Review of six Mini-ITX motherboards based on the Z270 Express: my favorite size. Liquid cooling support
24.04.2014 14:33
The Mini-ITX format has recently become increasingly relevant when it comes to assembling a personal computer for the home or office. Sometimes on the market you can find truly productive and very functional solutions in this form factor, which are not inferior to full-size devices. After all, Mini-ITX motherboards have recently begun to be produced with top-end chipsets.
The Mini-ITX format has recently become increasingly relevant when it comes to assembling a personal computer for the home or office.
However, today we will get acquainted with a product that is aimed at unassuming users who use their PC only to watch videos and download useful files from the Internet. The ASRock AM1B-ITX motherboard is based on the AMD AM1 system logic set, the socket is called the same. Some time ago we already managed to get acquainted with one of the connectors for this connector. I must say that this one was tested stone just on the motherboard we are reviewing today.
The AMD AM1 platform is exactly the case when not only the motherboard, but also the processor itself is small in size; in addition, the heat dissipation of the chipset and the central chip is hardly more than 25 W.
ASRock AM1B-ITX is very tiny; among the peripheral connectors, you can find only one PCI-E 2.0 x16 graphics slot.
ASRock AM1B-ITX is very tiny; among the peripheral connectors, you can find only one PCI-E 2.0 x16 graphics slot. There are only two slots for RAM (maximum capacity - 16 GB), however, the maximum speed of RAM that can be set in the BIOS is 1600 MHz, but, as was said in the article about, there is not much sense in such a move in the case of AMD AM1. The memory controller is running at too low a clock speed. There are four connectors for drives - a pair of SATA II and the same number with the third version of the interface.
The three connectors for connecting system fans are equipped with automatic and manual speed control.
It is important to note that the power supply for the ASRock AM1B-ITX is limited to one 24-pin connector, an additional 4-pin is not required.
Despite the truly modest dimensions of the motherboard, you can find a lot of very useful interfaces on the rear panel. Three classic connectors for image output, a pair of USB 2.0 and the same number of USB 3.0. It’s not clear why the manufacturer equipped a fairly modern board with a COM port, since it’s already 2014. Instead, it is more advisable to solder several more universal connectors of the second or third version on the panel. But do not forget that the board itself has several connectors for USB output sockets on the front or back panel of your case.
Despite the truly modest dimensions of the motherboard, you can find a lot of very useful interfaces on the rear panel.
No incredible technologies were used in the design of the ASRock AM1B-ITX. In essence, this is an ordinary, but at the same time excellent, platform for creating media PCs. UEFI BIOS is equipped with a graphical shell. The basic set of commands is very convenient and extremely easy to learn for both experienced users and beginners. This is one of the most remarkable features of all ASRock motherboards. The high quality standard has been set for a long time, and the manufacturer strictly follows all the proven techniques. Due to the limitations of the AMD AM1 platform itself, there are essentially no overclocking functions. It is only possible to change the memory clock speed, timings, voltage on some system components, that’s probably all.
Due to the limitations of the AMD AM1 platform itself, there are essentially no overclocking functions.
We advise you to once again refer to the article about the processor, because there we describe in detail the difficult process of installing a cooling system on a processor using ASRock AM1B-ITX. And in this material we provide additional photographs of the resulting OS design. The layout and format of the coolant on the platform under review is actually unusual; at the moment there are virtually no ready-made coolers for AM1.
The performance of the AMD AM1 chipset together with the central quad-core processor is not capable of surprising with its results. On the other hand, you need to understand what circle of users this platform is aimed at. In addition, the price of AM1 components is not so high as to require classic desktop power from them.
The performance of the AMD AM1 chipset together with the central quad-core processor is not capable of surprising with its results.
As the main competitors of the ASRock AM1B-ITX, we chose two more Mini-ITX boards: and , which come with processors already built into the board. Both in terms of cost and overall performance, the presented models are approximately equal. AMD Sempron 3850, in our opinion, is an even more powerful solution, which is, in principle, confirmed by the 3DMark test.
But in the 3DMark 11 benchmark, we confronted our guest today with a super productive desktop solution based on a motherboard and a six-core processor, so that you can see with your own eyes that the difference between these devices is actually tenfold.
The ASRock AM1B-ITX board is already on sale for 1600 rubles. A very good starting price for the basis of a full-fledged, functional, but not the most productive home media PC.
ASRock AM1B-ITX motherboard testing results:
ASRock's product range cannot be called modest, but compared to its competitors, the number of solutions is much smaller. Perhaps thanks to this, it is still possible to maintain a clear positioning of them within the lines, and models of miniature dimensions make up a small representation there, so each board turns out to be interesting and original. Today we will find out what exactly the engineers are offering with the Intel Z370 hub.
Here we took care of enhanced processor power supply. This concept also includes a composite cooler that combines two radiators into a single structure via a heat pipe. The Thunderbolt controller developed by Intel is soldered, there is a pre-installed wireless network adapter from the same company, six SATA sockets, an older audio codec from Realtek, and a compact M.2 socket.
In short, excluding the large number of PCI-E slots, the device’s capabilities can be safely presented as quite sufficient for preparing a system for both gaming and professional purposes. You can get acquainted with the capabilities of the device in more detail by studying the table with characteristics.
| Model | |
|---|---|
| Official product page on the Internet | asrock.com |
| Chipset | Intel Z370 |
| CPU socket | Socket 1151 |
| Processors | Core i7, Core i5, Core i3 (Coffee Lake-S) |
| Memory | 2 DIMM DDR4 SDRAM 2133/2400/2666/2800*/2933*/3200*/3600*/3733*/3800*/3866*/4000*/4133*/4266*/4333+*(OC), maximum 32 GB |
| PCI-E slots | 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 |
| M.2 | 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 SATA 6 Gb/s (Key M, 2260/2280) |
| Built-in video core (in processor) | Intel HD 630 |
| Video connectors | DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI, Thunderbolt |
| Number of connected fans | 3x 4pin |
| PS/2 ports | 1 (keyboard/mouse) |
| USB ports | 1 x 3.1 Gen2 (1 connector on the rear panel (C), Intel JHL6240) 8 x 3.1 Gen1 (6 connectors on the rear panel, Z370) 2 x 2.0 (no connectors on the rear panel, Z370) |
| VR Ready | + |
| Serial ATA | 6 x SATA 6 Gb/s (Z370) |
| RAID | 0, 1, 5, 10 (SATA, Z370) |
| Built-in sound | Codec - Realtek ALC1220 (7.1, HDA) Op Amp - Texas Instruments NE5532 |
| S/PDIF | Optical (output) |
| Networking capabilities | Intel I219V (Gigabit Ethernet), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.2) |
| COM | - |
| TPM | - |
| UEFI | AMI UEFI |
| Form factor | Mini-ITX |
| Dimensions, mm | 170 x 170 |
| Additional features | RGB LED strip connector, CMOS reset button (on the rear panel), external Wi-Fi antenna, Fatal1ty Mouse Port, Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 3 |
| Retail price, $ | 256 |
Packaging and equipment
The design is entirely characteristic of all products from the manufacturer’s “gaming” series; the box sizes are small.
