News ASRock Unveils the X299E-ITX/ac: Mini ITX + X299 + Quad-channel Memory

Mod edit:

Detailed overview of what we know about the X299E-ITX/ac thus far here: https://smallformfactor.net/news/asrock-x299e-itxac-little-monster-detailed

Original:

ASRock did it! Finally, there's an Intel HEDT platform motherboard with full quad-channel DDR4 memory. The new X299E-ITX/ac is for those who need up to 18 CPU cores and up to 64 GB of quad-channel DDR4 memory in their SFF machines for reasons. The board manages its limited PCB real-estate by going vertical. It features two riser cards, one with a few onboard controllers, and a pair of 32 Gb/s M.2 slots), and the other riser with SATA 6 Gb/s ports, a third M.2 slot, and the headers such as USB 3.1. The board draws power from 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors, conditioning it for the LGA2066 CPU using a 7-phase VRM. The lone expansion slot is a PCI-Express 3.0 x16, memory is handled by four DDR4 SO-DIMM slots. Connectivity includes two Intel I219-V driven gigabit Ethernet interfaces, 802.11ac WLAN, and Bluetooth 4.1.

Source

 

[QuantumBraced]

Yeah... But why harm your chips' performance when you're in a war with AMD. 5 GHz is a big psychological barrier. How much extra does it cost to solder, like $15? Often greed actually loses you money.

 

[Phryq]

Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X do not have integrated GPUs, so you would have to have a video card unless you plan to run it headless or maybe use one of those industrial display adapters converted from Mini-PCIe to M.2 (assuming it'd clear the CPU heatsink).

I actually do want to run it headless, but I think I'll still need a GPU (what's the cheapest fanless GPU you could put in this?)

My idea is to just control the machine with a laptop over Wifi, but I'm guessing to do that I still need a GPU.

Anyhow, maybe I should just wait for 10nm (and hope there are more boards like this supporting it). Too bad, the 7820X would be perfect otherwise.

 

[VegetableStu]

The only recent out-of-box fanless GPU I can think of (nevermind cheapest) is Palit's KalmX 1050TI (and previously the 750TI of the same model). Not sure if there's any on AMD's side.
There're kits out there but instead of waterblocks you have a bigass heatpipe finstack cooler, so if you want upgradeability there's that. Not sure where to point you to for those though ._.

 

[jeshikat]

There's a few fanless GT 1030's: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137140

 

[VegetableStu]

Oh wow there's lots of passive GT1030-es o_o goes to show what i know ._.

 

[jeshikat]

Actrually, GT 710 cards are still available so that'd be even cheaper without getting so outdated that drivers would be an issue: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127931

 

[QuantumBraced]

FYI, you can make a fanless 1060 with the Accelero S3. That's the most powerful GPU that you can run fanlessly right now, barring some DIY cooler.

But that's not what you're looking for, you probably want a passive 1030. The 1050/1050 Ti is a much better value, but if you absolutely do not need graphics performance then go 1030.

 

[Curiosity]

I don't understand why they changed the HEDT CPUs to "basic" TIM, the only logic seems to be maximise profit as the soldered IHS was prefered for overclocking. Purely speculation from my point of view, but maybe Intel was gearing towards limiting overclocking on HEDT as a continuation of their monopoly on that market.

Here's an article that goes over soldering vs TIM on a CPU
The cheaper CPUs with smaller dies I accept not being soldered because that article, it points out that thermal cycling would be more damaging for them than something with a larger die.
But for something like the i9's? They should be soldered imo.

 

[SeñorDonut]

Would be sweet if one could have the two "VTEC Powah" cores available for gaming, AND have the remaining cores chugging along on streaming / audio / browser / etc. duties...

Doesn't Ryzen Master support clocking cores individually? If not, that's a hella good idea!

 

[QuantumBraced]

Guys, do we know the heights of the risers? I've been daydreaming about fitting the board inside an S4 Mini with the Dynatron R15 + NF-A12x15 mounted to the S4 Mini's 120mm fan mount and I'm wondering if the fan will hit any of the risers or RAM.

PS I should have probably researched this more before I asked, if I figure out the answer I'll post here and delete the question.

 

[jeshikat]

About 42mm for the M.2 board and 33mm for the SATA board on the display unit: https://smallformfactor.net/news/asrock-x299e-itxac-little-monster-detailed#Pictures

But it could change.

 

[QuantumBraced]

Oh ok. So it won't work then, the M.2 board is way too tall. In fact it will barely fit in the S4 Mini without anything on top of it. So a 92/100mm fan will have to be placed on top of the R15 which will fit snugly in the trench of thermal death, surrounded by the great wall of SODIMM and risers. Still, I want to keep the dream alive of X299 + 1080 Ti in the S4 Mini. I want to believe...

 

[QuantumBraced]

They should put the USB 3.1 controller on the riser card and the USB 3.0/Ethernet on the back of the board instead. So the riser card can be removed. If that's possible, which it probably isn't.

 

[jeshikat]

Still, I want to keep the dream alive of X299 + 1080 Ti in the S4 Mini. I want to believe...

Really Josh's new case (if it goes to production) would be more suitable since it's got a little bit more clearance.

They should put the USB 3.1 controller on the riser card and the USB 3.0/Ethernet on the back of the board instead. So the riser card can be removed. If that's possible, which it probably isn't.

I imagine signal integrity is a bigger problem with USB 3.1 since it's twice the speed.

 

[QuantumBraced]

Indeed. I think you can technically fit the most powerful single-card consumer system in the S4 Mini now, and use it to heat yourself in the winter.


ASRock, please make a Mini ITX board with an LGA 3647 socket that holds this:

A 32-core Skylake-based Xeon in the now exclusively-for-servers LGA 3647. The board has to have 6 SODIMMs b/c the chips support hexa-channel memory.

I'm joking, but they may just do it. I don't know how, but they'll find a way.

I'm sorry I've been rambling a lot in this thread... Lots of free time this summer.

 

[jeshikat]

I'd much rather see Threadripper in Mini-ITX over LGA3647 unless Intel drastically reduces the price of the HCC Xeons so I could at least entertain the idea of actually building such a beast

 

[Curiosity]

they could do triple channel memory, I suppose.
Finding a heatsink would be fun.

 

[QuantumBraced]

Threadripper is smaller though, isn't it? No, it has to be LGA 3647 with hexa-channel memory or bust. I agree on the price point, but it's not about building a system, it's about entertaining the feasibility for fun.

The question is, can you put the socket with 6 SODIMMs and a PCIe slot in 170x170? No rear I/O except for a single Ethernet + 2 USB 3.0 stack and a power button. 4 SATA ports + USB 3.0 header dongle thru a U.2 connector, no front I/O with power button on the back (or just a power button header), a single case fan header, chipset on the back with a minimalist heatsink and also dual M.2 on the back if you can fit it behind the giant backplate. Could it fit?

I think it definitely can if you ditch the PCIe slot. Have a second U.2 to connect an x4 PCIe board extension and install a graphics card that way.

What about a riser that holds 2 flat SODIMM sticks. You can have 3 of those risers, each holding 2 flat SODIMMs with some insane wiring on the bottom. It'll be like a SODIMM forest.

Daydreaming...

 

[jeshikat]

BTW, has anyone changed their mind on going X299 now that reviews are out on the 7900X?

 

[Ionrent]