P67/Z68 ITX: what the manufacturers say

I think most people nowadays want USB3 & SATA 6g and it's been mentioned several times in this thread, yet none of these mobo's are true to this form. Instead the manufacturers for now are just gluing a few of those on for show to fool the masses and are otherwise older standard USB2 & SATA 3g mobo's. Consider SATA; manufacturers are usually only gluing on just 2 SATA 6g ports. A lot of enthusiasts are going to want a hard drive, a SSD, and a blu-ray. This will be a sub-optimal configuration as one device gets bumped to a slow port. And those that want RAID or another hard disk will really be hating this. And then many will soon find a similar situation running out of USB 3 ports and having their devices dumbed down to lower speeds. The first real mobo's with modern port offerings won't be Z68, but rather the panther point chipset. These will also get pci express 3 and accommodate ivy bridge cpu's.
 
jadeite said:
I think most people nowadays want USB3 & SATA 6g and it's been mentioned several times in this thread, yet none of these mobo's are true to this form. Instead the manufacturers for now are just gluing a few of those on for show to fool the masses and are otherwise older standard USB2 & SATA 3g mobo's. Consider SATA; manufacturers are usually only gluing on just 2 SATA 6g ports. A lot of enthusiasts are going to want a hard drive, a SSD, and a blu-ray. This will be a sub-optimal configuration as one device gets bumped to a slow port. And those that want RAID or another hard disk will really be hating this. And then many will soon find a similar situation running out of USB 3 ports and having their devices dumbed down to lower speeds. The first real mobo's with modern port offerings won't be Z68, but rather the panther point chipset. These will also get pci express 3 and accommodate ivy bridge cpu's.
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Jesus is this another one of your 'wait for Ivy Bridge' posts? Unfortunately you just showed that you don't understand much. A Blu-Ray or HDD being bumped to a slow port? You kidding? How many Blu-ray players or HDD max out the SATA 3Gbps ports? I believe it's about none.

You want to wait for Ivy Bridge. That's fine. And there might be some very valid reasons to wait. But stop the bull****, please.
 
jadeite said:
I think most people nowadays want USB3 & SATA 6g and it's been mentioned several times in this thread, yet none of these mobo's are true to this form. Instead the manufacturers for now are just gluing a few of those on for show to fool the masses and are otherwise older standard USB2 & SATA 3g mobo's. Consider SATA; manufacturers are usually only gluing on just 2 SATA 6g ports. A lot of enthusiasts are going to want a hard drive, a SSD, and a blu-ray. This will be a sub-optimal configuration as one device gets bumped to a slow port. And those that want RAID or another hard disk will really be hating this. And then many will soon find a similar situation running out of USB 3 ports and having their devices dumbed down to lower speeds. The first real mobo's with modern port offerings won't be Z68, but rather the panther point chipset. These will also get pci express 3 and accommodate ivy bridge cpu's.
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I see... you hope in a great ivy.:eek:
We'll see when it'll be available.;)
If it's so good, you bet many of us will purchase it!:p
NichoTL said:
Jesus is this another one of your 'wait for Ivy Bridge' posts? Unfortunately you just showed that you don't understand much. A Blu-Ray or HDD being bumped to a slow port? You kidding? How many Blu-ray players or HDD max out the SATA 3Gbps ports? I believe it's about none.

You want to wait for Ivy Bridge. That's fine. And there might be some very valid reasons to wait. But stop the bull****, please.
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I don't see why you have to be so aggressive...:(
Don't worry, when ivy will be available we'll see!;)
 
I personally don't use an ODD in any of my systems anymore. I use an external USB for the few times when I need to load something, but everything else is downloaded. That said, my next system is only using 1 SATA port for my hard drive. I have networked storage, and again external USB devices that I can use.