The capabilities of the Thunderbolt interface, implemented here, are described in detail at the back. You can also find the presence of a bonus utility for the sound system and an antenna for wireless networks. There is a schematic representation of the rear panel and a small table with the main features.
In addition to the board, inside the box there is:
- multilingual quick installation instructions;
- UEFI and F-Stream manual in English;
- postcard with the logo of the series (there is a place for a stamp);
- disk with drivers and proprietary software;
- sticker with company logo;
- one mounting screw for M.2 device;
- a plug for the case, complemented by a sticker in black tones with the color and symbolic designation of all sockets;
- two SATA 6Gb/s cables, one of which has an L-shaped connector at one end;
- remote Wi-Fi antenna, for mounting and fixing the position it is planned to use double-sided tape (a small piece on a foam base is included).
Appearance
There is nothing on the surface of the board that could facilitate the operation of the system and diagnose possible problems - buttons, switches, jumpers, and various kinds of status indicators are excluded. But even without them there is absolutely no free space, even the battery had to be glued to the shielded case of the wireless network adapter. The latter uses a Key-E type M.2 slot.
Many elements are also included on the back of the product. Of particular concern are the PWM controller and its accompanying parts, which are soldered very close to the mounting hole for the CPU cooling system. There were no problems with the clamping bar included in our cooler because it was equipped with rubberized legs, but a number of other designs use plastic elements, and there can definitely be conflicts with them.
As I have already noted, the cooler forms a single structure of two radiators with the assistance of a connecting heat pipe, which are attached to the board with screws.
Installation of M.2 devices six and eight centimeters long is allowed. This operation will have to be performed before installing the board into the case. At the bottom edge there are three multicolor LEDs, the number is small, but they will be responsible for the illumination effects. In any case, until the user begins to use an external LED strip, one socket is prepared for it.
The component density is very high. The block under the system “speaker” was lowered to the very bottom. We had a conflict when using a discrete video adapter - it ran into the most common type of cabinet speaker, or rather its cable connector (elements on the video card itself got in the way). There is no need to talk about longitudinal types of sockets; all soldered on the board are transverse. In particular, both connectors for USB housing cables - the second and third generations.
It is interesting to note that there are two different racks for audio outputs. There are only two special capacitors, but there was also room for an operational amplifier.
There is enough space to place the processor cooling system in the vicinity of the socket. The heatsink on the power elements is not too high, so problems here can be solely due to the RAM modules. Speaking of them, the pair from the G.Skill TridentZ kit were installed right next to each other, probably even here one or two millimeters were important for the developers.
The power supply system is based on a PWM controller, which we have already encountered when reviewing a larger model from ASRock. This is ISL69138 from Intersil Corporation. Moreover, the power supply circuit turned out to be exactly the same - 5+2 “phases” for the CPU and integrated GPU. But instead of external drivers and transistors, assemblies from the same manufacturer are wired here - ISL99227F (Smart Power Stage module according to the developers' terminology). It is very interesting how such elements will manifest themselves in work. Let me add that five of them are allocated for CPU voltage, and two more are for the built-in GPU; these will work without a heatsink.
Perhaps someone couldn’t see it right away, but the heat pipe is not located at the base of the main heat sink, but is built somewhere closer to the middle of the radiator, thus, it will dissipate the main heat and not the whole system. Of course, some of it will also go to the chipset cooler. There are no comments regarding the clamping force and area of the thermal pads.
The back panel looks very rich and quite modern. There is even a button to reset the settings, but I never had to use it during the experiments.
For several years now, the Cougar company has been delighting with wonderful design solutions that can find a place in the hearts of both ordinary users and gamers. This material is dedicated to one of these interesting products, standing a little apart from its huge and not so big brothers, the Mini-ITX Cougar QBX case.
Packaging and equipment.
The case comes in a beautiful box, the advantages and features of this case are indicated on the sides, the styling fully corresponds to the company’s website and exactly repeats the technical specifications and features of the product. Unfortunately, during transportation, the packaging was hopelessly damaged by stickers from the Domodedovo airport terminal and the tape of the transport company “Little Horse Express”.
Specifications.
Case type: Mini-ITX
Motherboard form factor: Mini-ITX!
Physical Dimensions (w/h/d): 178 x 291 x 384 (mm)
Optical drive type: Only Slot Loading Slim ODD is supported (like laptops)
Space for installing a 3.5" hard drive (HDD): 1
Space for installing a 2.5" hard drive (HDD/SSD): 4
Expansion slot output (for example, for video card): 2
Front panel: 2 x USB 3.0 / HD audio
Cooling system
Maximum number of installed fans: 7 pcs.
Face: 80mm x 1 (not included)
Top: 120 mm x 2 (according to the website, it is not included in the kit, but it is included in this copy)
Rear: 90mm x 1 (factory installed)
Body Bottom: 120mm x 2 (not included)
Left side: 120 mm x 1 (manufacturer installed in this example)
240mm water cooling radiator with one 120mm fan
Cable management system: present
Fan filter (reusable and cleanable)
1 x bottom filter (pre-installed, removable)
1 x front panel filter (included in delivery, user installable)
Liquid cooling support:
Left side： 240mm water cooling radiator with one 120mm fan
120mm water cooling radiator with one 120mm fan
Maximum overall video card length: 350mm (high-end graphics cards supported)
Maximum CPU cooler height: 105 mm
Power supply installation: PS2 ATX power supplies with a maximum length of 140 mm
Appearance and equipment.
The kit is all-inclusive, everything you need is pre-installed by the manufacturer, and the missing elements are in a separate box along with assembly instructions in pictures (English only).
Despite its rather compact dimensions, the body is not too light, but at the same time very rigid and stable. This fact is due to the presence of a fairly durable metal frame with a large number of stiffening ribs and rubber feet at the base, which is also a niche for a removable dust filter.
The side panels are made of plastic with metal ventilation grilles. They are very easy to remove and install due to their low weight.
