Zotac Unleashes The Ultimate LGA1156 Mini-ITX Platform: H55-ITX WiFi

[btarunr]

Support for the latest generation of Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 takes the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi to performance levels previously unattainable by the mini-ITX form factor. The ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi supports Intel QuickPath technology for lightning-fast communications to high-speed dual-channel DDR3 memory for superior bandwidth and quicker memory access that delivers the chart-topping performance enthusiasts and performance-hungry users desire.

"Since Intel announced its latest generation of Nehalem CPUs, there’s been great demand for a mini-ITX platform for the CPUs, unfortunately the power consumption and heat output of the original Intel Core i7 900 series would’ve been too high for such a small form factor,” said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International (MCO), Ltd. “With the latest generation of Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors, greater energy efficiency and improved thermal management, the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi is able to deliver a mini-ITX platform capable of accommodating the new high-performance processors with no compromises."


Beyond the support for the latest Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors, the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi supports the powerful Intel HD Graphics processor integrated in the latest generation of Intel Core processors. When the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi is paired with Intel Core processors with Intel HD graphics, the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi becomes a powerful home theater PC platform with premium Blu-ray playback capabilities.

Intel Clear Video HD technology with AVC/H.264, VC-1 and MPEG-2 hardware decode delivers smooth video playback of high-definition sources, including Blu-ray, while new xvYCC color and HD sharpness technology delivers crystal clear visuals with stunning precise colors. New dual video decode technology enables the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi to decode Blu-ray picture-in-picture content using the graphics processor, freeing up the CPU for other tasks.

“Intel Core processors with Intel HD graphics and the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi platform is perfect for home theater PCs no matter what type of video formats the user may watch,” Mr. Berger said. “In addition to top-notch HD video playback capabilities, Intel Core processors with Intel HD graphics and the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi features technologies that enhance standard definition content such as enhanced DVD upscaling (8x8 polyphase), advanced de-interlacing, sharpness enhancement and noise reduction.”

Premium audio output is supported by the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi, enabling users to send raw Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio audio tracks from high-definition Blu-ray movies to an audio receiver over HDMI. High-definition 7.1-channel analog audio outputs are also available on the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi for top-notch analog audio quality.

For users that demand greater graphics power and want to take advantage of NVIDIA CUDA and PhysX technology, the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi features a full-speed PCI Express x16 slot for compatibility with the latest graphics cards.

“Combining the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi with a ZOTAC GeForce series graphics card, users can have the best performance available from the processor and graphics processor that’ll take on anything you can throw at it including the most demanding games, applications and high-definition video playback,” Mr. Berger said.

Topping off the features and capabilities of the ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi are six SATA 3.0Gb/s ports, one eSATA 3.0Gb/s, digital optical S/PDIF output, plenty of USB 2.0 ports and integrated 802.11n WiFi. The integrated 802.11n WiFi features dual-stream technology for wireless network transfers at speeds up to 300Mb/s – triple that of standard 100Mb/s wired networking – for wired performance without the wires.

General details

• New ZOTAC H55-ITX WiFi
• Intel H55 Express chipset
• Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 compatible
• LGA1156 socket
• Intel QuickPath bus
• Intel Clear Video HD technology
• HDMI x.v.Color, xvYCC Color & Deep Color technologies
• Video de-interlacing, sharpness detail and noise reduction technologies
• Hardware MPEG2, VC-1 & H.264/AVC decode
• Dual-video decode for Blu-ray picture-in-picture
• High-quality 8x8 polyphase DVD upscaling
• PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion
• Dual-link DVI output (up to 2560x1600)
• HDMI output
• HDCP compliant
• 6 SATA 3.0 Gb/s + 1 eSATA
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Onboard 802.11n (300Mb/s) WiFi
• Microsoft DirectX 10 with Shader Model 4.0 compatible
• OpenGL 2.1 compatible
• Mini-ITX form factor

[Phxprovost]

this will be mine

[Jstn7477]

Now that the video controller is on the CPU, the H55 chipset doesn't seem to require much cooling. Nice looking board.

[Yukikaze]

This board is full of w1n.

[Arrakis+9]

I personally like the DFI mini itx board better... it has a standard layout apposed to this... just weird im assuming with an add in graphics card and after market cpu cooler there could be some conflict with this design ?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Arrakis+9

I personally like the DFI mini itx board better... it has a standard layout apposed to this... just weird im assuming with an add in graphics card and after market cpu cooler there could be some conflict with this design ?

I was going to say the same thing! That was the first thing I noticed was the odd placement of the CPU socket. The only hope is to get a tower heatsink (not squre) and rotate it so the fan would face up or down parallel to the PCI-Express x16 slot.

[MadMan007]

DFI is getting there but supposedly their mITX P55 board is a little under par for the DFI norm in regards to its CPU power section - not for 'heavy overclocking.' Once they get that right I'd take a DFI over a Zotac any day (probably would anyway, but wouldn't take either with weak overclocking.)

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by MadMan007

DFI is getting there but supposedly their mITX P55 board is a little under par for the DFI norm in regards to its CPU power section - not for 'heavy overclocking.' Once they get that right I'd take a DFI over a Zotac any day (probably would anyway, but wouldn't take either with weak overclocking.)

It's mini-ITX, what do you want a super small form factor computer to do? Be small and efficient or large and powerful? You would need a heastink the size of the dang motherboard to overclock any LGA1156 processor to it's max (not to mention a full sized power supply). It kindof defeats the purpose of having a tiny motherboard, no?

[MadMan007]

Well if it's super small form factor then by definition it can't be large can it? It wouldn't have to be a 'max' overclock either. But if you're willing to think outside the box a little and not just accept what case manufacturers have available it's not hard to figure out a configuration for a very small form factor that could work with a pretty large heatsink.

[TheLostSwede]

Uhm, you lot are forgetting something, the DFI board is based on the P55 chipset, i.e. no integrated graphics. For an HTPC I'd go with this over the DFI board any day, as the new Intel IGP offers a decent set of features for an HTPC. It also lacks the mini PCIe slot which can be used for something else than WiFi if you want it to. This board also has twice as many SATA ports, although no RAID support... It also has more USB ports, but that's by the by imho. I have to say that this board layout looks a lot better as well and unless you intend to install a huge or passively cooled card, then I don't think there will be any clearance issues.

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

This looks like an amazing product.

[csendesmark]

I like this smal sized power mobo!

[PP Mguire]

Win win win!

This plus 661 = super amounts of cream my pants win.

[mchlor]

dual gigabit port woulda been the cherry on the topping.

[Geofrancis]

i love this motherboard but i like the dfi one too.

Zotac-

pci-e 16x
wifi
6x sata ports + 1 Esata
integrated graphics

DFI-
pci-e16x
4x sata ports + 1 sata
XFi audio codec
overclocks!


the zotac looks like a better htpc or general porpose machine but for the tweeker in me i would have to go with the DFI

[MikeX]

Hopes nobody actually hook this up with 5970 and a custom case

[MadMan007]

Originally Posted by Geofrancis

i love this motherboard but i like the dfi one too.

Zotac-

pci-e 16x
wifi
6x sata ports + 1 Esata
integrated graphics

DFI-
pci-e16x
4x sata ports + 1 sata
XFi audio codec
overclocks!


the zotac looks like a better htpc or general porpose machine but for the tweeker in me i would have to go with the DFI

An H55/57 DFI board will be neat to see. I've got to admit that adding a mini-PCIe slot for WiFi is rather ingenious on Zotac's part I just don't know that I trust Zotac quality-wise.