I don't feel that I'm outside the norm with moving away from having a built in ODD, or multiple hard drives. Sure there are going to be people that need 12 Sata6 ports, but I don't think that should be the standard.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=207486
 
NichoTL said:
True but this guy has been writing those nonsensical posts for a while now. I guess it could be the work of a troll and I should maybe chill out. Then again maybe not.
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Yes... There are people that despise the best we have available today because are dreaming something still doesn't exist.
How many of us waited to upgrade their system to 1155 since 2 years before its release? And how many of us desired to upgrade to a P67 ITX that will never come and now are waiting for the Z68 ITX, and thus have never built their system?
It has been frustrating; imagine waiting for the Ivy...
Personally, I'm glad that my patience is ended and I built a ITX with H67!
When the Z68 will be out there, I'll upgrade (maybe); when the Ivy will be there, I'll be amused to see it!:p
 
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Dragonphreak said:
I personally don't use an ODD in any of my systems anymore. I use an external USB for the few times when I need to load something, but everything else is downloaded. That said, my next system is only using 1 SATA port for my hard drive. I have networked storage, and again external USB devices that I can use.

I don't feel that I'm outside the norm with moving away from having a built in ODD, or multiple hard drives. Sure there are going to be people that need 12 Sata6 ports, but I don't think that should be the standard.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=207486
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Agree 100%;)
Isn't this more useful than a sad black optical disk bezel?
img0581q.jpg
 
WhiteFireDragon said:
are those the right pics? newegg link looks a little different. and also, where's the second mini-pcie? i dont see it in the front or the back. i'm also assumthing this mini-pcie slot is NOT compatible with mSATA
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No, they are not!:mad:
Thanks for checking.
Actually, the pics on Newegg show a Gigabyte-like stile (turquose/black) and a full length mPCIe close to the PCIe x16 slot.
I'm not finding the second mPCIe slot...:confused:
Ah, there is also a H61 ITX from Giada! almost at the same price than the H67 one though:eek:
 
Mousemagician said:
No, they are not!:mad:
Thanks for checking.
Actually, the pics on Newegg show a Gigabyte-like stile (turquose/black) and a full length mPCIe close to the PCIe x16 slot.
I'm not finding the second mPCIe slot...:confused:
Ah, there is also a H61 ITX from Giada! almost at the same price than the H67 one though:eek:
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if the Giada H67 is anything like their H55, the second mPCIe slot is a half-height slot on the back of the mobo.
 
Mousemagician said:
Yes... There are people that despise the best we have available today because are dreaming something still doesn't exist.
How many of us waited to upgrade their system to 1155 since 2 years before its release? And how many of us desired to upgrade to a P67 ITX that will never come and now are waiting for the Z68 ITX, and thus have never built their system?
It has been frustrating; imagine waiting for the Ivy...
Personally, I'm glad that my patience is ended and I built a ITX with H67!
When the Z68 will be out there, I'll upgrade (maybe); when the Ivy will be there, I'll be amused to see it!:p
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My only wait was for Sandy Bridge and what a wait that turned out to be! I finally finished it last week and started in Oct. After seeing just how damn fast this thing is as an H67 I am not in a hurry to start over and build a Z68. Heck, after seeing what overclocking the IGP has done (yes I used a K chip on an H67 board) I have adjusted my graphics card needs. It may not be the most powerful ITC box out there, but its the most powerful PC I have ever owned. (and almost the cheapest)

And I am using an ODD. It fits my needs just fine
 
wwischerath said:
My only wait was for Sandy Bridge and what a wait that turned out to be! I finally finished it last week and started in Oct. After seeing just how damn fast this thing is as an H67 I am not in a hurry to start over and build a Z68. Heck, after seeing what overclocking the IGP has done (yes I used a K chip on an H67 board) I have adjusted my graphics card needs. It may not be the most powerful ITC box out there, but its the most powerful PC I have ever owned. (and almost the cheapest)