The fairly voluminous interior space actually disappears once the power supply is installed, but the cable management system involves routing some of the wires behind the motherboard and the back wall.
Another interesting solution is the removable, flip-up panel for mounting the liquid cooling system/place for installing hard drives. This panel has 3 mounting points, which theoretically should prevent vibration from the only installed fan and the operation of the hard drive.
Installing the power supply is one of the highlights of this case. Despite the “modest form factor”, this case requires the installation of a standard size power supply, albeit no more than 140 mm long and with a specific location of the 220 volt power connector, which allows you to install almost the most high-performance components. Despite the fact that the manufacturer does not require a cable management system (removable wires) at the power source, I recommend installing just one, because There is not just little space for wires, but catastrophically little.
The location of the power connector in the red frame is indicated for a reason - the original shape of the extension cord, bent at an angle of 90 degrees, does not allow installing a power supply with this location of the power connector.
Although no, it does, with some skill.
There is the possibility of installing an optical disk drive, although only a slim size (these are installed in laptops). To load/unload a disc, the top plastic cover moves, which acts as an air intake.
The manufacturer has implemented a small number of interfaces on the front panel, which in principle corresponds to the compact design. There are 2 USB 3.0 ports, headset jacks and a power off button.
Cooling system
Air flow distribution is one of the most important factors in successful cooling of a system. The classic and most effective “wind tunnel” design, when air is taken in from the front part and blown out in the opposite direction, is completely absent from the Cougar QBX. Externally, the monolithic structure is essentially a sieve with removable panels. The design does not pretend to be original, but do not forget about the form factor. The Mini-ITX system is perhaps not designed for extreme overclocking, even though there are motherboards with chipsets for unlocked processors. Therefore, the most heat-producing item in this assembled system is, first of all, the video card, and in most cases it doesn’t care about the distribution of air flows in the case, because air is blown out in all directions (of course, if you do not take into account cooling systems with turbines).
Fans
The package includes 3 pre-installed fans
1. Two pieces 120x120 mm
The nine-blade impeller has shark fins to improve air flow, but bad luck - there are no fans on the manufacturer’s website, and the Internet does not show anything when searching for the CFU120 markings. Judging by the shape of the impeller, this is a lightweight version of the CF-D12HB presented on the manufacturer’s website; it is distinguished by the absence of a vibration-damping housing, LED backlighting, and a 4-pin fan connector.
The technical characteristics are quite good and are found today in many well-known manufacturers.
Operating voltage: 12V; 0.3A
Speed: 1200 rpm
Airflow: 109.42 m2/h
Bearing type: Hydraulic (according to Cougar website)
2. One 90x90 mm
Absolutely ordinary seven-blade low-speed fan (designation S in the serial number)
Without any clarifying characteristics on the site.
By the way, the company does not have its own production. In both cases, products are purchased from the well-known manufacturer Hong Sheng under the label
1. A1225L12S 12v 0.3A, most likely taken as a base with subsequent installation of an impeller ordered by Cougar).
2. A9225L12S 12V 0.18A, (most likely no modifications were made, they just pasted a sticker with a logo).
Complete absence of wow effect is guaranteed)
Noise indicators
Testing was carried out with a fairly popular CEM DT-805 device, which allows you to measure the sound range from 30 to 130 dB, both the standard frequency range dBA and low-frequency dBc. The sound level meter was installed in a stationary stand, at a distance of 30 cm from the system unit.
In order to roughly understand what these numbers say, below is a clipping from the table
35 - Quite audible (muffled conversation)
40 - Quite audible (normal speech)
(Norm for residential premises during the day, from 7 to 23 hours)
45 - Quite audible (normal conversation)
50 - Clearly audible (conversation, typewriter)
These indicators are valid for standard dBA noise, the dBc level is always significantly higher because includes a low frequency component.
What can be said about the operation of the standard cooling system?
According to the test results, it fully complies with noise standards in an average apartment during the day. But it’s not even a stretch to call it ideal. Unfortunately, all fans have 3-pin power connectors, which does not allow the speed to be adjusted on some motherboards, and there is absolutely no space for a reo-bass in the case.
The two included 120mm fans with “hydraulic” bearings hum at maximum speed and create vibration due to the lack of vibration damping housing or gaskets.
But unexpectedly, I was very pleased with the included 90 mm fan - when operating at maximum speeds, it is practically inaudible, especially compared to its larger counterparts, and this despite the simpler and more common design.
CPU cooling system installation and assembly
By default, any boxed cooler, low-profile heatpipe cooling system, or liquid cooling with a 120/240 mm radiator can be installed in the case. This fact is associated with a very dense arrangement of elements in the internal space of the system unit, and a 240 mm radiator can only be installed on the side hinged cover, sacrificing the box for installing a standard 3.5-size hard drive. In this installation option, space for the drive remains only under video card.
Installing an SSD drive is much easier; it is placed on the right side of the frame behind the motherboard, but only if the processor cooling system fasteners allow it.
As you can see in the image, the standard DeepCool MaelStorm 240 backplate interferes with the installation of the drive, and installation of this fastener is impossible due to too strong pressure on the case (at startup, the motherboard is switched off by short-circuit protection)
The possibility of installing 2x 120 mm fans on the bottom of the case for better cooling of the “Video card”, indicated in the instructions, is indicated for some unknown reason.
It is certainly possible to install them, they will act as a stand, the idea is very doubtful because there will be no required air flow.
Complete system
Conclusion
COUGAR was founded in Germany in 2007 by a group of computer peripheral enthusiasts. Professional team, adheres to the philosophy of design technology, focused on the use of human and aesthetic factors. This combination has developed products that meet the global demand of high-end professional gamers. Continuous testing of Cougar cases goes beyond normal development, resulting in a diversified line of gaming computer peripheral products that meet today's needs. This enthusiasm and innovative spirit are the basis of COUGAR's activities.
This is approximately how the company describes its aspirations and developments, but what can be said in essence. The Cougar QBX body is definitely a quality product.
The extremely robust frame construction combined with removable panels is not only a great design idea, but also an excellent embodiment of engineering developments.
The plastic is of excellent quality and does not have a hint of easily stained gloss, and the fully ventilated design allows the installation of the most modern components. As for the supplied fans, they can be considered consumables, which can be replaced at the user’s request for less noisy ones, although this increases the budget.
1. Light weight
2. Sustainability
3. Rubber feet
4.Easy to install side panels
5. Excellent, non-staining plastic
6. Rigid frame
7. Cable management system
8. Fans included
9. Great design, size and functionality
1. Noisy 120mm fans
2. Where is the power supply switch off button on the case? But it doesn’t exist, so to completely turn it off you will have to either unscrew the top cover or pull the wire from the outlet.
