Mul has his soap box out again and is trying to convince us all again small is better....
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
OC3D Review: Zotac H55 ITX Motherboard
- Thread starter tinytomlogan
- Start date
Really nice looking board. I love the mini itx form factor, but am always stumped by fitting a graphics chip as the powersuplies aren't built to take them. This one looks very good for a media PC, or for a mini gaming box.
With the GMAHD from the CPU, will it handle basic media duties like bluray as its 9300 predessecor would?
With the GMAHD from the CPU, will it handle basic media duties like bluray as its 9300 predessecor would?
Nice review. However you didn't mention anything about board's limitations like the confirmed by Zotac incompatibility with any PCI-E device except a graphics card. So useful add-ons like TV-tuners cannot be used with this motherboard.
Other known issues are lack of turbo boost support on first production batch and waking from S3 problems with most PCI-E video cards. So far all these issues remain unfixed.
Other known issues are lack of turbo boost support on first production batch and waking from S3 problems with most PCI-E video cards. So far all these issues remain unfixed.
That's good to know. It would certainly make life easier not having to find a suibtable, low power GPU, finding a way to power it and cool it etc.
If I were going to do an HTPC build (not on the cards right now thanks to my debit cards just melting) that's certainly good news.
If I were going to do an HTPC build (not on the cards right now thanks to my debit cards just melting) that's certainly good news.
mayhem
New member
The review comparisons i agree with clocked. you cannot compare the same chip weather over clocked or not. U should be comparing it with another system. The review is quite flawed in that sense.
How ever saying that alone the MB looks like another winner for zotac and could be a future purchase for my self. (once i have some money ROTFLMAO)
The review how ever doesn't realy float my boat and just looks like bloat ware in words.
How ever saying that alone the MB looks like another winner for zotac and could be a future purchase for my self. (once i have some money ROTFLMAO)
The review how ever doesn't realy float my boat and just looks like bloat ware in words.
voodooleader
New member
1
PeterStoba
New member
Feature packed board for sure, but a terrible layout!
I had no idea that the onboard GPU was so good for L4D, i was expecting like 10fps when I seen it at first. What cooler were you using, stock?
I had no idea that the onboard GPU was so good for L4D, i was expecting like 10fps when I seen it at first. What cooler were you using, stock?
@ cl0ck_ed & mayhem
This had crossed my mind after completing the review and I strongly apologise for the oversight on my part. Today, I have taken our previously reviewed Biostar TH55XE Motherboard and ran the same tests once more. Due to time constraints I have not tested the Biostar at 3.30GHz but at least we now have a fresh "stock for stock" comparison without recycling previous results.
The results are also in keeping with the previous results and I maintain that the Zotac H55-ITX performs on par with it's fellow Micro ATX and ATX competition.
Many thanks for the feedback.
@ peterstoba - Yes, the i3 GPU really isn't bad at all. It's not the smoothest L4D experience but it was certainly playable. I would be interested to hear how you'd rather arrange the components on the board though?
This had crossed my mind after completing the review and I strongly apologise for the oversight on my part. Today, I have taken our previously reviewed Biostar TH55XE Motherboard and ran the same tests once more. Due to time constraints I have not tested the Biostar at 3.30GHz but at least we now have a fresh "stock for stock" comparison without recycling previous results.
The results are also in keeping with the previous results and I maintain that the Zotac H55-ITX performs on par with it's fellow Micro ATX and ATX competition.
Many thanks for the feedback.
@ peterstoba - Yes, the i3 GPU really isn't bad at all. It's not the smoothest L4D experience but it was certainly playable. I would be interested to hear how you'd rather arrange the components on the board though?
PeterStoba
New member
Just move the CPU socket so it doesn't intefere with GPUs that have screws / heatsinks on the rear, 5/6mm would be fine. If that was done, then I'd keep mine.
mayhem
New member
Much better
Now looking though those results sort of put me in two minds lol. As tbh there isnt that much of a performance gains over the biostar and the old duel core again isn't a vast mind blowing performance boost.
With the price just dropped on the old Zotac C2d to a stellar £99 i think if you had a value for money sticker it would go to to the C2d right at this moment in time. AS we know the only reason for the price drop would be to shift the old stock ready for this new breed to take over its place.
One thing with Micro / Mini ATX you don't need the latest and greatest to be able to run anything under the TV or mini gaming system or even via arcades and juke boxes (for my case).
Do u know what the estimated Wifi range is does the new Duel aerial really give that much speed it would be good to see if it did or not. Because this estimated wifi speed has all ways been incorrect and misleading.
