Motherboard Thin ITX Discussion Thread
- Thread starter Windfall
- Start date
So I got enough parts together to test my GA-IMB310TN
CPU: Intel core i5 8400
HSF: Thermaltake Engine 17
Generic cheap ~120w 12v brick
There may be a conflict between the heatsink and the coils on the board. I can't slide a piece of paper between them so I think they are contacting, may be preventing the heatsink from getting good contact with the CPU. Used the stress test in Intel XTU, temperatures never went above 70C. Not to the credit of the cooler - the motherboard was constantly current limited and didn't allow more than 30w to be drawn. I couldn't find any way to raise the limit. Any processor installed effectively becomes a "t" processor.
I'll be keeping this board and tinkering with it more later but unfortunately I have to can it for my father's build. I was okay with a single compromise on PCIe x4, but with the 30w current limit I feel it's too much of a handicap for what I intended. Great for something low power though.
(Edit: Does anyone know if an Asrock IMB-1213 or 1212 can be found anywhere?)
CPU: Intel core i5 8400
HSF: Thermaltake Engine 17
Generic cheap ~120w 12v brick
There may be a conflict between the heatsink and the coils on the board. I can't slide a piece of paper between them so I think they are contacting, may be preventing the heatsink from getting good contact with the CPU. Used the stress test in Intel XTU, temperatures never went above 70C. Not to the credit of the cooler - the motherboard was constantly current limited and didn't allow more than 30w to be drawn. I couldn't find any way to raise the limit. Any processor installed effectively becomes a "t" processor.
I'll be keeping this board and tinkering with it more later but unfortunately I have to can it for my father's build. I was okay with a single compromise on PCIe x4, but with the 30w current limit I feel it's too much of a handicap for what I intended. Great for something low power though.
(Edit: Does anyone know if an Asrock IMB-1213 or 1212 can be found anywhere?)
Last edited:
I have a 1213, but not willing to part with it. There was a link to a 1215 somewhere around here.
I know who does have them for sale, though. Contact @cirrus7, he uses them in his fanless PCs, and said he would sell them.
Be warned, they ain't cheap!
Amazing stuff, a dream comes true !
Can you please post a picture of the power setup ?
The spec. sheet on Taobao specifies a 19V PSU.
Also, by translating the first sentence, I understand that the 6-Pin onboard Molex connector outputs power from the DC-IN plug (as thin itx motherboards usually do).
That would explain why they say that, above a 1050 Ti, you need to power your GPU "directly" from the PSU.
I'm using a 12v brick via the 4 pin barrel and can confirm it works.
I have a 200W HDPLEX AC/DC (19V with 6 pin output). I'm tempted to try that with the board's 6pin and confirm that it supports both input voltages. I am a bit concerned give the low level of documentation that it might fry the board.
One of the spec sheets on the product page shows:
1x DC Jack Colay 6pin ATX
and the next says:
2: PWR_IN (6PIN 12V/19V).
I thought this means that it can be powered internally and externally using either 12V or 19V.
That's what I took it to mean, it might be that the HDPLEX output may not align with the pin-out on the board. As per @Vlad502's post.
I believe that when you're powering the board from the barrel connector on T-ITX, the internal power becomes an output, but when you power the board from the internal molex, the barrel connector doesn't output. Could be wrong though.
Thanks for the pointers. Looks like the 1215 is 19v, so I'll keep an eye on 1213 & 1212. I haven't found them in the US yet, seems to mostly be in the EU. I may just have to bite the bullet and have one shipped at some point.
Yes, this is how thin-itx boards usually work. @QinX found out that trick back in the days.
Used succesfully that function on quite a few builds myself
either 19V or 12V.19V output :
12V ouput :
If it works with 12V, stick to 12V
@aquelito Are there 2 images in your last post? If so I can't see them.
I wanted to ask about voltage tolerance on thin ITX.
My Intel DH61AG has the usual HP etc. barrel connector and also a 2 pin DC in socket like half a CPU power socket (Minifit Jr?).
I have a spare Lenovo laptop brick which I'd like to convert to that socket fitting. Will the 20V it puts out be within the ITX board input tolerance?
I wanted to ask about voltage tolerance on thin ITX.
My Intel DH61AG has the usual HP etc. barrel connector and also a 2 pin DC in socket like half a CPU power socket (Minifit Jr?).
I have a spare Lenovo laptop brick which I'd like to convert to that socket fitting. Will the 20V it puts out be within the ITX board input tolerance?
@Arboreal : you should be good. Intel doc specifies page 60 a 10% tolerance.
Just finished this build inside an Antec ISK 100 : really like that small Polulu 19v to 12v board !
Just finished this build inside an Antec ISK 100 : really like that small Polulu 19v to 12v board !
Last edited:
Very nice build!
How hot does this little DC-DC buck get? I'm still looking for some small 150W DC-DC buck but most I can find all need (or recommend) a quite large heatsink.
Last edited:
Thanks for that little gem @aquelito, I can have a look at 20V power again then!
I'm sure I looked at the Intel Thin ITX specs book before, but obviously missed that vital line!
The Q87T is resting at the moment, as I have been working on setting up my MT4S rig, which has been quite interesting so far.
I now understand the problems with noisy 40mm fans when the Flex ATX PSU gets hot!
Without the GTX 1050Ti running it's quiet, but when the demand increases, the fan ramps up a lot, and it's quite an intrusive noise compared to larger fans.
Your ISK 100 looks great, and I think the 19V - 12V Pololu board is invaluable. Maybe I can brick power the Q87T and feed a GPU on the 4x PCIe slot from a Pololu...
How's the GT 1030 working out? What power do you think it's drawing? As it's 4x on the Q87, a GT 1030 may work within the 25W PCIe power envelope
I do not think I push it far enough to get it hot. The Zalman CPU fan also provides some airflow.
I'll try to take some measurements.
If you are looking to push it close to the 150W, have a look at the comments on Polulu's blog : they provide a freed 3D file to print a case with a 40mm fan for the board.
Really the cutest and smallest piece of hardware I own !
Pololu - New D24V150Fx 15A step-down voltage regulator family — our highest-power regulators yet!
I am excited to announce that we just released our highest power regulators ever. The new D24V150Fx family of step-down regulators includes units with 3.3 V, 5 V, 6 V, 7.5 V, 9 V, and 12 V outputs and can output currents of around 15 A! With all of the output voltages available, the D24V150Fx...
www.pololu.com
A GT 1030 should consume around 35W under Furmark.
Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 2GB Review
Nvidia's tiny GeForce GT 1030 is cheaper, smaller, and cooler-running than AMD's Radeon RX 550. But can it compete in our benchmark suite?
www.tomshardware.com
It's not 25W but @GuilleAcoustic was able to run it successfully from a 4X slot (using the same Asus Q87 MB).
In my case, I use my custom riser with 12V tracks cut : the Polulu board provides all the power needed, nothing comes from the MB slot.
Also, my motherboard has a 16X slot
Exactly, been running GT1030 on my Asus Q87T for quite a long time without issue. I was using a 35W i7-4785T and some 90W Dell brick 19.5V or so, but their's a tolerance on the DC voltage you provide (10% if I remember correctly).
I asked Asus directly and they replied I should be fine since I wasn't running the max TDP allowed on the CPU side.