I express my deep gratitude to the Cougar company for providing a magnificent sample, as well as to the DNS company for everything.
Full technical specifications of the case
| Logistics | |
|---|---|
| Length | 372 mm |
| Width | 210 mm |
| Height | 349 mm |
| Volume | 0.0273 m³ |
| Weight of the case with complete power supply | no power supply |
| Weight without power supply | 6 kg |
| Weight of case in package | — |
| Weight-dimensional coefficient | 219,78 |
| Layout | |
| Motherboard format (maximum) | Mini-ITX |
| Number of volumes in the body | 2 |
| Power supply location | bottom horizontal |
| Power supply in a separate volume | Yes |
| Double-sided installation of the power supply | Yes |
| Front Panel | |
| Design | blind with slots on the side edge |
| Material | steel, plastic |
| Painting method | plastic: bulk |
| Availability of electrical connections and connected wires | No |
| Decorative door | No |
| The presence of a door latch (lock) | — |
| Door lock type | — |
| Door material | — |
| Door painting method | — |
| Door opening angle | — |
| Door shock absorption | — |
| Shock absorber design | — |
| External I/O ports | |
| USB 2.0 | 0 |
| USB 3.0 | 2 |
| Connecting wide USB devices (max.) | 2 |
| IEEE1394 (FireWire) | No |
| eSATA | No |
| Availability of a docking station with power for SATA drives | No |
| Native audio jack format | HD Audio |
| Port block placement | in front of the upper wall |
| Material of manufacture | |
| Chassis | steel |
| Side panels | steel, glass |
| Top panel | steel |
| Leg material | plastic with rubber inserts |
| Drives | |
| Number of seats for 3.5″ drives | 1 (0) |
| Number of seats for 2.5″ drives | 3 (4) |
| Drive mounting system | screw |
| Fixing drives | screws/latches |
| Depreciation | No |
| Shock absorber design | — |
| Thickness of shock-absorbing elements | — |
| Direct heat dissipation to chassis | No |
| Housing ventilation system | |
| Front Panel | |
| Presence of hole(s) | at the ends |
| Dust filter type | fine synthetic mesh |
| Peculiarities | quick-release |
| 2×120/140 mm | |
| Installed fans | No |
| Backlight | — |
| Connecting fans | — |
| Fan control | — |
| Right panel | |
| Presence of hole(s) | No |
| Dust filter type | — |
| Peculiarities | — |
| Standard places for fans | — |
| Installed fans | — |
| Backlight | — |
| Connecting fans | — |
| Fan control | — |
| Left panel | |
| Presence of hole(s) | No |
| Dust filter type | — |
| Peculiarities | — |
| Standard places for fans | — |
| Installed fans | — |
| Backlight | — |
| Connecting fans | — |
| Fan control | — |
| The bottom panel | |
| Presence of hole(s) | There is |
| Dust filter type | fine synthetic mesh |
| Peculiarities | quick-release |
| Standard places for fans | No |
| Installed fans | No |
| Backlight | — |
| Connecting fans | — |
| Fan control | — |
| Top panel | |
| Presence of hole(s) | There is |
| Dust filter type | plastic mesh |
| Peculiarities | non-removable |
| Standard places for fans | 1×120 mm |
| Installed fans | 1×120 mm |
| Backlight | No |
| Connecting fans | to the controller |
| Fan control | There is |
| Back panel | |
| Grille type | stamped |
| Peculiarities | No |
| Standard places for fans | 1×120 mm |
| Installed fans | 1×120 mm |
| Backlight | No |
| Connecting fans | to the controller |
| Fan control | There is |
| Peculiarities | — |
| Other | |
| Additional fans inside the case | No |
| Ability to adjust backlight brightness | No |
| Direct air flow to the power supply from outside | There is |
| Component Installation and Assembly | |
| Mounting devices in 5.25″ bays | — |
| Mounting devices in 3.5″ bays | screw |
| Attaching expansion cards | screw |
| Attaching the plugs | screw |
| Mounting the power supply | screw |
| Availability of a podium with shock absorption for BP | There is |
| Possibility of installing a power supply without removing a 100 mm high processor cooler | There is |
| Attaching the side panels | thumbscrews on both sides |
| Possibility of fixing with screws | There is |
| Rolling of side panels | No |
| Attaching the Side Panels to the Chassis | leaning, overhead |
| System board mounting | screw |
| Some screw fastenings are pre-installed | Yes |
| Board base | solid with a cutout in the processor area |
| Some installation dimensions | |
| Main video card length | 325 mm |
| Additional video card length | No |
| Number of seats | |
| 5.25″ with external access | No |
| 3.5″ with external access | No |
| Availability of a card reader | No |
We continue our acquaintance with the line of H cases from NZXT. Previously, we have already visited the H700i (a full-size representative of this series of premium cases with a tempered glass panel and a smart fan and backlight controller) and the H500i (a more compact version), but now we invite you to get acquainted with the smallest solution in the line - the NZXT H200i case. This model is designed to install Mini-ITX motherboards, does not offer such a wide range of mounting spaces for drives and CBO radiators, but provides for the installation of video cards up to 325 mm in length and a full-size ATX power supply. Thus, this compact model can be no less interesting a purchase than the bulkier H400i (microATX), H500i and H700i.
The case comes in 4 color options: all-black, white-black, black-blue and black-red. We got the last option. It is worth noting that the red inserts are made with very bright glossy paint; it perfectly complements the matte black finish. The case is supplied in a white and purple box with high-quality color printing, but without handles for more convenient carrying, which would be very useful: although the case is small, its weight in the package exceeds 7 kg. In addition to elements of the cooling system and a multifunctional controller, the delivery set includes a standard set of screws, disposable zip ties, small instructions in poster format in 10 languages, including Russian, as well as one RGB strip built into the top wall of the chassis.
Layout
The internal volume of the NZXT H200i is divided into two parts: the top contains the motherboard and graphics accelerator, and the bottom contains mainly the power supply with its cables; there is also a seat for a single full-size hard drive, although if desired, it can also be used as a landing space for a fourth laptop disk. A signature feature of all cases of the updated H line is a curved steel strip running through the entire case, which not only serves as a bright decorative element, but also covers the cable outlets for connecting them to the corresponding connectors.
To install 2.5″ drives in the case, there are 3 slots: one on the power supply casing directly in front of the glass wall (the most beautiful or most expensive drive is supposed to be placed here) and two more on the back side of the motherboard substrate.
