Back in 2008 I built a small VIA based system for a photo frame. Just checking on recent Mini-ITX system produced some interesting results. For about the same cost as the Blue-Diamond system back in 2008 the current systems have dual core Atom n510 systems with 2GB ram and 160GB SATA HD.
The new systems are a lot cleaner, if slightly larger. About an inch larger in width and length and about 1/2″ higher.
Here’s one back configuration. But the motherboard below is different.
I looked at several different sites to configure and purchase systems and based on the options and cost, Logic Supply looks like the best bet.
and Here are systems based on another case that is slightly larger.
I priced systems based on the Atom n510 dual core system with 2GB memory, a 160GB 7200rpm SATA drive and case fans for cooling.
The wireless will be supplied by a USB adapter as it is with the blue-diamond.
The Jetway motherboard seems like the best choice.
This Jetway MB has quite a few interesting features:
| NF96FL-510 Specifications | |
| Processor | 1.66 GHz Intel Atom D510 (dual core) |
| Chipset | Intel ICH8M |
| System Memory | 2 DDR2 667/800 DIMM Up to 4 GB of memory |
| VGA | Integrated Intel GMA 3150 Graphics |
| Supported Resolution | 2048 x 1536 (VGA) |
| Expansion Slots | PCI PCI Express Mini Card 1 PCI 120-pin adapter connector for expansion daughterboards |
| Onboard IDE | 44-pin |
| Onboard Serial ATA | 2 SATA (3 Gb/sec.) connectors |
| Onboard USB | 9 USB 2.0 |
| Onboard LAN | Realtek RTL8111DL PCIe 10/100/1000 |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC662 5.1 channel HD codec |
| Back Panel I/O | 5 USB 2.0 ports 1 VGA port 1 LAN port 1 eSATA port 1 RS-232 COM port 1 PS2 keyboard port 3 Audio jacks: line-out, line-in, mic-in 1 12-volt DC jack |
| Onboard I/O Connectors | 2 SATA connectors 1 IDE slot 4 USB 2.0 via 2 pin headers 1 LVDS pin header (18-bit, dual channel) 1 LVDS inverter 1 LPT pin header 1 GPIO pin header 1 LPC pin header 1 RS-232/422/485 COM pin header 1 Front panel audio pin header 1 Front panel pin header 1 S/PDIF-out pin header 1 CD audio-in pin header 3 Fan pin headers SATA power connector |
| BIOS | AMI BIOS 8 Mb flash memory |
| System Monitoring & Management | Watchdog timer, Power Management, Wake on USB, Wake on PCI, Wake on keyboard, Wake on mouse, Wake on Ring, Wake on LAN, CPU temperature monitoring, System temperature monitoring, Fan speed control |
| Operating Temperature | 0ºC ~ 60ºC |
| Form Factor | Mini-ITX (17 x 17 cm) |
| Includes | Backplate SATA power cable (1 Molex to 2 SATA and 1 Berg) 2 SATA cables User manual Driver CD |
Click for a larger view.
Proclockers has a detailed review of this board.
This looks like an awesome system for about $300 with 2GB memory, and a 160GB HD.
Since Logic Supply is willing to configure Ubuntu for $20, all the support must be built into this OS. I’m confident that this system could be installed with a USB CD-ROM like the Blue-Diamond and since Ubuntu 10.04 supports the Wireless USB Stick out of the box, I’m sure I could move that to the new system.
I’ll consider this for Christmas.
– ww
Windy Weather 