The motherboard

These are the requirements for the motherboard:

small dimension
little noise
low power

There are a few mini-itx fanless motherboard, I've choose the Jetway J7F2WE1G2E:

1.2Ghz processor
DDR-2 ram memory
SATA hard-disk ready
8 Usb
integrated lan.

It's a valid choice compared to the more expensive Via Epia EN12000. I've installed 1Gb ram memory with a copper heat sink.

I've installed Windows XP trusting in the 1.2GHz processor and 1Gb ram memory. Unfortunately the audio streaming from the motherboard to the dac through the usb device was the Achille's heel of this motherboard. The audio signal show some interruptions every 2-3s. The only player that sound faultless was the Microsoft MediaPlayer, but system resource demand are nearly 80-90%! :-((

No problem at all with Windows 2000 instead. Probably the software drivers are not ok or the usb part is poorly designed, sincerely I don't know.

But I'm unsatisfied with this motherboard so I've purchased another, the Intel D201GLY2. Datasheets comparison of specification leans to the first, but this motherboard is a more effective product instead. It's more fast and drivers installation is really simple.

Windows XP work perfectly and usb communication run always without any problem at all!

Heat dissipation is effective enough, however in the motherboard's datasheet there is an inportant note asking for air flow on the power regulator's area. I've installed an 80x80mm fan fixed on the cabinet's cover. Internal temperature is quite low, I'hope sincerely that is enough to face the hot italian summer! :-)

Fan is powered with nearly 6V, so it's practically inaudible.

Last update: 01/02/2008 - SimCap - www.simonecapretti.eu