There are no externally accessible compartments in this case, which is becoming the norm for modern compact solutions. From the point of view of appearance, the cutout on the casing of the lower compartment in the front part of the case looks a little unfortunate - it is clear that this is a forced move to install a liquid cooling radiator with a height of 240 mm, but if the radiator is not installed, then the case backlight will shine into this area and highlight bundles of wires from the power supply.
Design
The outer side of the front panel is made of the same steel as the rest of the chassis, and external magnetic accessories, such as a headphone holder, can be attached to it if desired. There are no decorative elements on the front panel, except for the barely noticeable NZXT logo; it looks quite strict and laconic.
All openings for air intake by front fans are located on the side faces in the front part of the case. This area is also colored bright red. The power button and I/O ports, which include two purple USB 3.1 Gen 1, as well as microphone and headphone jacks, are located on the front end of the top wall of the case.
The NZXT H200i does not have a reset button, but the power button has a round shape, a small stroke and operates with a loud click. The USB ports are spaced far enough apart that there shouldn't be any problems connecting two large devices at the same time. The Power LED is built into the power button, and the hard drive activity indicator is designed as a small dot to the left of the audio jacks. Both indicators glow with diffused white light, which is instantly lost against the background of the riot of light and colors that the built-in RGB strip is capable of producing.
The right side wall is completely blank, as is the left one, although they are made of different materials. There is perforation on the top wall where the case fan is installed. The rear wall is also equipped with a perforated area for installing a fan, and an adapter plate for mounting an SFX power supply is installed in the power supply bay right out of the box.
The case is mounted on rectangular legs with rubber inserts, which provide it with good stability and allow it to dampen small vibrations emanating from fans and hard drives, even when installed on a hard surface.
Ventilation system
The manufacturer provides for the installation of a total of four fans: on the top and rear only 120 mm models, and in the front - two “coolers” of standard size 120 or 140 mm. The delivery set includes fans on the top and rear walls, black, without backlight, with a rotation speed of up to 1400 rpm. Both fans are connected via 3-pin connectors to the internal controller.
The front wall is left without fans, with a clear hint of the installation of a liquid cooling system - without it, the case looks a little inferior, and some of the technical solutions turn out to be unclaimed. It is important to note that it is no longer possible to install a radiator with a height of 280 mm in the NZXT H200i; it is also worth considering its maximum thickness, which, according to the manufacturer, is 85 mm.
Thus, in the NZXT H200i Mini-ITX case you can install a dual SVO with a radiator of up to 240 mm, for example NZXT Kraken X52. Moreover, you can arrange a Push/Pull system, that is, install additional fans on the other side of the radiator. In the case of the already mentioned Kraken X52, the thickness of the radiator is 30 mm, the thickness of the Aer P fans is 26 mm, and when assembling the Push/Pull circuit, the total thickness will be 82 mm.
The ventilation holes for the power supply are covered with a high-quality quick-release filter made of synthetic mesh; it can be quickly removed and replaced without having to lay the case on its side. A similar filter is hidden under the front decorative panel, only it is attached, unlike the older H700i model, not with magnets, but with plastic spacers, which, however, is also quite convenient.
The situation is worse with the dust filter for the fan on the top wall. The good news is there is one; bad - the filter is made of a large plastic mesh, to clean it you will have to disassemble the housing and unscrew the fan itself.
The maximum height of the processor cooler in this case is an impressive 165 mm. Although, of course, to achieve a more interesting look of the “inner world” of the PC assembled in the NZXT H200i, it is better to use a CBO with a compact water block.
In general, we did not have any serious complaints about the ventilation system in this small building. It is possible that in some cases the holes on the side faces of the front panel will not be enough to provide sufficient flow of cold air for the front fans or radiator, but this is the price to pay for a more neat and strict appearance of the decorative panel.
Assembling the system unit
The design of the side walls of the NZXT H200i is different, so the method of dismantling is different. The tempered glass wall is secured with four thumbscrews on the side. After unscrewing all the screws, the wall does not fall off by itself, but it is still better to lay the case on its side at such moments. The glass instantly collects fingerprints, so it is better to work with it with gloves.
The second side wall is attached in a more traditional way - using two thumbscrews. The screws are pressed into place, but considering that the screws from the left wall will still have to be removed and put aside somewhere, this is not much use. Unlike the more usual lean-and-slide system, in this case the right side wall is fixed thanks to grooves in the front part of the case, forming something like a door hinge - this is a convenient solution, the only pity is that the steel grooves quickly scratch the red paint. It is very bright and glossy, but holds up surprisingly poorly.
All racks for mounting the motherboard are pre-installed by the manufacturer. The order in which the PC is assembled in the NZXT H200i does not really matter, since the components are spaced apart and do not interfere with each other. If you are using an SFX power supply, you can leave the included adapter plate in place. If a full-size ATX format power supply is used, then the plate should be removed by unscrewing 4 screws for a Phillips screwdriver. The case provides for the installation of power supplies up to 311 mm deep inclusive.
The 3.5″ drive cage has undergone significant changes compared to the H700i. There is no room left for removable trays in the H200i, so the manufacturer suggests attaching the HDD directly to the bottom wall of the chassis - not the most convenient, but quite reliable way. In terms of cooling, the drive is not particularly lucky, because all the excess cables will accumulate above it - or the CVO radiator will even hang over the front panel. Yes, manufacturers of modern cases (and not only compact ones) are increasingly and more insistently hinting at the need to use NAS or cloud services to store large amounts of data.
But for installing an SSD, this case provides as many as 3 seats - two hidden and one in plain sight. To install drives on the back side of the motherboard substrate, you must remove the corresponding bracket, which is secured using grooves and one thumbscrew. The disks are fixed to the bracket with screws using a Phillips screwdriver.
If the system assumes only one 2.5″ drive, then it is easier and more convenient to place it in a separate slot in the lower part of the case directly in front of the glass side wall. At first glance, it may seem that the plastic slides in this place are screwed to the body, but in fact this is not the case - a spring-loaded latch is responsible for their fixation. It is enough to press on it from above, and the slide can be easily detached. True, the method of fastening the disk in them is still screw, so, alas, you cannot do without a screwdriver.
The manufacturer has clearly gone overboard with the mechanism for attaching expansion cards. Judge for yourself: to fix one dual-slot video card, you need to unscrew four screws, because two hold the removable plugs and two more secure the additional clamping bar for the same plugs. The situation is aggravated by the fact that you can’t get to all these screws with your fingers; you have to work with them with a screwdriver, despite the presence of a knurled head on each of the screws.
