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Overall we are left with generally positive impressions of the ASRock Z68M-ITX/HT motherboard. ASRock have catered to all the features required to make a good Mini-ITX motherboard and have even included a multimedia remote for HTPC users. The system performed well in our tests and showed a reasonable boost in performance when overclocked.
We do have a few small niggles with this motherboard, though. Firstly, the CPU socket isn't positioned ideally which can make it difficult to find a suitable CPU cooler. We found the low profile Arctic Freezer 11 LP wouldn't actually fit when we had a graphics card installed and had to resort to a much larger Thermaltake Contac29 instead. So we would recommend not straying too far from the stock Intel cooler when building with this system.
This may sound like an issue for those who plan to overclock but due to space restrictions on the PCB, the overclocking potential of this board is very limited anyway. We managed to overclock our Intel Core-i5 2500K to 4.3 GHz without issue but pushing it further is difficult as we aren't available to adjust the core voltage. In fairness, if you are building a media center such as this, the overclocking capabilities really shouldn't be that important.
The ASRock Z68M-ITX/HT motherboard can be yours for a shade under £95 at eBuyer. We think this is quite good value for money as it is quite a bit cheaper than alternatives like the Zotac Z68ITX-A-E.
Pros:
- Decent value.
- Performs well.
- Good connectivity.
- Attractive UEFI.
Cons:
- Layout isn't ideal.
- Overclocking potential is limited.
KitGuru says: A good option for those looking to build a powerful small form factor or home theatre PC.
Decent board for the money.
ASROIck boards are good, but their bioses are still behind ASUS IMO. my friend bought a Z68 board from ASUS and sometimes the voltage doesnt hold right.
It is a special type of integrated circuit socket designed for very high pin counts. A CPU socket provides many functions, including a physical structure to support the CPU, support for a heat sink, facilitating replacement as well as reducing cost, and most importantly, forming an electrical interface both with the CPU and the PCB. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,