Albatron KI51PV-754 Mini-ITX Mainboard Nearly comprehensive Mini-ITX solution with capabilities to install any Socket 754 CPU, attach two monitors, the dual LAN connection and so on.
We welcome Albatron's attempt to expand the product line in the Mini-ITX direction. This model is attractive for many reasons and the first of them is the really great variety of the onboard ports and connectors. The other positive quality is the relatively high performance of the chipset's graphics core. No secret that the weak point of many Mini-ITX solution is the onboard graphics. Even if you can install the most powerful desktop CPU it can't help in the huge number of the users application concerned with 3D performance. Unfortunately the Albatron KI51PV-754board is still hard to find and the price is higher than it should be. You can buy the complete desktop full-sized system with the similar configuration for the price of this mainboard. It can be hardly Albatron's greed but most likely the side effect of the shortage.
[dmitry.l]
Rating
PRO
CONTRA
+ excellent performance
+ fanless design
+ stable
+ support any Socket 754 CPU
+ VGA+DVI output
+ Dual LAN
- only AC'97 6-channel audio codec
- failure with the Stand-By mode
- low availability
- chipset heatsink needs in additional ventilation
Estimation
Appropriateness
Data Processing
Expansibility
Noise
Power Consumption
Equipment
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+
+
o
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Utility
CAD/CAM
Gaming
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+
+
OS Support
Recommended Application Fields
Windows XP Pro
Kubuntu Linux (6.06 LTS)
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+
Office and Internet
Multimedia
Workstation (CAD/CAM)
Gaming
HTPC (Home Theatre PC)
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+
+
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Improvement Suggestion
Use the 8-channel audio codec so as the chipset allows to install it.