NZXT designers have provided a good and generally well-thought-out cable management system, which on the right side consists of plastic channels, guides, Velcro and ties, and on the left - from slots in the right places and a red steel strip hiding the outgoing cables. If you correctly select the combination of the power supply (optionally, additional extension cords for it) and the motherboard, then the final assembly will look as laconic as possible. Ideally, the ATX power connector and the CPU power connector should be located next to each other on the right side of the motherboard, that is, closer to the front of the case.
It's nice to note that not only the USB and audio ports, but also the buttons and indicators on the front panel are connected to the motherboard using monolithic connectors - no heaps of wires, no suffering for the assembler. The standard for the supported type of headphone and microphone connection is HDA only without backward compatibility with AC’97. If desired, you can connect a second similar strip to the monolithic connector coming from the built-in RGB strip. It is included with the NZXT H400i and H700i cases, but must be purchased separately for the compact H200i.
To connect a multifunctional controller, it must be powered from one SATA connector, and also connected to the system board with a monolithic USB 2.0 header. Please note that not every Mini-ITX board will have more than one of these pads, while a similar connection method is provided by the NZXT Kraken liquid cooling system and a number of other components, so there may not be enough ports for everyone. One solution to this problem is to consider purchasing the NZXT Internal USB Hub or a similar accessory that makes multiple USB 2.0 headers from one internal one.
Unfortunately, without installing the appropriate software, the controller is absolutely useless. It only turns on the white color for the RGB strip mounted on the top of the case, and spins the fans to close to maximum values. Considering that every owner of a modern gaming PC now has a smartphone with Android or iOS, it would be more logical to add a Bluetooth module to the controller and allow the user to control fans and lighting directly from the mobile device, without being tied to the PC operating system.
Perhaps we will see such functionality in one of the future NZXT products, but for now, to make the controller operational, you will need to download and install the CAM program, which may additionally require .NET and DirectX 9 components - nothing unusual. After launching the program, you will need to create an account and log in - without logging in, the so-called “guest mode” works, in which some functions are not available. For example, the mobile companion on a smartphone will not work at all, and smart adaptive adjustment of fan speed using cloud computing and artificial intelligence will also be unavailable.
It’s interesting that the color of the backlight, in addition to the standard options of cyclic flickering and modulation, can be tied to music, creating an unusual visualizer, as well as to the player’s health in the game Counter Strike: Global Offensive. Perhaps in the future there will be more supported games, although, of course, this is largely self-indulgence and not a real necessity, and attempts to read data from the memory of online games can easily be considered cheating, and as a result the player will instead be shown in red when his health level is low will receive a permanent ban.
It is with great regret that we have to admit that the current implementation of the CAM mobile companion in the Android and iOS versions seems to us to be almost completely useless. The mobile version works only when a similar program is running on the PC and there is an active connection to the Internet. That is, data from the PC is transferred to the NZXT servers, and the mobile assistant requests it. Sometimes it “falls off” even if the main application is running, but even when everything works well, it is still of little use - of all the functions, only monitoring works, allowing you to see the current temperature of the components and their load on the smartphone screen.
The adaptive profile of case fans deserves special mention. It works thanks to the microphone built into the controller and cloud computing from NZXT. The initial activation of this mode will take you about 2 hours, during which the system will analyze the noise and temperature in idle mode and under gaming load (we tested with the Furmark program). Then the program itself will begin to load the processor with a synthetic load, accelerate and slow down the fans, monitor the noise of the fans and the temperature of the components.
First pass - Idle
First pass - Load
At the output, after sending data to the cloud and computing using neural networks, the program offers two adaptive profiles: for idle mode and for working under load. It may sound interesting in words, but in reality this algorithm in its current implementation has a lot of shortcomings. Firstly, a lot of time is spent on the initial setup. Secondly, CAM does not know how to create a synthetic load on the GPU and measures noise and temperature, loading only the processor. Thirdly, in a number of cases the program receives deliberately incorrect indicators of the temperature of components, while reporting that the profile has been successfully optimized. And finally, fourthly, the system’s recommendations differ significantly from time to time, even if the testing conditions remain unchanged.
Second pass - Idle
Second pass - Load
For example, in our case, the first time the adaptive mode suggested completely turning off the case fans in idle mode, and the second time it turned off only the top one, leaving the rear one to work at reduced speeds. It is important to understand that this mode only works after launching the CAM application and logging into the service, since the data for the system is not stored locally, the program downloads it from the network, which is also not always convenient.
Perhaps someone will find such a software and hardware solution interesting, but in our opinion, it is best to trust the UEFI firmware on the motherboard to control the fan speed, which allows you to manually plot the dependence of fan speed on the temperature of the components, without being tied to the operating system, a separate Software and Internet.
Acoustic ergonomics
The noise level of the case cooling system varies over a relatively wide range from 22.5 to 37.5 dBA, and its performance also varies within the same range. When the fans are powered at 5V, the noise is at a very low level even when the microphone is positioned in the near field.
However, as the supply voltage increases, the noise level increases. In a typical voltage regulation range of 7-11 V, noise varies from low (28 dBA) to average (36 dBA) levels relative to typical values for residential premises during the daytime. Even when the fans are powered with a nominal voltage of 12 V, the noise level of the case cooling system does not reach 40 dBA, but is already very close to this ergonomic limit.
If the case is further removed from the user and placed, for example, on the floor under a table, the noise can be described as minimally noticeable when the fans are powered from 5 V, and when the fans are powered from 12 V - as average for a living room during the daytime. However, it hardly makes sense to seriously analyze such options for placing an expensive “exhibition” building.
The quality of the fans can be assessed as quite decent - the sounds from the drive are minimal when powered by 5 volts.
The acoustic ergonomics of the case are at a very good level when powered either from the standard controller or from the motherboard or external controller, and a relatively wide range of changes in the performance of the case cooling system is also provided.
When operating in adaptive mode, we have repeatedly observed a sharp short-term (pulse) spin-up of the fans followed by a stop, which is not very comfortable when operating at low load, especially if a minimum noise level is required. Therefore, if there are high requirements for acoustic ergonomics, it is better to choose other controller operating modes.
Positioning and conclusions
NZXT's updated line of H cases is aimed primarily at wealthy gamers who want to purchase a premium product designed taking into account all modern trends: a glass wall, built-in RGB lighting, a smart controller, support for liquid cooling systems, no externally accessible compartments and a simplified a data storage system designed for the use of a separate NAS or cloud services.
