14 DAY TRIAL // Micro-Star International has formally launched a new motherboard, one that probably has components that are stronger than necessary. Then again, HTPCs and other mini PCs usually have to last for a long time.
The new platform that MSI has launched is called J1800I and features the mini-ITX form factor, making it well suited for home-theater personal computers and, why not, NAS devices (network-attached storage) that could be made in cases like the recent SilverStone model.
So one might be surprised to learn that MSI designed it with Military Class 4 components (solid capacitors and the like).
But there is actually a good possible explanation for this: unlike gaming desktops that owners usually upgrade or switch on a regular basis, HTPCs and NAS devices, even servers, need to last for a long time.
So MSI should, in fact, be able to reel in more customers instead of making it look as though it was overcompensating for something.
And there would be a reason to think so, given the distinct lack of SATA III support (SATA 6.0 Gbps). Only two SATA II (3 Gbps) connectors are present.
Speaking of which, the MSI J1800I has one PCI Express x1 slot, 7.1 channel audio, Gigabit Ethernet, a USB 3.0 port, a D-Sub connector, DVI and HDMI.
Everything is handled by a dual-core Intel Celeron central processor, whose core clock is of 2.4 GHz, and which is backed up by DDR3-1333 memory.
The two memory slots included aren't of the normal DIMM type though. Instead, they're SO-DIMM ones, most often found in laptops. The top capacity is of 8 GB.
MSI is accepting pre-orders for the J1800I motherboard. The price is of €74.15, which can mean anything from $74.15 (most likely) to $100 (that's what the oft ignored Euro to Dollar exchange rate would have us believe).