Motherboard ASrock Thin mini-itx with PCIe x16 connection?!

[davefletch13]

First post, so hi guys (came here because of the AM4 STX post by ASrock, P.S. PLEEEASE make that happen)

Has anyone else seen this, I don't know if its new or not but it looks like its a flat mini-itx mobo with a full sized PCIe.

https://www.asrock.com/ipc/overview.asp?Model=IMB-1212

I am thinking of making a thin HTPC but I wanted it to have a 1050ti:
My plan is a single slot 1050ti with a PCIe riser to lay it flat, (https://smallformfactor.net/news/single-slot-xfx-rx550-asl-gtx-1050-ti-previewed would be great) and then either a https://www.cnet.com/products/intel-thermal-solution-hts1155lp-processor-cooler/specs/ or a custom made passive case (my cousin owns a mid-end CNC mill)

So two questions:
I know this in the industrial section so has anyone had any success in buying from them or a supplier?
Any see any issues with strapping a 1050ti to this, I know with a normal flat mini the x4 has a 25watt limit but I would guess as its a full x16 it will be the 75watts a 1050ti needs?

P.S. Love your forum!!! o7

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

I am considering this motherboard too. Already have an Asus Q87T, that is the same form-factor but with PCIe-4X (successfully power a 30w GT1030).

I'd guess it provides 75w, since this is what the norm says a PCIe-16x should provide.

 

[ChairmanDev]

Ayy it’s finally out! I’ve been looking for a thin itx board with the features that this one had. @AleksandarK mentioned this one in the AMD on STX thread a little while back and I’ve been waiting for it since. Very exciting stuff.

 

[Arboreal]

First post, so hi guys (came here because of the AM4 STX post by ASrock, P.S. PLEEEASE make that happen)

Any see any issues with strapping a 1050ti to this, I know with a normal flat mini the x4 has a 25watt limit but I would guess as its a full x16 it will be the 75watts a 1050ti needs?

P.S. Love your forum!!! o7

Great find, a really exciting spec board!

It looks like thin ITX, with flat SODIMM sockets and low profile rear IO.
The 4 pin connector isn't in the usual place or the the usual type on thin ITX, so that could be for a higher power supply and to properly feed the PCIE x16 slot with 75W of power as you suggested.
Looks really promising, i hope it is available, as it will really add to the available options for SFF rig building

 

[a13antichrist]

Obviously pro-workstation-oriented since no HDMI and no HD audio.. dual DP & ethernet is nice, could make a nice little box. Shame that it misses the HDMI though as it could really be a potential HTPC in thin-mITX format with just that addition.

 

[Kmpkt]

Worth mentioning is that there are two newer versions of this board up now:

http://www.asrockind.com/overview.asp?Model=IMB-1215

http://www.asrockind.com/overview.asp?Model=IMB-1213

These both have proper x4 PCIe to the M.2 M slot which means fast SSDs as well as having arguably a better layout and a 5.5mm barrel connector (the 1215 anyhow).

 

[ExplodingWaffle101]

i wish i was enough of a badass to have my own fuses

 

[chx]

The 1215 is scheduled to be up for sale in a few days https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asr...m-sata3-dual-m2-2x-gbe-4x-com-usb31-g1-a-thin it's not cheap. The portage is very, very nice: not only a PCIe x16 and two M.2 but three DisplayPorts as well. Never seen the like even on larger motherboards. Aside from that Sapphire with embedded Ryzen with four DP, this is the most DP I've ever seen on a motherboard. Intel iGP still only supports three displays alas.

If I wanted to complain, I'd say by now a motherboard like this should have included an Ethernet port faster than just Gigabit but oh well. It's already expensive enough.

 

[Windfall]

The 1215 is scheduled to be up for sale in a few days https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asr...m-sata3-dual-m2-2x-gbe-4x-com-usb31-g1-a-thin it's not cheap. The portage is very, very nice: not only a PCIe x16 and two M.2 but three DisplayPorts as well. Never seen the like even on larger motherboards. Aside from that Sapphire with embedded Ryzen with four DP, this is the most DP I've ever seen on a motherboard. Intel iGP still only supports three displays alas.

If I wanted to complain, I'd say by now a motherboard like this should have included an Ethernet port faster than just Gigabit but oh well. It's already expensive enough.

I'm buying one, maybe a few of them IMB-1215 boards.

That Sapphire board is awesome though! I have a 1605B, and I'm running 3 VM's, running on seperate displays, and using Autohotkey to route the keyboard inputs!

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

I trully fell in love with the thin mini-ITX form factor and Qxxx chipsets.

That IMB-1215 is my dream motherboard, even if it doesn't stick to the thin mini-ITX standard (components position). I wish it had a 4pins DC jack though, like the IMB-1213.

 

[Windfall]

I trully fell in love with the thin mini-ITX form factor and Qxxx chipsets.

