bit-tech.net | Gigabyte GA-GC230D Atom Mini-ITX

Jack_Pepsi 10th September 2008, 08:59

I don't understand why they included a Parallel port, completely redundant (imo).

Cthippo 10th September 2008, 09:11

Can the two SATA ports be run in RAID1 from the BIOS? I'm looking at one of these for a fileserver, but if I have to go buy a PCI RAID card in addition to the other components, then a two drive NAS box (Around $200 with drives) starts looking pretty appealing.

ParaHelix.org 10th September 2008, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack_Pepsi
I don't understand why they included a Parallel port, completely redundant (imo).

Yeah, but, I wouldn't say "completely" redundant as they are still used by programmers for hardware programming.

atanum141 10th September 2008, 09:45

Could this run OSX??

Bindibadgi 10th September 2008, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthippo
Can the two SATA ports be run in RAID1 from the BIOS? I'm looking at one of these for a fileserver, but if I have to go buy a PCI RAID card in addition to the other components, then a two drive NAS box (Around $200 with drives) starts looking pretty appealing.

No, it's the vanilla ICH7 not the ICH7R. You can use something like FreeNAS though and do a Software RAID 1 - I've done that with my parents NAS box. It's no the fastest thing on earth, but it works.

Cthippo 10th September 2008, 09:53

Software RAID=FAIL

Reminds me why I don't buy Intel stuff anymore.

Thanks for the info though, Rich

Bindibadgi 10th September 2008, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthippo
Software RAID=FAIL

Reminds me why I don't buy Intel stuff anymore.

Thanks for the info though, Rich

No problem. It's hardly surprising though considering the cost of the board, and a 2 port PCI SATA RAID card costs very little unless you want something hardcore.

The boy 4rm oz 10th September 2008, 10:12

Performs pretty well for Atom board. Would make a good Office PC or perhaps a media PC.

Cthippo 10th September 2008, 10:14

More like something real. A lot of the cheap "RAID" cards don't have any onboard processing and just use a driver to offload it all onto the CPU. Granted, that may not be too much of a load, but if I'm flipping through images while listening to music, both from the fileserver, it can get pretty dicey at times.

In addition, finding linux drivers for a lot of those cheap cards can be near on impossible. It's basically the "winmodem" effect all over again.

bowman 10th September 2008, 10:22

Why didn't you try overclocking it, just for laughs? I still have yet to see anyone overclock an Atom. It should clock really well too!

steveo_mcg 10th September 2008, 10:34

It looks like it should be more responsive than my old epia m 1k. I'd consider replacing it but i'd need some way of passively cooling it. I've gotten quite used to working in complete silence.

The Infamous Mr D 10th September 2008, 10:43

The Atom is certainly an impressive design, but this is let down by the ancient chipset with its whopping TDP, lack of video support, networking and expansion options. With the majority of the features catered for by USB and onboard options, a PCI slot seems redundant - a PCI-Express x16 slot would have been a real boon for the enthusiast market.

I'm probably going to sit and wait for Mini-ITX v2.0.

Bindibadgi 10th September 2008, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowman
Why didn't you try overclocking it, just for laughs? I still have yet to see anyone overclock an Atom. It should clock really well too!

It'll do between 1.8-2GHz, but it really doesn't give that much more performance.

Cthippo - unless you drop about the same amount as the entire Atom board for a "hardware" RAID card, you don't get any offloading - no motherboard comes with anything XOR-hardware, Intel ICH-R's included :)

Mr.D - Intel (very validly) pointed out that you get what you pay for, and if you wanted those extra features buy a Pentium Dual Core and a G45 mini-ITX board. (It just so happens that I got one today :D)

Vode 10th September 2008, 11:07

Are mITX boards (commonly) compatible with ATX/mATX cases? Or are the stand-offs all wrong?

