Pentium 4M mini-itx dream plateform ???

[pop_le_killer]

Hi all,

I'm currently dreaming of building a computer based on the Commel LV670M motherboard.
http://www.mini-itx.com/link.asp?site=w ... V-670M.HTM

A Pentium 4M motherboard, this means, why not ultra low voltage P4M @ 900Mhz certainly ok without fan, and very better performances than an EPIA !

But where to get thoose peaces of hardware ?
Is it possible to by this motherboard somewhere ?
Is it possible to by a pentium 4M alone somewhere ?

What do you think of this

[AlexHu]

But where to get thoose peaces of hardware ?
Is it possible to by this motherboard somewhere ?
Is it possible to by a pentium 4M alone somewhere ?

What do you think of this

Based on that link, Commel seems to do OEM only so it is unlikely that we can find it anywhere. But if you find one, please let me know.

Mwave.com has the pentium 4M alone.

See also Mobile Pentium 4M in a normal motherboard?

[dago]

spectra.de seems to be a reseller wo may have those cards ...

the LV670 is priced at 196€ (for normal socket 478), the LV670M should be around the same prices.

They have also lot of other fun stuff, but as they are industry-oriented, prices seems to be higher than std OEM.

[dago]

Yet another LV-670M reseller, but much more expensive than the previsou one (60% more on the LV670) :

BWI

[sgtpokey]

Hang on their friend.

There is a difference between the Pentium 4M and the low-voltage Pentium M.

The Pentium 4M is the same thing as a normal Pentium 4, but slightly lower wattage requirements (Plus speed step technology that reduces their speed to save power when run on batteries). There is no 900mhz for those chips and the wattage is too high to run passively.

The Pentium M is Intel's new Low-power chip. It is the processor that powers Centrino-branded laptops. It cannot be placed onto a chipset supporting Pentium 4 or 4M, the pin count is different. Of the Pentium M range, it's the 900mhz version that looks like it could be run passively.

BUT sadly the mini-itx board you are looking at cannot take a Pentium M

[dago]

Yep, thanks for the corretion.

For the chipset, I don't know, but for the pins/package, according to the datasheet :

The Intel Pentium M processor is available in 478-pin, Micro-FCPGA and 479-ball, Micro-
FCBGA packages. The Low Voltage and Ultra Low Voltage Intel Pentium M processors are
available only in the Micro-FCBGA package.

Now searching for chipset compatibility ... umh, seems to be only 855* chipsets

[MrMajestic]

http://www.ultim8pc.co.uk/
Stocks the LV-670 if anyone is interested.
Also found a review of it:
http://www.hexus.net/review.php?review=552&page=1

[fmah]

You might be better off with one of these boxes and take out the parts and into your own box. Because it cost less.

http://www.svc.com/systems.html

[Beyonder]

I think I'd chew off my arm for a centrino MB and processor solution for the desktop segment at the moment....

Pentium M rocks, but Intel REALLY needs to make a desktop version. I'm really psyched on low-power solutions, but via's just don't have enough guns for my liking.

[dago]

Yeah, I also think a pentium-M barebone will do wonders.

But intel will never do that (at least now), because their marketing for the desktop, as I see it is 'More MHz => More Power'.

[pop_le_killer]

Thanks all for your answers ...
I totally agree with the need of a Pentium M base desktop system ... would be just great !
Still, I think a commel solution with a passive cooled Celeron 1.4G could be a solution.
Has anybody really bought a configuration with a Commell motherboard ?
Any experience with linux on it ?

[ez2remember]

What do you think of this

No AGP is a big downfall, so to me it's not a dream platform.

If you don't plan to run any type of 3D applications/games and strictly use it for 2D work I don't see how VIA EPIA will hold you back with 2D work, which is cheaper and easier.

[Black R]

.....new user here.

I've been looking at several of these commell boards lately, and the size + computing capabilities make a lot of sense for mobile video recording type of applications (or set top boxes).

I found a place that has the commell boards less expensive than bwi in the us:

www.megtron.com

[geezus]

Hi,

Ran into this forum by searching informations on the commell pentium 4M boards.

I recently discovered mini-itx boards and i'm pretty excited by just about anything that concerns mini-itx, via, and others.

I know this topic is kinda old but i'd like to give some information i found when googling around for pentium M boards.

You may know DFI, they make top-notch mobos for hardcore gamers (well at least that's pretty much what they've been up to lately). Well they're producing a mini-itx board that supports Pentium M (the ones that are in centrino laptops), the DFI G5M100-N :

http://www.itx-warehouse.co.uk/Product. ... ductID=364
http://mini-itx.com/store/?c=29#p1630

x86-secret.com has a review on it, but it's in french :p

http://www.x86-secret.com/popups/articl ... php?id=108

To resume x86-secret.com's review, the card is totally worth it ! It supports Pentium M & Celeron M, and supports overclocking very very well on the Celeron M (they overclocked a celeron M 1.3 to 2.0 ghz). The review also points out that it is possible to use it without a fan (but still with a heatsink) by using SpeedStep to lower the cpu's frequency.

The card is not expensive but of course you need to buy a Pentium M (or celeron M and overclock it )