The mainboard dispose over the congenial Mini-ITX format and would be a fine basis for a small system because of the onboard sound, graphic, TV-out, Lan and USB 2.0. Cause by the passive cooling the PC is absolutely quiet and could be convenient as a bureau terminal (clients) or in the living room as a HTPC. The performance of 1 GHZ is sufficient for clerical applications and DVD playback. The DVDs can be played completely bucking free. For video games the PC is to weak because of its soft-fired onboard graphic. But the stability and the silence (one really can't hear anything) suggests the mainboard for a bureau PC and as HTPC. The well running power saving function which results in a very low heat emission is great plus for this system. The Ibase MB860 Mini-ITX is very well designed, stable and energy saving. It is a piece if hardware you immediately want to have. But the question for what and why can not be neglected. It has interesting features - but doesn't really convince because of it's very high price and the few connections. For that much many you can get a hole lot more today. Since the board is sold as "industry-board" private applications as HTPC or gaming can't be the emphasis here. But even freaks probably don't find the right thing with this product. What a bummer, because for a pleasanter price this quiet and saving mainboard would find a ready market among the modding- and selfmade scene.

[rm]

	another price expectation
	add ports like firewire