Begging for Mini-ITX Options

[Mykenyke]

So I’ve decided to try out this forum and see if the geniuses are willing to help me out, and any others who may be interested in using the Mini ITX form factor.

I’d like to think that my interest in this form factor is valid since:

 

1) Macs have out-done PCs primarily in size and mobility (Of course in software areas too)

2) Intel and Asus have released several Mini-ITX boards that rival many or most of the older ATX boards.

3) Who wouldn’t want a smaller faster PC?!!

 

Yes I am new to the Osx86 world but I have poured over this forum for a few days and have been unable to find a clear answer to the questions that plague me. I have found a few people who have been successful in installing OS x on a mini-ITX board namely the Intel D945GCLF and the AOpen i945GMt-FSA. There may be others but I haven’t found any reports yet.

 

What I don’t get is that the Intel board just mentioned is hardly a competitor in speed or even on-board features. It sucks to put it plainly.

But what about the other brand new Intel Mini-ITX boards like the Intel DH57JG

This Board has just about everything:

 

· Processor:

At product launch, this desktop board supports:

- Intel Core i5-600 processor series in an LGA1156 socket

- Intel Core i3–500 processor series in an LGA1156 socket

- Intel Pentium processor in an LGA1156 socket

 

· Memory:

- Two 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets

- Support for DDR3 1333 /1066 MHz DIMMs

- Support for up to 8 GB of system memory

· Chipset: Intel H57 Express Chipset

· Audio:

Intel High Definition Audio subsystem in the following configuration:

- 10-channel (7.1+ 2 independent multi-streaming) audio subsystem with three analog audio outputs using the Realtek ALC889 audio codec

- 5-port analog audio and one SPDIF-out ports

- Dolby Control Center

· LAN support: Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbits/sec) LAN subsystem using the Intel 82578DC Gigabit Ethernet Controller

· Peripheral Interfaces:

- Up to twelve USB 2.0 ports

- Four Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

- One e-SATA port

· Expansion capabilities:

- One PCI Express 2.0 x 16 bus add-in card connector

 

With boards like this in mind, and enough desperation, I have committed to building a mini-ITX PC that rivals the Mac-mini both in size and versatility. And simply put I would like to see if its even possible. I do realize that its likely some of the features of OS x may not work the same but I still think its worth it to have both Windows and OS x in such a small form factor

 

With all that said I will post what may be newbie questions and see what happens.

 

1) When it comes to Motherboard compatibility requirements what should I look for? Does it have to be Quad core CPU? Chipset?

2) Has anyone seen any Reports of a Compatible mini-ITX board other than the ones I mentioned?

3) What OS x software is most likely to be compatible? 10.4? 10.5?

 

And please, I don’t want to hear “Buy a Mac Mini!” like so many others have posted in response to threads like this. Maybe I’m wrong but this site seemed like it was pro getting OS x to work on hardware other than the mac?

 

And of Course if you have seen any threads about these questions or anything related please post a link here!!

 

Thanks!

[ntsmkfob]

A lot of work has been done on the Zotac 9300. There's a long thread on it around here.