14 DAY TRIAL // People looking to build an HTPC for Christmas might want to check out the new motherboard that JEHE is preparing, the MI-Z68, based on the Intel Z68 chipset.
The motherboard market is occupied with the Intel X79 chipset right now, the ones that support LGA 2011 Sandy Bridge-E CPUs.
Those central processing units are just for the high-end market, though, which means that smaller platforms, like the Giada MI-Z68 from JEHE, have to stick to Z68.
The MI-Z68 supports LGA 1155 CPUs, Sandy Bridge as it were, and features the mini-ITX form factor.
As such, it will act as a platform for small form factor personal computers, especially HTPCs (home-theater personal computers).
It still has all the components that a standard PC is equipped with, though, even if they are crammed closer together than on the average ATX model, not to mention larger ones.
Two DDR3-1333 memory slots exist, for example, as does a PCI Express x16 slot, for graphics cards.
Theoretically, this should let even better-than-average video controllers be installed, provided the PC case is big enough to accommodate them.
Hypothetically, two memory slots and a good graphics adapter can help build a strong little machine, especially if the CPU is no slouch as well.
People who like to attend LAN parties, for instance, could build a sort of portable desktop out of this instead of a multimedia system.
Furthermore, a pair of SATA 3.0 Gbps ports (SATA II) are present, as are two SATA 6.0 Gbps connectors (SATA III).
Other specifications include mSATA connectivity (can pair an SSD with an HDD), two USB 3.0 pots, 7.1 channel audio, Gigabit Ethernet, DVI and HDMI.
The JEHE Giada MI-Z68 hasn't yet reached stores but should do it soon. It will be priced at 88 Euro, which is about the same as $119.85.