And I am using an ODD. It fits my needs just fine
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Perfectly agree.;)
I just had the same identical experience...
H67, no oced 2600K, HD6950 2GB not flashed but oced 20%, PHENOMENAL ITX!!!:D:p:eek::cool:
 
wwischerath said:
My only wait was for Sandy Bridge and what a wait that turned out to be! I finally finished it last week and started in Oct. After seeing just how damn fast this thing is as an H67 I am not in a hurry to start over and build a Z68. Heck, after seeing what overclocking the IGP has done (yes I used a K chip on an H67 board) I have adjusted my graphics card needs. It may not be the most powerful ITC box out there, but its the most powerful PC I have ever owned. (and almost the cheapest)

And I am using an ODD. It fits my needs just fine
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Thanks for the encouragement! :)

Can't wait for my H67 + i7 2600K SFF workstation build to be complete so that I may enjoy the same experience!
 
SaladDressing said:
Thanks for the encouragement! :)

Can't wait for my H67 + i7 2600K SFF workstation build to be complete so that I may enjoy the same experience!
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Trust me. Its works wonderfully well. I built mine using the i5 2500k CPU. Overclocked the graphics to 1850Mhz. was a little unstable so backed it down to 1700Mhz. Much better and only lost 1fps in furmark. The overclock gained ~6fps. Started at ~11fps and now ~a17!.

I doubt I upgrade to the Z68 board. I did lock the processor at 3.7Ghz. Remember when that was a good/great OC?
for those interested it scored 4723 in pcmark 7.
 
I'm sure many of us have already read the review on SPCR about the Asus P8H67.
What's interesting here is that they compare the ASUS ITX with the Zotac H67, and the ASUS is considered superior:D
My favorite one:

Last month we reviewed the Zotac H67-ITX... It was in a technical sense, a high-end board, but with a barebone personality.
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Nice:p
 
lol, that's exactly what you want in a mITX board... it's like a stripper car (for those of you who remember the term)... all engine, no bs :D
 
Machupo said:
lol, that's exactly what you want in a mITX board... it's like a stripper car (for those of you who remember the term)... all engine, no bs :D
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I remember those. no suspension to handle the power, drum brakes to attempt to stop you, manual steering give you a cardio workout, and 10mpg. Why do I want that again :p
 
Hey guys, I am also building a mini-ITX machine. I am copying over my post from OCN, but you can read my whole thread there too if you would like. I will try to include all the relevant information I can here though. It is located here:
http://www.overclock.net/intel-build-logs/1022279-cubitek-mini-tank-mini-itx-silent.html

HERE IS ANOTHER REPLY FROM ME ON OCN: In response to being blasted for building a mini-ITX machine with an i5 2500K.

GILavco said:
Cant overclock on H67............... Good thing its temp! :D
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Here we go again? Please go to this link and read the details on the H67 chipset on the recent ASRock and ASUS motherboards.

The capabilities are available in the H67 chipset already. It just depends on which features are turned on. ASRock is a budget brand of ASUS. I looked into it and although it is not listed as such on the details in the ASUS board I chose, it is also supposed to support Intel K-Series Unlocked CPUs like the ASRock board now does. As far I know, these are the only two mini-ITX motherboards available that do this yet. If the ASUS board does not after I was told it would, I will correct this, but the ASRock board clearly states that it does.

Another example of this is how some manufacturers are implementing the Z68 chipset with certain features such as GPU switching available as it is generally known to be while others are "Turned Off" and not available on certain motherboards still with the Z68 chipset. Just because a chipset is generally known for a certain thing, doesn't mean those particular settings are will always be implemented into every single board by every single manufacturer until the end of time.

Referencing this article among many regarding this.

Besides, "It is temporary" and even IF I can only overclock it to 3.7GHz on this board, guess what? I will already have the CPU I need when the Z68 minis come out. NOT buying the K-Series CPU at this point would be the real waste of money. I don't see what the big fuss is about when the difference between an i5 2500 and an i5 2500K is only $16. Why anyone would NOT buy the K-Series is beyond me. These CPUs last for years. Who knows what I will want to do with it in the future? -And when I clearly state that is is temporary and that I will be buying the 1st fully functional mini-ITX board that is available.

