz in two slots!, 4x USB 3.0, 8x USB 2.0, 6x Sata3, 1x eSATA, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot and WiFi.
FM2A78M-ITX+ (http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A78M-ITX+/?cat=Specifications) A max of 32GB 2400MHz in two slots, 4x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, 6x Sata3, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot.
Asus:
none yet.
Gigabyte:
GA-F2A88XN-WIFI (http://ee.gigabyte.com/products/page/mb/ga-f2a88xn-wifirev_30/) A max of 64GB 2400MHz -in two slots!-, 4x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, 4x Sata3 and 1 x mini-PCI Express slot, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot and WiFi.
MSI:
A88XI AC (http://www.msi.com/product/mb/A88XI-AC.html#/?div=Basic) A max of 32GB 2400MHz in two slots, 4x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, 4x Sata3, 1 PCIe 3.0 slot and WiFi.
Based upon these specifications alone, the Asrock FM2A88X-ITX+ is the winner of this comparison. I'll look for some reviews though, to support the claim of best of the test.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/photo/FM2A88X-ITX+(m).jpghttps://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT4FJAktoSywJr5BnSPH6MQDUs51ikFr wMjmQOfXv58rmc2a-f-AHLwuG9I
Hardware.info goes for the GA-F2A88XN-WIFI, due to the better WLAN-module. Overclock.net mentions that earlier Asrock ITX boards could run so hot that they catched fire.
When you don't care about WiFi-WLAN and put your Mini-ITX in a good cooled BitFenix Prodigy, I'd go for the Asrock. When you have a Itsy-Bitsy-Teenie-Weenie-Yellow-Polka-Dot HTPC casing, i'd choose the Gigabyte.
http://ee.gigabyte.com/products/upload/products/3694/5c59_6.jpghttp://www.mikanet.com/museum/images/itsy_bitsy.jpg
cute, not?