Mini-ITX VIA systems looking for feedback

[yamawho]

I have build afew small pc's in the last while and I'm looking at doing it again.

I have been eyeing these really small VIA mobo's with intergrated cpu.

I was considering a EPIA M10000 model shown here ...

http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia_m_spec.jsp?motherboardId=81

I want to build a very small pc for the kitchen and use it mainly to go online. These boards are about 6.5" square :wpleased:

Feedback ?

[Android Vageta]

You know, Ive never used these, but if all you really plan on using it for is for browsing, I see no reason why it shouldnt be able to. Obviously not the fastest hardware out there, but for what you want to use it for, it should be more than enough.

[sodface]

I like these boards. I've got the VE5000A seen in this post. (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6952)

It's pretty much the slowest of the bunch, but it fits my requirements, based on price, the fanless CPU, and the re-use of the PC133 memory I had lying around. I haven't done anything with it beyond powering up and looking at the bios, so I can't speak of its performance or lack of.

I see the one you are looking at is available in fanless also if you get the 600 mhz Eden proc. What are you going with?

When I did my kitchen computer (since removed :rolleyes: ) I went micro atx and got a small desktop case made by Aopen (which newegg apparently doesn't stock anymore) - the case was small enough that I was able to modify one of my kitchen drawers and mount it in there so it disappeared. I did have problems with heat, my cd-rom completely died between the time I loaded the OS and the next time I went to use it which was like 2 months later.

[yamawho]

I now use an old laptop 400 mhz running win98se in the kitchen.
The LCD screen gave out last year so I got a Benq 15''.

I'm planning to build it in the top section of a beard box which meausures 6.750'' x 14.5'' x 2.5'' deep.

Since I won't be using a std case, can I use a momentary contact switch to fire it up ?

[sodface]

Since I won't be using a std case, can I use a momentary contact switch to fire it up ?

Should work fine. When I plug up a board on the bench, I don't hook any of the case header pins up, I just briefly short the pwr on pins with a drive jumper or something and then remove it.

[sodface]

Are you going to use one of the small power supply boards then in lieu of a regular atx power supply? I guess you'd have to considering where you are mounting it (which sounds cool BTW ;) ) I'd like to know what you go with for power, I bought a regular micro-atx power supply because I thought the special purpose ones were pretty expensive. I may have to get one if space demands it.

[RyderOCZ]

Should work fine. When I plug up a board on the bench, I don't hook any of the case header pins up, I just briefly short the pwr on pins with a drive jumper or something and then remove it.

I have a little knife that fits (or should say doesn't fit so it makes nice contact) perfectly on the power pins......
Check this out though...I want one.
http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HSPC&Category_Code=Tech_Station

[yamawho]

The EPIAM has a C3 cpu at 1ghz with 256mg of ddr266 ram.

I plan to use Firefox ... does this system have the juice to run win xp or should I stay with win98se ?

[sodface]

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Professional
• PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

• 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

• 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space*

• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor

• CD-ROM or DVD drive

• Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

You should be ok.

[yamawho]

I have some old AT switching power supplies gathering dust.

Can I use one of these on this ATX mobo ?

[sodface]

I have some old AT switching power supplies gathering dust.

Can I use one of these on this ATX mobo ?

My initial reaction would be no, you need an ATX power supply, unless there is an adapter out there, I saw ATX to AT but not the other way around.

[yamawho]

Maybe I should just use a std case to get it up and running with the OS and all first.
Then I'll look into a small psu ...

Found this review ...

http://www.lostcircuits.com/motherboard/via_epia-m/

[yamawho]

I found a very interesting review comparing the EPIA M10000 to a Intel system with a 3.0C. They bench dvd playback, email, bootup time etc.
The results may surprize you ...

http://www.techbits.ca/modules.php?...=showpage&pid=2

[yamawho]

I'll try to repost the link ...

http://www.techbits.ca/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

[sodface]

I'll try to repost the link ...

http://www.techbits.ca/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

Yup, working now, off to read...

[yamawho]

After much consideration I have decided to use a Asrock K7S41GX mobo.
This is a small M-ATX mobo 9.6" x 7.8".
I will go with a Semptron cpu ... proabably the 2300.
It has alot of features in the bios like, FSB overclocking and it has mounting holes for aftermarket coolers. You don't see that everyday ...

The mobo and cpu combo will cost about 130$ cdn ... about half the VIA mini-itx EPIA M10000.

I have since revised my plan.
I'm going to attach the mobo to the back of my Benq 15" LCD and use the wall mounting holes to do it.

Here is a review on the mobo ...

http://www.overclockers.co.nz/ocnz/review.php?id=04boardviakm400shootoutsisvsvia0106

[sodface]

Sounds like a solid decision. How about doing a play by play posting as you put this thing together? I'd like to see how the mounting on the reverse side of the monitor turns out.

[RyderOCZ]

How about doing a play by play posting as you put this thing together? I'd like to see how the mounting on the reverse side of the monitor turns out.

:yup: Please Do :thumbs:

[yamawho]

Turns out that we can't post much in the way of pics here ...

I posted the review here

http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90212