However have a read through the whole review again and looking at the pics of the bored personally i like the lay out its nearly perfect except i would have the wifi turned around facing the other way so that the antenna wires didn't go in-between the CPU and other components giving less interference and also stopping the chance of snagging against the CPU HFC. I think the CPU is a little close to the PCI express but a good use of Heat pipe technology would get around this problem. All so some thing ive just spotted would be i would change the antenna so that instead of being placed up and down i would have them side by side as most mini / micro atx form factors are flat and this would give better dispersal for the wifi and help with range.
All so something missing from the review which would be good would be temp readings. How does it play encased in the small mini / micro atx form factor case. Does it get warm. This would be good to know as these type systems can be used behind TV's (which do get warm all ready) , in manufacturing’s systems (again which do get warn all ready) and in some very wired places. I think this sort of attention to detail in the review would put this sort of review a step above the rest and giving real informative information that would need to be considered when using systems like this. I know from my past builds Heat has always been a problem and getting around the heat problem has sometimes been a headache.
Any way over all thank you for the review and the extra work you have put in.
Now looking though those results sort of put me in two minds lol. As tbh there isnt that much of a performance gains over the biostar and the old duel core again isn't a vast mind blowing performance boost.
With the price just dropped on the old Zotac C2d to a stellar £99 i think if you had a value for money sticker it would go to to the C2d right at this moment in time. AS we know the only reason for the price drop would be to shift the old stock ready for this new breed to take over its place.
One thing with Micro / Mini ATX you don't need the latest and greatest to be able to run anything under the TV or mini gaming system or even via arcades and juke boxes (for my case).
Do u know what the estimated Wifi range is does the new Duel aerial really give that much speed it would be good to see if it did or not. Because this estimated wifi speed has all ways been incorrect and misleading.
However have a read through the whole review again and looking at the pics of the bored personally i like the lay out its nearly perfect except i would have the wifi turned around facing the other way so that the antenna wires didn't go in-between the CPU and other components giving less interference and also stopping the chance of snagging against the CPU HFC. I think the CPU is a little close to the PCI express but a good use of Heat pipe technology would get around this problem. All so some thing ive just spotted would be i would change the antenna so that instead of being placed up and down i would have them side by side as most mini / micro atx form factors are flat and this would give better dispersal for the wifi and help with range.
All so something missing from the review which would be good would be temp readings. How does it play encased in the small mini / micro atx form factor case. Does it get warm. This would be good to know as these type systems can be used behind TV's (which do get warm all ready) , in manufacturing’s systems (again which do get warn all ready) and in some very wired places. I think this sort of attention to detail in the review would put this sort of review a step above the rest and giving real informative information that would need to be considered when using systems like this. I know from my past builds Heat has always been a problem and getting around the heat problem has sometimes been a headache.
Any way over all thank you for the review and the extra work you have put in.
PeterStoba
New member
name='mayhem' said:
It doesn't cause any problems to be honest, I just pushed it down inbetween the sata ports and it stayed there.
name='mayhem' said:
It is too close if you want to use a GPU that has anything on the back, atleast with the Scythe Shuriken / Rev B. I had to use the stock cooler, can't see many others fitting either. Not sure what you mean about using heatpipes? :s
name='mayhem' said:
Then you'd lose 2 USB ports, not worth it. Range is fine (didn't test myself). It's rated N so should be fine for HD streaming.
On this particular testbed, there were no temperature based issues to report. After a one hour OCCT Linpack run while testing the CPU at 3.30GHz, it did not push over 65c with the low profile cooler. I would imagine that a Core i5 750 or similar would also cope in an ITX case, however I would tend to believe that a constant source fresh air will be important when surrounded by AV Receivers, Satellite Boxes and so on.
We were not provided with any range information with regards to the Atheros 802.11n WiFi module. The testbed was however connected to our 802.11g network throughout the testing and didn't exhibit any unstable behaviour. There was no way of testing it's 300mbps capability, however the adapter most certainly held a consistent 54mbps throughout testing.
I too would agree that the previous Zotac GeForce 9300-ITX remains to be a fantastic motherboard if you are less fussed about using an up to date platform. I've had one for nearly a year now and when combined with a Core 2 Duo E8400, it has offered fairly competitive performance.
We were not provided with any range information with regards to the Atheros 802.11n WiFi module. The testbed was however connected to our 802.11g network throughout the testing and didn't exhibit any unstable behaviour. There was no way of testing it's 300mbps capability, however the adapter most certainly held a consistent 54mbps throughout testing.
I too would agree that the previous Zotac GeForce 9300-ITX remains to be a fantastic motherboard if you are less fussed about using an up to date platform. I've had one for nearly a year now and when combined with a Core 2 Duo E8400, it has offered fairly competitive performance.
kcartlidge
New member
I have this motherboard and the only problem that i have is the CPU is a little close to the PCI slot. I also would have liked the board to have 3.0 Technology but oh well, carnt have it all on this tiny board! 
