[enewmen]

Hi all.

I wanted to build a new mini-ITX for a LONG time because my old Core2Quad monstrosity is slowly crapping out.
I know there are a lot of Ivy vs. Haswell threads and Haswell isn't released, but I just want a SFF.

Mini-ITX
Silverstone SG08
i7
Noctua NH-C12P - Fan removed.
GTX 680 (currently have)

So, for a gaming mini-rig (FarCry3, Arma2, Skyrim, etc) also used for REAL work (photoshop, visual studio, office, remote desktop, etc), using 84 watts, will Haswell make any difference?
I won't need the power savings since there is no battery and the PC can stay in sleep mode until I use wakeup on LAN for Remote Desktop and SFTP.
The only advantage for Haswell I see is the ThunderBolt. But for data, eSATA is better anyway.
Miss anything?
Or just wait 3-4 months for early adopter price and immature hardware.

Why I bother to ask this? Because I may be stuck with that SFF for 5 years and I don't like buying new copies of Windows with every new upgrade. So I'm looking for something stable.

thanks!

 

[twerk]

Go with Ivy Bridge now, Haswell probably won't be mature enough until well into 2014. Whenever there is a new socket there is pretty much always problems. Haswell will only be about 10% better anyway so it's not really worth waiting.

 

[enewmen]

Thanks for the advice.
That is what I was thinking.

slightly off topic:
What 'Panther Point" mini-ITX motherboard do you recommend?
I'm looking for mature and stable.
4 internal SATA - no RAID. 1 external SATA.
good arrangement so I can add the Noctua NH-C12P and a full-length video card.
Reliable wakeup on LAN, SATA, USB3.

 

[svenge]

I wouldn't touch Haswell until it's been out for at least 3 months if not more. The question is will your C2Q rig perform tolerably until September-ish?

Also, since you say you use sleep mode frequently, note that there's a rumor that Haswell has problems with USB 3.0 waking up from C3 sleep...

Perhaps the ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe would fit the bill for a Panther Point mITX motherboard w/ eSATA?

 

[twerk]

The Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe is currently the best Mini ITX Z77 motherboard but I don't know if you will have issues because of the extended PCB. Take a look at the Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WIFI too, it's much cheaper and is still a great board.

 

[enewmen]

yes, I plan to use USB3 and eSATA with sleep mode a lot.

I'm a bit rusty on new motherboards.
The ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe or Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WIFI for example has a Display Port.
So, does that mean the motherboard can switch between discrete and integrated graphics (A GTX 680 in my case)?
When I use the desktop, I use the low watt integrated graphics and playing a 3D game or Photoshop/Open CL, the motherboard will automatically switch to discrete graphics? Like on Notebook computers?

Or is the integrated graphics just wasting space and watts because I can't use it with a discrete card plugged in anyway ?

(I notice Andy is in England - so I felt compelled to use my Tom Baker avatar)

 

[svenge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by enewmen

yes, I plan to use USB3 and eSATA with sleep mode a lot.

I'm a bit rusty on new motherboards.
The ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe or Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WIFI for example has a Display Port.
So, does that mean the motherboard can switch between discrete and integrated graphics (A GTX 680 in my case)?
When I use the desktop, I use the low watt integrated graphics and playing a 3D game or Photoshop/Open CL, the motherboard will automatically switch to discrete graphics? Like on Notebook computers?

Or is the integrated graphics just wasting space and watts because I can't use it with a discrete card plugged in anyway ?

I think that requires a software solution such as Lucid Virtu MVP. If you're that concerned regarding the extra ~8 watts that the iGPU adds to an the TDP of the i5 line, you could always opt for the i5-3350p or Xeon e3-1230v2 which don't have one.

 

[enewmen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by svenge

I think that requires a software solution such as Lucid Virtu MVP. If you're that concerned regarding the extra ~8 watts that the iGPU adds to an the TDP of the i5 line, you could always opt for the i5-3350p or Xeon e3-1230v2 which don't have one.

Thanks for the post.
Not so worried about 8 watts, just like to keep things running well and efficient.
I seems the software and drivers just aren't ready yet. So, I'll just get a normal setup. Where I live, I don't have many choices.

Just want to add: My PC shuts down quickly for no reason now. Other times I get the beep beep beep (power) error. To fix it, I remove and reapply the cables. I guess the problem is the power supply, but I won't get a new PSU since the SG08 already has one.
Getting kicked out of a game is bad enough. Unexpected shutdown while doing real work is something else.

One more unexpected shutdown and I'm doing major PC part shopping!

 

[WiSK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by svenge

I think that requires a software solution such as Lucid Virtu MVP. If you're that concerned regarding the extra ~8 watts that the iGPU adds to an the TDP of the i5 line, you could always opt for the i5-3350p or Xeon e3-1230v2 which don't have one.

On motherboards not enabled for VirtuMVP, the integrated graphics part of the chip is switched off entirely, so there's no extra power draw