ASRock shows off a new SFF motherboard formfactor

[Mira Yurizaki]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/11052/asrock-shows-deskmini-gtxrx-using-microstx-motherboard-with-mxm-support

 

The biggest features of this is that it uses MXM boards for GPU support and SO-DIMM memory. It's a bit smaller than a Mini-ITX, but not too much smaller though. Still, it looks like it'll really pave the way for DIY console sized PCs.

 

Just hoping that there'll be a decent supply of MXM boards somewhere for a fair price.

[ramencupofjoy]

3 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/11052/asrock-shows-deskmini-gtxrx-using-microstx-motherboard-with-mxm-support

 

The biggest features of this is that it uses MXM boards for GPU support and SO-DIMM memory. It's a bit smaller than a Mini-ITX, but not too much smaller though. Still, it looks like it'll really pave the way for DIY console sized PCs.

 

Just hoping that there'll be a decent supply of MXM boards somewhere for a fair price.

Holy hell that is small.

[The Benjamins]

This is cool but still want to see high end mini DTX board.

[Mira Yurizaki]

6 minutes ago, The Benjamins said:

This is cool but still want to see high end mini DTX board.

AMD has been surprisingly silent here.

 

I mean, what a better way to show off your new CPU and GPU with that motherboard formfactor?

[The Benjamins]

Ya I hope, amd has already moved to single slot I/O on their GPUs which I love. Now I just need a mDTX board. I would rather not use the x99 mini itx with a PCIe splitter in a custom case. I don't have enough time and money for that.

[DocSwag]

I don't think it's a new form factor. Mini-STX has been around for a while and there have been a few barebones PCs out there (I think MSI has one) that use a mini-STX based mobo.

[MageTank]

This is a big deal. If this can motivate manufacturers to produce MXM modules on a mass scale, this would be a boon for both the desktop and mobile market, as users would be able to upgrade their MXM laptops with ease. The problem is, MXM is so niche and scarce, that the modules themselves cost a fortune, up to twice that of their normal desktop counterparts. 

 

This also means serious performance in a small form factor. The board appears to support the stock intel mounting pattern, so you can delid a 7700k, strap a 45mm vapor chamber on top of it, and have a 4.5ghz quad core that runs extremely cool. As for cooling the GPU, I can think of several ways to cool that (giant heatsink with perforated side panel and a high static pressure fan strapped to it). 

 

I love the plethora of M.2 slots on the bottom of the board, including one for wifi. I am excited for this things release. Might end up making yet another custom ITX chassis after all, lol. 

[Mira Yurizaki]

6 minutes ago, DocSwag said:

I don't think it's a new form factor. Mini-STX has been around for a while and there have been a few barebones PCs out there (I think MSI has one) that use a mini-STX based mobo.

Ah you're right. But in my defense it's less than two years old. That still makes it newish

[Misanthrope]

Worthless without MXM modules, doubt those will come. Cool if you get some sort of broken laptop with a working MXM module but that's still rare. 

[Prysin]

Me like this concept a lot. Me think it will be flop. Me sad

[TheRandomness]

STX has been a thing for a very long time and the PCIe x4 M.2 slot could be adapted to use a graphics card. Why are people surprised?

[Cela1]

Meh, even if it is good in concept, it has to win an uphill battle to survive, as stated by some above me.

 

[FourCorners]

Like many SFF fans in this thread, we would love for this micro STX form factor to catch on but I don't think Asrock intended for this to become a new standard for custom builders like us but rather for more unique boutique and OEMs to use in their special SFF prebuilts

 

As mention before, without the support of companies making MXM graphics cards, the Micro STX platform is alreay dead before it can even catch on. However, I feel like it would only take one of the bigger GPU AIBs like Asus, MSI, or Gigabyte to take the plunge and create one or two models to test the waters. Similar to shorter mitx graphics cards, when Asus kind of started the trend back in the days of the GTX 670 mini and now we have many options from Gigabyte, Asus Zotac, and even AMD with the Nano. The same could be said with silverstone making SFX PSUs and now Corsair are making them too.

 

Even with a lot of support, these boards will still be very niche.

[mach]

this is fantastic!

The cpu die and gpu die are on the same plane, that means someone is going to design custom cooler that letting them share heatpipes. I think it's a very efficient way of cooling.

 

Using mobile components is not something groundbreaking though, because that's how those tiny gaming cubes and super high end laptops work. Asrock just made them into a standard form factor.

 

Still, unless mxm becomes a well adopted standard, mini itx with its convenient pcie is still going to be dominent

[RotoCoreOne]

Looks cool but unless you got the money to get a mxm 970m or 980m you're not gonna get far if gaming is the intention. Sucks but mxm isn't going to be a thing... ever.

[captain cactus]

Great. Now make MXM modules for the full desktop GPUs (RX460/470/480, GTX series) and make them readily available at or near the standard desktop card's price. Then we're talking.

 

Cooling these MXM GPUs will be very interesting.

[Bouzoo]

9 hours ago, MageTank said:

The problem is, MXM is so niche and scarce, that the modules themselves cost a fortune, up to twice that of their normal desktop counterparts.

Two years ago when I asked an official HP reseller about upgrading my 10 years old laptop, they told me $1200 for a quadro FX1500m. $1200.

[Zodiark1593]

13 hours ago, Bouzoo said:

Two years ago when I asked an official HP reseller about upgrading my 10 years old laptop, they told me $1200 for a quadro FX1500m. $1200.

$1200 for what is essentially a PS3 (Playstation 3) GPU. Not sure what demand there is for these parts that warrants such a price. Perhaps find a scrapped model and snag its card. 

[Joshosaurus]

On 1/19/2017 at 7:10 AM, The Benjamins said:

This is cool but still want to see high end mini DTX board.

Agreed I feel that Mini-DTX would be much more popular then Mini-ITX. SLI in such a tiny box 

[Mira Yurizaki]

5 minutes ago, JJHW149 said:

Agreed I feel that Mini-DTX would be much more popular then Mini-ITX. SLI in such a tiny box 

I don't know if it'd work like that considering Mini-DTX only has two slots and SLI with high end cards requires at the minimum a height of three slots. And since you have four slots for the case, you're encroaching on mATX territory.

[Clanscorpia]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

I don't know if it'd work like that considering Mini-DTX only has two slots and SLI with high end cards requires at the minimum a height of three slots. And since you have four slots for the case, you're encroaching on mATX territory.

Linus did 7 GPUs in 7 slots so.... Single slot watercooled mini 1080s? 

[Mira Yurizaki]

8 minutes ago, Clanscorpia said:

Linus did 7 GPUs in 7 slots so.... Single slot watercooled mini 1080s? 

The space needed for that is still approaching mATX territory I think.

[Clanscorpia]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

The space needed for that is still approaching mATX territory I think.

I think like fully custom for the case it would work. And would like sick as hell

[HelplmChoking]

How easy is it to purchase MXM cards though? And even if you can buy one, there aren't many out there.

[NumLock21]

Is that Asrock Micro-STX or Mini-STX?

Cause here is a mini-STX

 

Boards are below $100

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=mini+stx&N=-1&isNodeId=1