By and large, the main difference between the most compact case in the line, the H200i, and the full-size H700i, is the inability to install a second dual radiator SVO on the top wall, so a video card in a compact case will most likely be cooled not by water, but by air (the option with a 120 mm The radiator on the rear wall is also working, although not universal). But you can save $70 on the difference in the price of the cases and save some space on your desk.
It’s nice to note that NZXT designers have taken care not only of fans of “gaming” and aggressive colors: the case is offered in a much calmer white and black design option, which will fit much better into a modern interior next to a smart RGB lamp or similar speaker.
Of course, the company still needs to work hard on the quality of the software, but if the CAM idea is not abandoned, then after a few iterations they will be able to present us with a truly convenient and interesting product. Also, when assembling a compact and “visible” PC, it is very important to correctly select all the components, not only checking their compatibility from the point of view of technology and cooling, but also assessing the visual component - so that all connectors are in suitable places, and the length of the cables is adjusted as accurately as possible.
Despite some software shortcomings, the corpus earned our Editors' Choice Award for this month.
What is needed for a gaming computer? A powerful processor, a powerful gaming video card, more memory and, highly desirable, an SSD drive. Well, there’s also a monitor and a gaming mouse. All? No, not all. You can't do without a motherboard. Moreover, you don’t always need a large motherboard in the ATX or mini-ATX form factor. If you do not plan to install additional (second, third, etc.) video cards, RAID controllers and other devices, then why not opt for a compact option, assembling a gaming computer in a small case? Today we are talking about mini-ITX motherboards, a selection and, at the same time, a brief overview of which are in today’s material.
Criterias of choice
As usual, before choosing anything, let’s determine the requirements for a future purchase. Today we’ll look at what to buy for the latest generation Intel processors if you want to build a computer in a small case.
We are talking about motherboards in the mini-ITX form factor. Actually, there are no particular criteria here. At the moment (beginning of December 2017), for Coffee Lake generation processors, the choice of chipsets fully corresponds to the famous expression of Henry Ford:
"The car can be any color, as long as it is black"
So in this case, of the 300 series chipsets, only Z370 is available. There should be more available early next year, but for now this is the only one available. Therefore, today there is only one selection criterion – the mini-ITX form factor.
The main thing is that there is support for the processors we are interested in, there is a slot for installing a video card, and the number and types of USB ports, connectors for storage devices, etc. – that’s how it will turn out.
Available models
Almost all motherboard manufacturers have a model, or several, in this size. The exceptions are EVGA and Biostar. Maybe for the better. And, frankly, the choice is small, not only in terms of the number of models, but also in the differences between them.
Key Features of Available Mini-ITX Motherboards
| Model | ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac | ASROCK Z370M-ITX/AC | ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING | GIGABYTE Z370N-WIFI | MSI Z370I GAMING PRO CARBON AC | |
| Supported memory | DDR4-2666 | |||||
| Number of memory slots | 2 | |||||
| Max. memory capacity, GB | 32 | |||||
| Expansion slots | 1 PCIE 3.0 x16 | |||||
| Quantity SATA 3 | 6 | 4 | ||||
| RAID support | 0,1,5,10 | |||||
| M.2 | 1 x M.2 Socket 3, M Key type, 2260/2280, PCIe Gen3 x4 (PCIe & SATA) | 1 x M.2 Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280 PCIe Gen3 x4 (PCIe) | 1 x M.2 Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280 PCIe Gen3 x4 (PCIe & SATA), 1 x M.2 Socket 3, M key, type 2260/2280 PCIe Gen3 x4 (PCIe) | 1 x M.2 Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280 PCIe Gen3 x4 (PCIe & SATA) | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC1220 | Realtek ALC892 | SupremeFX (Realtek) S1220A | Realtek ALC1220A | ||
| LAN | Gigabit, Intel® I219V | Gigabit, Intel® I219V+ GigaLAN Intel® I211AT | Gigabit, Intel® I219V | Gigabit, 2 x Intel® GbE LAN | Gigabit, Intel® I219V | |
| Wi-fi | Intel® 802.11ac WiFi Module AC3165 | Intel® 802.11ac WiFi Module | Intel® 802.11ac WiFi Module | Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 | ||
| Bluetooth | 4.2 | 4.2, Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 | ||||
| Interfaces | 1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2, with Thunderbolt 3 support) 8 x USB 3.1 Gen1 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 | 8 x USB 3.1 Gen1 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 | 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C 6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 | 1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen 1) 6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 | 1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2) 1 x USB Type-A (USB 3.1 Gen 2) 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 |
|
| Number of power phases | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | |
| price, rub. | 14300 | 10500 | 14500 | 11000 | 149.57 euros * | |
* At the moment (beginning of December) I have not found this board for sale in Russia, it has not yet reached us, but in the computeruniverse online store it costs about 10,400 rubles. Considering that it is slightly cheaper than the ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac, I assume that its retail price will be about 13,500-14,000 rubles.
As you can see, the differences between the boards are small. The number of SATA and M.2 connectors varies, the number of USB also varies, and different audio chips are used. Otherwise, all models have similar characteristics, and differences in the number of power phases can be ignored.
Let's take a closer look at each motherboard.
ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac
One of the very sophisticated boards in this form factor. In general, only this manufacturer can boast of the ability to connect 6 drives with a SATA interface. How necessary this is is another question, since it is still assumed that boards of this form factor are used in compact cases, where it is not always possible to install such a number of even 2.5-inch drives.
The chipset and (VRM) are covered by heatsinks connected by a heat pipe. The M.2 connector is located on the back of the board.
The power system is 7-phase, built on the new ISL69128 PWM controller from Intersil. To ensure Thunderbolt 3 operation, the JHL6340 controller is used. The TSP65982 chip manufactured by Texas Instruments is needed to provide the functionality of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface. Compatibility with HDMI 2.0 is provided by the MCDP2800 manufactured by MegaChips.
If we talk about RGB backlighting, then the situation is twofold. It is there, but just a few LEDs near the PCIe connector are unlikely to satisfy those who like “to make everything shine and sparkle.” There is a backlight on the board, but that's all that can be said about it. The system unit will have to be colored using additional LED strips or other devices. Fortunately, the installed nuvoTon N76E885AT controller will provide this opportunity.
The board realizes the potential of the chipset well and allows you to overclock processors with an unlocked multiplier (“K” version). A powerful power supply also has a beneficial effect on overclocking capabilities.
The board has no problems with overheating. When installing a processor cooler with VRM airflow, the temperature of the power circuits was about 50 °C, which is very good, and, as you can find out from the reviews, the installed VRM heatsink does an excellent job.