Been thinking of knocking up a little 24/7 home server/NAS box. Was thinking an Eee Box for it's low power consumption, but this would be great - and I'd be able to use real hard drives :P

The Infamous Mr D 10th September 2008, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
Mr.D - Intel (very validly) pointed out that you get what you pay for, and if you wanted those extra features buy a Pentium Dual Core and a G45 mini-ITX board. (It just so happens that I got one today :D)

Now that's more like it! Where do I get one and how much?

Phil Rhodes 10th September 2008, 11:16

If you put a plug-in DC/DC converter on that, won't it obscure the PATA port?

Cupboard 10th September 2008, 12:24

One thing they are doing very well is dropping the floppy port :)

As I have said before - I really want one but I cannot justify it, even if it is dirt cheap.

Stuey 10th September 2008, 12:59

Quote:

This is the first time we've seen Intel's prodigy ultra low power platform (yes platform, not just CPU) come to a motherboard for us to play with in much more freedom. Well, when we say that, it's all relative.

Well there has been two Intel board iterations, with the more recent version similar to this gigabyte one being out there for quite some time now...

Anyways, I am very eager to try out an atom desktop board, but this legacy port business kills it for me. What is also irritating is that the mini-itx power options out there approach 75% of the cost of the Atom-integrated board itself.

Singularity 10th September 2008, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141
Could this run OSX??

Well, intel's reference board, that this is based on, can (not saying it legally should :D)

These atom boards are pretty nice... now, if only I could find a decent small PSU in this god-forsaken country...

MilkMan5 10th September 2008, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rhodes
If you put a plug-in DC/DC converter on that, won't it obscure the PATA port?

No, both PATA/IDE and power will fit together, no problem

Jojii 10th September 2008, 17:03

would a 8600 gt help or does that card cost more than it will benefit?

Cupboard 10th September 2008, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jojii
would a 8600 gt help or does that card cost more than it will benefit?

I should think that would help a lot, though I would imagine that they would suffer from lack of bandwidth. The only problem is, where do you get one from? Scan have one PCI graphics card, a Geforce FX 5200
OcUK:none
Dabs: nothing recent, Geforce 6200 is the best
Ebuyer: GF6200/5200 (but they do have an ATI HD 2400Pro)
Aria: Sis. Brilliant.
Micro Direct: the usual rubbish selection.
I can't think of anywhere obvious that I have left out

-EVRE- 10th September 2008, 17:35

for idle power consumption.... that thing = fail...
a year old Acer T180 with an AMD single core 2.3ghz processor with 3gb of ram, and hd draws 39-41 watts (on a kill a watt).. granted at full load it pulls 87 watts....

Where is the power savings of this supposed efficient system?! Most of the time a computer spends is at idle...

Bindibadgi 10th September 2008, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by -EVRE-
for idle power consumption.... that thing = fail...
a year old Acer T180 with an AMD single core 2.3ghz processor with 3gb of ram, and hd draws 39-41 watts (on a kill a watt).. granted at full load it pulls 87 watts....

Where is the power savings of this supposed efficient system?! Most of the time a computer spends is at idle...

I've had a call from mini-ITX.com today who claim the 270W PSU is still too powerful for it and recommend a 120W DC-DC, so I've got to find one and retest it. However, the power consumption is still plausible considering the northbridge is old and doesn't have any specific power saving.

Bindibadgi 10th September 2008, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vode
Are mITX boards (commonly) compatible with ATX/mATX cases? Or are the stand-offs all wrong?

Been thinking of knocking up a little 24/7 home server/NAS box. Was thinking an Eee Box for it's low power consumption, but this would be great - and I'd be able to use real hard drives :P

They are compatible with ATX - it's 4 screws.

Mr. D - dunno yet, haven't tested the G45 board but I suspect the 780G/8200 NV equivalent to be better.

Jojii - It would still be underpowered - I'm finding today a 2.1GHz single core AMD CPU on a 780G is still having trouble with some things.

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Gigabyte GA-GC230D Atom Mini-ITX

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