That IMB-1215 is my dream motherboard, even if it doesn't stick to the thin mini-ITX standard (components position). I wish it had a 4pins DC jack though, like the IMB-1213.

Wait, it doesn't?

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

Wait, it doesn't?

Nope, it doesn't. It has a regular DC jack and a 4pins internal header

IMB-1213:

IMB-1215:

Now I have to check for the differences between the IMB-1213 and the IMB-1215. I prefer the 4pins DC jack on the IMB-1213.

Edit: From a quick read, here are the differences

IMB-1213 has 1x mini-PCIe-1x (full size), dual Intel NIC and 12V/19-28V on 4-pins DC jack.

IMB-1215 has 1x m.2 2260 PCIe-1x, 1x Intel + 1x Realtek NIC, 19V DC jack (19-28V optional)

Both have m.2 2280 PCIe-4x and m.2 2230 CNVI (for wireless), as well as PCIe-16x.

While Asrock clearly states that the IMB-1213 has 4x USB3.1 gen2, the IMB-1215 USB3.1 might just be gen1 (stated as gen1 on scan.co.uk product page).

IMB-1213 looks like a way better option to me, unless you need the dual m.2 SSD (2280 PCIe-4x and 2260 PCIe-1x) from the 1215.

 

[Windfall]

Nope, it doesn't. It has a regular DC jack and a 4pins internal header

Ah, I thought you meant a Mini-Fit Jr. connector. My bad. Couldn't you solder a 4-pin DC jack on easily though?

IMB-1213 looks like a way better option to me, unless you need the dual m.2 SSD (2280 PCIe-4x and 2260 PCIe-1x) from the 1215.

I need the dual M.2. I have a 1213 already anyways!

You think a bulk discount would be possible if I bought a bunch of those 1215 boards? I can't find any more 1213's.

EDIT: 11 days ago, SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE, benchmarked an i7-8700 in the 1215 board, at 09:14:56.

Somebody has this thing. 0_o

http://valid.x86.fr/bi01bq

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

I can't find any more 1213's.

That's very unfortunate because that board was high on my list of possible boards for next rig.

 

[aquelito]

So far, the only thin mini-ITX boards with a X16 PCIe slot I've been able to source are :

- Ling Jiang PCM5-QM77, for mobile Ivy Bridge CPUs,
- DFI DFI SD106-Q170.

Both slots are electrically wired as X16.

Regarding the IMB-1212, I started a conversation with Asrock but the French commercial services never got back at me with a quote.
I could try to contact them again.

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

Asrock also has the IMB-X190 with a C236 chipset. It only has PCIe-4x, opened back tough, but it takes Xeon CPU, 32GB of ECC memory, 2x Intel NIC and 12V/19-28V DC power.

 

[Windfall]

So far, the only thin mini-ITX boards with a X16 PCIe slot I've been able to source are :

- Ling Jiang PCM5-QM77, for mobile Ivy Bridge CPUs,
- DFI DFI SD106-Q170.

Both slots are electrically wired as X16.

Regarding the IMB-1212, I started a conversation with Asrock but the French commercial services never got back at me with a quote.
I could try to contact them again.

Thank you for finding those. I'll look into them!

Asrock also has the IMB-X190 with a C236 chipset. It only has PCIe-4x, opened back tough, but it takes Xeon CPU, 32GB of ECC memory, 2x Intel NIC and 12V/19-28V DC power.

Nice find, but sadly it only supports a specific processor. And no full x16, so I would need a powered riser.

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

Nice find, but sadly it only supports a specific processor.

From the product page: Supports the Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 v5 Processor and 7th and 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors

It does support quite a lot of CPU and is probably the only Xeon thin mini-ITX available.

And no full x16, so I would need a powered riser.

True, but not really an issue since it can take 12V input and has pass-through from the 4-pins Mini-Fit jr. Drop a Xeon, 32GB of ECC and a single slot Quadro / Radeon PRO and you'll have a very gorgeous and small workstation.

 

[Windfall]

From the product page: Supports the Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 v5 Processor and 7th and 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors

It does support quite a lot of CPU and is probably the only Xeon thin mini-ITX available.

"Supports the Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 v5 Processor and 7th and 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron®"

So it supports 1 xeon and the i3, Pentium, and Celeron CPUs? That whole E3 family is 4 cores. What's the advantage over the 6C/12T 8700T I'd like to use?

True, but not really an issue since it can take 12V input and has pass-through from the 4-pins Mini-Fit jr. Drop a Xeon, 32GB of ECC and a single slot Quadro / Radeon PRO and you'll have a very gorgeous and small workstation.

That's what I want, a micro WS. But preferably 6C/12T.

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

ECC is very desirable if you're running long computations ;-).

Sadly, the 6c/12t Xeon Entry (formerly known as E3-1200 v7) aren't out yet.

ECC makes sense if you're using your workstation for a living