The board has no problems with interfaces either; there are a lot of connectors on the back, for every taste. In general, the Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac is packaged very well and is definitely worth paying attention to when choosing. Its only problem is the illumination made “for show”.
ASROCK Z370M-ITX/AC
To some extent a simplified version of the previous model. Firstly, there is no big name Fatal1ty, there is no word “Gaming” in the name. However, this does not in any way detract from the possibility of using it for a gaming PC.
Secondly, the number of power phases is one less - 6. A simpler chipset cooling system and VRM are used. Installed separate radiators without a heat pipe.
Thirdly, the M.2 connector was placed on the front surface of the board, thanks to a smaller heatsink on the chipset.
Fourthly, the PCIe x16 connector is not reinforced with a metal frame, as was done in the previous model.
There are other differences as well. This is a simpler Wi-Fi module, the absence of Thunderbolt 3, but there are 2 gigabit network interfaces on Intel controllers. The lighting here is also very poor. Just a few LEDs on the bottom edge of the motherboard.
If the lack of a connector supporting Thunderbolt 3 is not critical for you, the unreinforced connector for the video card does not bother you, and simpler radiators on the chipset and power circuits do not bother you, then you can easily save almost 4,000 rubles. and choose this particular model.
ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING
The name of the board strongly convinces that we are dealing with a gaming model; not only does it belong to the ROG (Republic of Gamers) family, but there is also a separate word GAMING in the name, like a kind of control shot, so that no one doubts the purpose of the motherboard .
The board has interesting solutions. For starters, an 8-phase power system. Since it’s a gaming game, and even on an overclocker chipset, why waste time on trifles? A radiator for batteries is also installed. The PWM controller ASP1400BT is used.
By the way, the chipset also has a heatsink, but it’s not a simple one. It's two stories high. Its upper part is removed, revealing space underneath for installing an M.2 drive. That is, one radiator cools both the chipset and the drive.
There is also a second M.2 connector. It is located on the back of the board, only supports PCIe drives (SATA SSD is not supported), and it does not have a heatsink.
Those who want to overclock can afford it, since the board provides everything they need. Thus, the Core i7-8700K processor, often used in reviews, worked stably at frequencies of 5 GHz at a voltage of about 1.3 V, and you can certainly squeeze more out of successful copies.
The backlight is located along the edge of the board, rather modest, but somewhat more fun to use than the ASROCK models.
As a result, we have a board with virtually no flaws. Personally, I'm a little confused by the placement of the first M.2. A radiator is good, but right under the drive there is heating in the form of a chipset, even if it is also covered by a radiator. Given the tendency of high-speed PCIe SSDs to overheat, will such cooling be sufficient?
For a complete set, the only thing missing is USB 3.1 Gen 2, although this is more of a nitpick. Buying this board, I think, is a win-win option.
GIGABYTE Z370N-WIFI
A very interesting fee for a reasonable price. In principle, it differs little from the same ASUS, offering everything the same, with the exception of a smaller number of power phases (6 versus 8 for the ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING) and the absence of USB 3.1 Gen 2. Otherwise, everything is approximately the same.
Including two M.2 connectors. In this case, there are no double-decker radiators, both the chipset and the drive in the first M.2 connector located on the front side are cooled individually. The second M.2 connector located on the reverse side does not have a heatsink.
In general, having two M.2 is a good idea, which will allow you to build a computer without traditionally connected hard drives or 2.5-inch SSD drives. No extra cables, everything you need is located on the motherboard. All that remains is to get a couple of solid-state drives.
And here a certain subtlety arises, which, by the way, is completely true for the ASUS model discussed above. Let's imagine, if we plan to get by with a pair of M.2 drives, then what would be the optimal thing to do? Buy one on the PCIe bus, high-speed, and install it in the slot on the front side. It's no secret that fast models of such drives are prone to overheating and additional cooling is good for them.
Okay, one SSD has been installed. The system and main programs will now work quickly. Now you need to deal with the second drive, for data. Agree, the same performance as the first SSD is not really needed, and it would be quite possible to get by with an SSD on the SATA bus. By saving on the interface, it would be possible to take a larger model.
And here an ambush awaits us. The second, rear-mounted M.2 connector does not support SATA drives. What happens? The system drive, which is fast and hot, will have to be placed back, leaving it without cooling, and the SATA SSD will have to be placed under a heatsink that it does not need.
To be honest, the logic of the developers' reasoning is strange. It is clear that there are some technological reasons, and the SATA interface, as applied to solid-state drives, does not allow them to work at full capacity, but since there is support for this interface, why not swap the connectors?
Otherwise, it’s a very interesting and worthy fee. Overclocking is also fine. The reviews write that the heatsink on the processor power circuits heated up to 80 °C under high load, but no problems with instability were noticed. The heatsink on the SSD works very efficiently. For example, the temperature of the Samsung 960 Evo used in one of the tests was reduced from 75 °C to 59 °C.
A more than interesting option for purchase, especially since the price is very attractive.
MSI Z370I GAMING PRO CARBON AC
The model is new, and has not yet been particularly featured in detailed reviews. Judging by the characteristics, it is difficult to complain about the lack of anything. There is only one M.2 connector, located on the back side and not equipped with any heatsink.
All modern versions of USB 3.1 are present, for which the latest ASMedia 3142 controller is responsible.
The board, in fact, is a complete analogue of the ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac, with virtually no different characteristics, except for a slightly different number of interface ports, and the backlight is slightly better. And they are clearly similar in price. Which option to choose is a matter of taste.
Conclusion. Z370 mini-ITX motherboards, choice without much choice
There are few motherboard models of this form factor. Not the most popular size. Added to this is the fact that such a baby stands like an adult. Judge for yourself, for example, a full-fledged ATX board ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-F GAMING can be bought for 14,000 rubles. There are also two M.2 here, but already 4 memory slots, a bunch of PCIe connectors, not to mention more impressive lighting. True, its size is larger.
It seems that for the mini-ITX form factor a simpler chipset will be better suited, and, accordingly, cheaper. Overclocking is not the thing for which you buy such a motherboard. More important is stability of operation, the ability to install any, even the most powerful, video card. All this can be done with currently existing boards.
Therefore, for me personally, the most interesting options are the cheaper models, i.e. ASROCK Z370M-ITX/AC and GIGABYTE Z370N-WIFI, and the latter is even more attractive. If you absolutely want to assemble something compact but powerful, then why not pay attention to one of these models. And if you make do with only M.2 drives, then the number of wires and other devices will be reduced to a minimum.
Good choice and good shopping.