I'm a paraplegic and moving around my last 60+ pound custom UHAF case was seriously difficult for me. This will be a one of a kind, super small and very nice tidy build when it is all done which I will be able to easily pack around whenever I need to. Hopefully that answers all the questions of why everything on this build. I need small form factor. I want small form factor. I am limited by this. -For now.

WHY DO CERTAIN MOTHERBOARD MANUFACTURERS NOT REPLY ABOUT YOUR INQUIRIES?

The industry is cut-throat competitive as seen with the removed press release about the Maximus IV Gene-z Micro-ATX just earlier this month. It was previously stated that it would release on May-30th, but was later removed from the site. I don't know the actual release date at this time, but this is just an example. Look what happened when you got that information. It went directly to HF.com. :D As it should! However, this is why they either say "Maybe, maybe not" or do not reply at all. The fact is that it is inevitable that these Z68 minis will be released. It is just a matter of time as you have all already discussed.

OTHER COOLING SOLUTIONS

  • Corsair H50
  • Corsair H60
  • Corsair H70*
  • Antec H20 920*
*Requires case modding!

I was going to buy the Lian-Li Q08 and put an Antec KUHLER H2O 920 Liquid Cooling System into the top of it just over the PSU. That thing would fit with just a few mm to spare over the PSU. Then after bolting up the 120mm rad underneath the top, I was going to put on a Koolance 2X140mm Radiator Shroud on the top of the case to suck exhaust out the top of the rad and also provide more air circulation through the front section of the top of the case. That 2X140mm shroud would fit perfectly within 2mm on the to of the Q08!

NOTE: If someone has a Q08 case, would you please post the exact distance between the underside of the Q08 and the top of the PSU? I figured out a rough approximation from a video review that someone uploaded at the Egg about the Lian Li Q08A Silver case, but it would be helpful for other to know exactly.

I did something very similar to a HAF 932 which I modded extensively into the Prototype UHAF. :) This is what I meant about the shroud. The rad is tight up underneath and the fans go on top of the case, but inside the Koolance shroud:
Direct links so I don't litter your thread with my pictures: ;)
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/paralies/UHAF 932 MOD/DSC05946.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/paralies/UHAF 932 MOD/DSC05694.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/paralies/UHAF 932 MOD/0907092300.jpg

I almost went with the Q08, but then I saw the Cubitek Mini Tank and went that route because it has just a tad bit more room for cable management and such. The case is available at Amazon and Silver PCs. I hope this helps you fellow ITX enthusiasts!
 
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ehh... Paraleyes maybe you should start a new thread on this. i don't think this huge post is relevant to this specific thread
 
Guess you didn't read the whole post. There is very specific information relevant to the OP. Plus I am following up with many other topics that were previously brought up here by others. I just didn't quote each one individually.

EDIT-Yeah, I got rid of the 1st part. I just left the link to my build if people want to compare the specifics.
 
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jadeite said:
I think most people nowadays want USB3 & SATA 6g and it's been mentioned several times in this thread, yet none of these mobo's are true to this form. Instead the manufacturers for now are just gluing a few of those on for show to fool the masses and are otherwise older standard USB2 & SATA 3g mobo's. Consider SATA; manufacturers are usually only gluing on just 2 SATA 6g ports. A lot of enthusiasts are going to want a hard drive, a SSD, and a blu-ray. This will be a sub-optimal configuration as one device gets bumped to a slow port. And those that want RAID or another hard disk will really be hating this. And then many will soon find a similar situation running out of USB 3 ports and having their devices dumbed down to lower speeds. The first real mobo's with modern port offerings won't be Z68, but rather the panther point chipset. These will also get pci express 3 and accommodate ivy bridge cpu's.
Click to expand...

