Build Your Own Mini-PC for $80

By Daniel Schuhmann
published

Picking an OS for a Low-Powered Platform

This board is underpowered for Windows Vista, regardless of which version of the OS you choose. The single-core CPU is too slow to ensure that the system runs smoothly without stuttering.

With Windows XP installed, the board proved quite snappy, though, as long as we didn’t throw large or memory heavy applications at it.

We also booted the system using the most recent distribution of Ubuntu Linux; as it turns out, the graphics solution was not supported. The result was that the screen was streaked, and the X-Server would crash after only a few minutes. Nonetheless, the board is well-suited to Linux-based router distributions like the current version of IP-Cop. Since the on-board NIC is recognized and installed without a problem, you just have to add a second network card and you’re set to go.

Daniel Schuhmann
69 Comments Comment from the forums
  • goonting
    Via mini-itx boards got better features than this one... with 4 sata ports
    Reply
  • goonting
    http://www.logicsupply.com/products/sn18000g


    Processor 1.8 GHz VIA C7
    800MHz FSB
    Chipset VIA CN896 northbridge
    VT8251 southbridge
    System Memory 2 DDR2 533/667 DIMM
    Up to 4GB memory size (3.25GB recognizable)
    VGA Integrated VIA Chrome9 HC Integrated Graphics with 2D/3D and video accelerators
    Expansion Slots 1 PCI Express
    Mini PCI (32-bit)
    Onboard IDE 1 ATA 133 (40-pin)
    Onboard Serial ATA 4 SATA (3.0Gb/sec.) connectors
    Onboard USB 6 USB 2.0
    Onboard LAN VIA VT6103L 10/100
    VIA VT6130 PCI-e 10/100/1000
    Onboard Audio VIA VT1708A HD audio codec
    Onboard TPM (Trusted Platform Module) Infineon SLB9635TT 1.2
    Back Panel I/O 2 LAN ports
    4 USB 2.0 ports
    1 VGA port
    1 RS-232 COM port
    1 PS2 mouse port
    1 PS2 keyboard port
    3 Audio jacks: line-out, line-in, mic-in (Horizontal, Smart 5.1 supported)
    Onboard I/O Connectors 1 CIR pin header (switchable for KB/MS)
    1 IDE 40-pin connector
    1 USB 2.0 connector for 2 USB ports
    1 LVDS/DVI module connector (add-on card required)
    4 SATA connectors
    1 COM port pin header (5V/12V selectable)
    1 SMBus connector
    1 CF Type I connector (shares channel with IDE)
    Front panel audio connector (mic & line-out)
    1 Audio line-in connector
    1 LPC pin header
    2 Fan connectors
    1 SIR pin header (IrDA 1.0)
    1 DIO connector
    1 S/PDIF-out pin header
    1 Front panel connector
    ATX power connector
    BIOS AMI BIOS, 4/8Mb flash memory
    System Monitoring & Management Watchdog timer, Wake on LAN, CPU Voltage monitoring, Keyboard power on, Timer power on, System power management, AC power failure recovery
    Operating Temperature 0 ~ 50°C
    Operating Humidity 0% ~ 95% (relative humidity; non-condensing)
    Form Factor Mini-ITX (17 cm x 17 cm)
    Includes ATA 133 flat cable (40-pin, 80 conductor, 3 connectors)
    Back plate
    Installation CD
    Quick installation guide
    Reply
  • goonting
    this one is better suited for windows home server or a linux... you can attach up to 4TB total HD. Plus I drool and envy a friend of mine in Boeing who can also remotely access it. love the minis
    Reply
  • genored
    WTF LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. I'm not a intel or a amd fanboy. But when you fucking compare energy savings. And find out that a 4850e draws less power then a e2140 and then put bouth CPU:s under load and find out that 4850e draws more power. WELL FFS 4850e draws more power because is has a higher clock and it also performs at maximum load compared with a maybe E6400. So plz come back with this test when you under clock e4850 to the same as e2140 and then compare power consumption under load. E2180 with overclock 2 2.1ghz or e2200 with under clock to 2.1ghz vs 4050e, that's what i want to see. Magic is for nvida transforming 8800gt into a 9800gt with a firmware update and new stickers. Plz don't tell me everybody is using magic nowadays.
    Reply
  • hellwig
    I would have liked to see this compared to the more expensive VIA boards it was obviously designed to compete against. How does this board compete against a new Atom-based boad? Also, AMD created Geode boards a few years back, how would those fair (at 500MHz, I would guess not well)? I think that these Celeron boards would out-compute similar VIA and Atom boards in the mini-ITX form factor, though they seem to consume more power.

    It's hard to determine the market this was intended for, sub $100 mini-ITX? It's certainly not a good power consumer for the mini-ITX segment at idle, and it lacks enough power for the sub $100 PC market (dual-core Athlon + AM2 board = $100).
    Reply
  • goonting
    it would be great to add more mini-itx solutions from via and amd
    Reply
  • randomizer
    genoredWELL FFS 4850e draws more power because is has a higher clock and it also performs at maximum load compared with a maybe E6400.That makes no sense.
    genoredSo plz come back with this test when you under clock e4850 to the same as e2140 and then compare power consumption under load. E2180 with overclock 2 2.1ghz or e2200 with under clock to 2.1ghz vs 4050e, that's what i want to see. By your logic they should underclock all processors to 1.2GHz so they can "accurately" compare to the Celeron 220, since that is the processor that this article is focused on, not the 4850e. genoredMagic is for nvida transforming 8800gt into a 9800gt with a firmware update and new stickers. Plz don't tell me everybody is using magic nowadays.Which is totally relavent to this article of course.

    This celeron equals my webpage load times for the CPU charts and I have an E6600. Blasted Aussie internet! :kaola:
    Reply
  • genored
    Oki my english is a bit bad. But here i go again. The performace of a 4850e is equal to a E6400. Its quite simple to understand that 4850e draws more power then e2140 under load. But the 4850e also outperformes w2140 but a lot of margine.

    I know the article is not focused on the 4850e but then it souldent eather be focused on e2140 with they did lots of tests on. What pisses me of is that they only thest the crapy sempron in the test from amd's side. Making it look like amd hade nothing to come with. Also the e2140( witch i actally think is a briliant CPU) shines over the sempron and the celeron like it would be the ovios choise. But it would not shine over the 4850e.

    Also do you randomizer think its fair to compare the CPU's that way.
    Reply
  • SebMKd
    Using this board in an super small Travla Case as an Ubuntu Server. It kicks ass! Although, it's right that getting the Xorg to work takes a few trials. Just look it up in ubuntu forums!
    D201GLY2A Fanless, RAM KVR533D2N4/1GB, OS on WD scorpio WD800BEVS, Data on WD Green Power WD5000AACS, PW-200M Onboard DC-DC PSU (with 80W power adapter), 80mm Chassis fan. Case: Travla C138. (Very small. However, without the 3.5" Drive I could have put everything in a case even smaller!)

    It would also be fine for light office work and recreational use!! Or great for kids and family.
    Reply
  • genored
    "Under load, the differences are much more pronounced. Equipped with a Pentium dual core E2140 (M0 stepping), the Intel G33-based system consumes 69.5 watts, while the Celeron http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celeron 220 board gets by with only 55.4 watts. Meanwhile, the AMD System draws 70 watts under load even when only equipped with the Sempron LE-1100."

    WELL Daniel Schuhmann TRY underclocking a 4050e to 1.6Ghz and se how much powerconsumtion the amd system has.

    Warrning intel fan boy detected!!!!!!!
    Reply