Long time reader, first time posting. I am working on a custom PC case (a Marshall Lead 100 Mosfet head) and I need a nice small motherboard to fit in it. I have searched and searched only to find this (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...alog=22&depa=1) but I am unsure of its quality and dependability. So I came here in search of advice and knowledge. Here are a few requirements I would like in this board:

1. It needs to be 7 inches (18.5 cm) in one direction.
2. I would like it to support DDR memory (don't worry about speed)
3. AGP video slot (I have a nVidia card from a recent upgrade to an ATI that I would like to use)
4. I don't have a CPU preference. Intel or AMD... its all good in my book (if you would like to suggest a CPU that would work nice with the motherboard feel free)
5. Price: the cheaper the better.

This rig will be for internet browsing, maybe some DVD watching, and some Photoshop sessions every once in a while. No overclocking for this rig, more for functioningaesthetic than for performance. Thank you all very much for your time in reading this post.

It could do internet, that's about it. Forget about smooth DVD or any serious playing with Photoshop. Are the dimensions you stated the absolute max?

I could maybe get away with 19 cm, but no more than that. Just curious, how acurate are the dimensions listed on sites like newegg? Thanks for the quick reply BigAkita much appreciated.

Let me and the other pimps look around a bit. What you want is a SFF board that is tiny, can take a late model CPU, and has almost everything integrated. One question, will you want integrated graphics or a board that has an AGP slot. If you have room, I recommend an add on graphics card.

smallest I've found is 20cm. Good luck


Edit: I did find a VIA board that is 17cm, but it does use the VIA CPU.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=1244

An add on graphics card would be great, especially AGP. I have a nVidia card I can use on this rig and it's AGP. I will take a look at the Small Form Factor PCs. Thanks for taking time to help me out.

Edit: I looked into those mini-ITX boards, but nobody really commented on the VIA processor. Are they comparable to Intel or AMD processors? Any reviews or first-hand experience would be sweet. Thanks again.

the 1ghz via's are not even comparable to pentium 4s or athlon xp's.

However, I did find a board that suits your needs. It is flexATX so you might have mounting problems. I have no idea where to buy it, but I suspect it will be expensive.

It is a Pentium 4 (400/533 bus) with an Intel 845GV (integrated graphics) BUT it has both AGP and a PCI slots. Dimensions are 170mmx245mm.

Here is the linkage

You can try to contact them, I know that people on the silent pc something-or-another forum have gotten Pentium-M boards from them so you might want to inquire there about how to go about purchasing a board.

Hope that helps.

Brandon Cisneros

Sweet find, Gamma.

Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita Sweet find, Gamma.

Hehe I've been looking to buy an embedded board for quite some time so I just happened to see this one earlier today.

Here is a review of a board similar to what you are looking for. You'd have to go PCI graphics though. I suppose it is better than nothing.

Review Linkage

Here's the linkage for a Pentium 4-M (lower voltage and heat, hard to find)

and

Here's the linkage for the same board but with a normal p4.

I have seen some 3.5 inch (imagine fitting it into a floppy bay) pentium 3s and Pentum-Ms but they have integrated "Intel Extreme Graphics" so no room for expansion. The best Ive seen of those ultra small form factors is the mini-AGP slot which can be upgraded with a ---part of sentence edited by me for innaccuracy---

If i find something better I'll let you know.

Brandon Cisneros

EDIT: I don't really know about the mini agp if it supports newer cards. I just assumed that alienwares have upgradeable graphics like this so i assumed they used mini agp. i have yet to find out for sure. EDIT (for this EDIT) I am pretty sure that the radeon 9600 mobility has a mini agp slot but not positive on this

EDIT Part 2: I have found someone who sells a pentium 4 mini itx ( no agp. sorry, i'll keep looking) for 129 pounds. (129 pounds = 230 american dollars) its really small and not short of power if you add a PCI video card. Here is the site and motherboard

Quote: Originally Posted by Gamma_Goblin You can try to contact them, I know that people on the silent pc something-or-another forum have gotten Pentium-M boards from them so you might want to inquire there about how to go about purchasing a board.

These guys?

The Shuttle SFF boards sound almost ideal, some of the newer ones even have AGP slots, and they go most of the way up in terms of CPU possibilities.

Trouble is, they're not routinely (at least not without quite a bit of digging around anyway) available outside of a barebones system, so that put's 'em above $200. But you DO get a PSU and cute little case

Shuttle USA, look under XPC's...

If you do chose to go P4 itx then check out a good PCI video card-- fastest one available I believe


Geforce FX 5600 PCI

EDIT to post below (I've posted enough in this thread until i find somehting new

CRE oh i think i was looking at the price for the P4M I guess I did not look hard enough before I ran to xe.com

Damn Gamma, that LV-670 is sweet! BTW the BVM site you posted a link for does have a currency selection. $212.85 for the P4 version. Hmmm.... now if I just had the cash, I'm sure I could come up with a project for it.

Hey Atomic, does it have to be square? You only said 17CM in one direction. Might this work for you?
http://www.commell-sys.com/Product/SBC/P4BGA.HTM

Dimensions are 170 x 245 mm. Plus it has a 4x AGP slot.

http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?src=IB&item=57689

How does this board stack up? Seems decent, but I have never heard of DFI. I assume by the 60 dollar price tag its not all to hot, but I will listen to you cats as you all seem to know your stuff. That LV-670 is looking very pimp! Thanks for all the help it is much appreciated

Atomic, that board seems adequate considering its very small size. I mean there are not too many options in the powerful yet small computing realm of comsumer electronics. DFI is not a "no name" company. They make those flashy looking DFI Lan Party boards.

CRE, that is the board I posted earlier
Sportbilly: those are the guys. i edited one of my posts too. thanks

Brandon Cisneros

Um, isn't that DFI board a little big for you? 30.5cm (12") x 19cm (7.48")

Sorry, Gamma, missed that.

Quote: Originally Posted by CRE Um, isn't that DFI board a little big for you? 30.5cm (12") x 19cm (7.48") Sorry, Gamma, missed that.

19cm is about as big as I can have a motherboard to comfortably fit inside the case. The other direction doesn't matter as I have about 15 inches to play with. I will look around for reviews of this board, in the meantime if anyone has anymore suggestions feel free to post them.

how bout one of these...
http://directron.com/viaepiav1000a.html