A very small number of PCs sold have blu-ray drives, even in the enthusiast sector. A 12x Blu ray drive has a max bandwidth of 648Mbps. Even if someone were to suddenly release a Blu ray drive with a speed of 20x or high it wouldn't come remotely close to saturating SATA 3Gbps.

SSDs are the only SATA drives currently capable of saturating SATA 3Gbps. Most users don't have more than 2 SSDs, so 2 ports is plenty for the current market. As drive speeds increase then chipsets will support more SATA 6Gbps ports. X79 chipset for LGA2011 will support 10x SATA 6Gbps ports and 4x SATA 3Gbps ports
 
CrimsonFury said:
A very small number of PCs sold have blu-ray drives, even in the enthusiast sector. A 12x Blu ray drive has a max bandwidth of 648Mbps. Even if someone were to suddenly release a Blu ray drive with a speed of 20x or high it wouldn't come remotely close to saturating SATA 3Gbps.

SSDs are the only SATA drives currently capable of saturating SATA 3Gbps. Most users don't have more than 2 SSDs, so 2 ports is plenty for the current market. As drive speeds increase then chipsets will support more SATA 6Gbps ports. X79 chipset for LGA2011 will support 10x SATA 6Gbps ports and 4x SATA 3Gbps ports
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The wisdom of common sense!;)
 
Most poeple only want all the features they can get even if they aren´t needed. 2 USB3 ports are enough most of the time too. If you need 3+ external drives at the same time.....you´re doing it´wrong
 
I'm putting together a low-power mini-itx system, I have everything but motherboard and processor. Leaning towards 2100t or 2100(worst case the 2100's dropping price seems to make up for power benefit of the T). Anyway, currently considering Gigabyte H67 mobo, maybe the Gladia, but the ECS is very tempting.

Lian-li q11 just came in(white case to match benQ v2200eco).

Great thread!
 
as it shows a 4 pin for processor power, I have a feeling it won't overclock well, if at all. The Zotac is using 8 pin, providing more power.
 
Paraleyes said:
Zotac posted on facebook about their Zotac Z68ITX-A-E and commented at the end of May that it would be comming out in 2 to 3 weeks from then. Still nothing..?! Anyone heard anything about any of these lately?

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150316442152067.411128.98849277066

Oh okay, I just found this:
Zotac mini-ITX Z68 motherboards to ship in July
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What will be important, IMO, is to figure out if the Z68 from Zotac will be "mature" at the moment of its release...:rolleyes:
I'm talking about BIOS, WiFi, over- and down-clock abilities:confused:
I will not jump on Zotac until I see good reviews about its stability!:eek:
Remember the GF9300 story: it took to wait until the G-E version to have a decent wake-up from S-3:(
 
I dont understand. They took an overclockable board, the first ITX 1155 that could, and used a i3 2100?! I think they blew it.
 
there is one page that has an interesting bit for you:
"Our final test for this page is overclocking where we have moved to an i7-2600K CPU as the i3-2100 cannot be overclocked to any great level. With the i7-2600K installed we were able to increase the CPU speed to 4.5GHz, that's over 1GHz above stock without any issue on the Zotac board. We could boot higher than this but the system didn't offer the 100% stability which we experienced at 4.5GHz."
 
Those three sentences cover all they did with a K chip.Still a let down.On a positive note, it shows that there is finally an ITX board that will overclock Sandy Bridge.
 
God that review has the worst english I've ever read on a non google-translate review..
 
ithanium2 said:
Really? 4,5GHz not enough for SB daily use? I think it's awesome news so far.
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I am not saying that 4.5Ghz is bad, I am saying the review should have been oriented toward overclocking in the first place. Not another mild HTPC build. They missed the point of the Z68 motherboard. Without the three lines they included on overclocking, this could have been an H67 motherboard review.

I agree that 4.5 is pretty damn fast. So I am clear, my problem is with the review, not the product.
 
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