*Official* Zotac H55-ITX Mini-ITX HTPC Thread
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Tha manual states that it "Supports LGA 1156 socket for Intel Core i3/Core i5/ Core i7 processors."
I suppose you could plug a USB 3.0 card into the mini PCIE slot (or any other PCIE device for that matter). I sure don't need the WiFi.
Tha manual states that it "Supports LGA 1156 socket for Intel Core i3/Core i5/ Core i7 processors."
I suppose you could plug a USB 3.0 card into the mini PCIE slot (or any other PCIE device for that matter). I sure don't need the WiFi.
I added a few pics to the first post that show the build progress.
I need to run out and get a slimline optical cable before I install my drives.
Here are a few notes.
The case is a Travla C138. This case comes with a 20 pin ATX PSU. I pulled the board out of the case and am using a PICO PSU instead. This has the benefit of adding a little room. I got the premium 150 watt PSU so you can see that I had to do a little surgery on the back of my case to add the required connector (the hole had to be widened and screw holes added). The picture makes it look bad but it looks good in the real world.
This is my first ITX build. The board is smaller than expected. That said, working with it is not very different from working with any other board. It is fairly well laid out. I am using the stock Intel heatsink. I attached the CPU, heatsink, ram and as many cables as possible to the board before inserting it in the case. The position of the case connectors (power switch, power LED, etc.) leaves very little room to move after the board is installed.
I will be adding an 160 GB Intel X-25m SSD, a slot loading optical drive, and a 500GB Hitachi 7200RPM 2.5" HDD. I hope I still will have room to use the PCI-E slot if I want to add a CETON card to the case when it is released.
That is all for now.
I need to run out and get a slimline optical cable before I install my drives.
Here are a few notes.
The case is a Travla C138. This case comes with a 20 pin ATX PSU. I pulled the board out of the case and am using a PICO PSU instead. This has the benefit of adding a little room. I got the premium 150 watt PSU so you can see that I had to do a little surgery on the back of my case to add the required connector (the hole had to be widened and screw holes added). The picture makes it look bad but it looks good in the real world.
This is my first ITX build. The board is smaller than expected. That said, working with it is not very different from working with any other board. It is fairly well laid out. I am using the stock Intel heatsink. I attached the CPU, heatsink, ram and as many cables as possible to the board before inserting it in the case. The position of the case connectors (power switch, power LED, etc.) leaves very little room to move after the board is installed.
I will be adding an 160 GB Intel X-25m SSD, a slot loading optical drive, and a 500GB Hitachi 7200RPM 2.5" HDD. I hope I still will have room to use the PCI-E slot if I want to add a CETON card to the case when it is released.
That is all for now.
I assume you answered my question from the other thread. Can't wait to hold one of this puppy soon.
I am very interested to know bitstream 24P from BD too. I'm sure you will going to test it VERY soon, right? Please post a quick word after test. Thanks!
I am very interested to know bitstream 24P from BD too. I'm sure you will going to test it VERY soon, right? Please post a quick word after test. Thanks!
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You made my day. I have been waiting for a mini-ITX H55/57 board to be available.
How much space between the top of the CPU fan and the bottom of the drive tray, oh and what CPU are you using? I am hoping to use a lower height mini-ITX case.
How much space between the top of the CPU fan and the bottom of the drive tray, oh and what CPU are you using? I am hoping to use a lower height mini-ITX case.
There is (maybe) enough room for a PCI-E card. I don't think I'll put one in. Cable management is a real PITA. I should have bought short SATA cable because SATA cables are bulky. I tied them up and everything fits.
Core i5 650 is the CPU.
Installing Windows now.
There is (maybe) enough room for a PCI-E card. I don't think I'll put one in. Cable management is a real PITA. I should have bought short SATA cable because SATA cables are bulky. I tied them up and everything fits.
Core i5 650 is the CPU.
Installing Windows now.
Okay. I have things up and running now. All is well.
I installed Windows 7 64 bit and the Intel 2057 drivers.
At first, I was kind of shocked at how loud the system was. The fans were running very quickly and there appeared to be no way to control them. Zotac has a bios upgrade on their website that notes that it simply removes the "Evaluation" message. Thankfully, it does more than that. It adds fan control. I changed it to thermal control and nows things are really quiet.
Updating the bios is a real PITA. This is the first motherboard I have owned in years that does not have a bios upgrade program that is accessable in the bios itself. Zotac provides a Windows utility but I could not get that to run at all. So, I created a bootable dos flash drive and did it from there.
One thing you also have to make sure you enable in the bios is the HDMI setting. Without it, you get no HDMI sound.
I installed TMT3 and the beta patch. Bitstreaming works, at least on the Watchmen disk that I tried. Video also looks smooth at 24p but I want to run some test patterns and view more clips before I declare it completely stutter free. I have some Netflix movies coming today so I give some a careful watching and report back.
I have to say that I am pretty happy with this tiny little computer.
I installed Windows 7 64 bit and the Intel 2057 drivers.
At first, I was kind of shocked at how loud the system was. The fans were running very quickly and there appeared to be no way to control them. Zotac has a bios upgrade on their website that notes that it simply removes the "Evaluation" message. Thankfully, it does more than that. It adds fan control. I changed it to thermal control and nows things are really quiet.
Updating the bios is a real PITA. This is the first motherboard I have owned in years that does not have a bios upgrade program that is accessable in the bios itself. Zotac provides a Windows utility but I could not get that to run at all. So, I created a bootable dos flash drive and did it from there.
One thing you also have to make sure you enable in the bios is the HDMI setting. Without it, you get no HDMI sound.
I installed TMT3 and the beta patch. Bitstreaming works, at least on the Watchmen disk that I tried. Video also looks smooth at 24p but I want to run some test patterns and view more clips before I declare it completely stutter free. I have some Netflix movies coming today so I give some a careful watching and report back.
I have to say that I am pretty happy with this tiny little computer.
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121 Posts
What memory are you using (mfg/pn/speed/size)? My current Atom 330 mini-ITX has 4GB of DDR800, but this board supports 1066/1333. Does the manual mention if DDR800 can be used? That could be a temporary fix until I order new memory....
Mike
P.S. - The Zotac USA website now shows the driver update as including CMOS fan control.
Mike
P.S. - The Zotac USA website now shows the driver update as including CMOS fan control.
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1,102 Posts
Lawguy, you were able to update Bios using USB drive right? I hope they don't force you to use a floppy drive.
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121 Posts
My current Atom 330 is in a M350 case, nice and small. Room for a 2.5 HD, no optical bay and requires a pico-PSU or mobo w/external brick. I like that it has two right angle USB connectors hiding behind the front panel for bootable USB O/S, bluetooth or IR dongle use.
$40 from a variety of sources, all of them currently backordered. Mini-Box looks like the shortest wait: http://www.mini-box.com/M350-univers...-itx-enclosure .
Mike
My current Atom 330 is in a M350 case, nice and small. Room for a 2.5 HD, no optical bay and requires a pico-PSU or mobo w/external brick. I like that it has two right angle USB connectors hiding behind the front panel for bootable USB O/S, bluetooth or IR dongle use.
$40 from a variety of sources, all of them currently backordered. Mini-Box looks like the shortest wait: http://www.mini-box.com/M350-univers...-itx-enclosure .
Mike
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