Mini-Motherboard: Intel D201GLY2
A board like this can be the basis for any number of interesting projects. For example, it is ideal as a dedicated Web machine running 24x7 (instead of using your desktop computer with its expensive hard drive and power hungry graphics card for the task). Even when it’s left running around the clock, the platform only draws about 20 cents worth of power per day.
It’s also a good choice for a file server. You can keep all of your MP3s and movies in one place and give your family access to them over a home network.
The home automation enthusiasts out there could even use the mini PC to control various tasks inside your networked home. Imagine logging onto the system remotely through a web interface and turning the lights in your living room on or off, for example. Of course, you could always just use it as a classical router, too.
Even today, you can still find PCI graphics cards based on ATI’s Radeon HD 2400. So if you wanted to, you could upgrade to a comparatively current discrete graphics solution later on and use the box as a basic desktop.
