backtop

Print 27 comment(s) - last by Cheesew1z69.. on Jan 10 at 8:06 AM
EVGA is targeting the LAN gamers with the Mini ITX Box

EVGA is a brand that was once best known for graphics cards, but that has branched out to include power supply and motherboard lines. However, CES is now looking to branch out into a new sector of the enthusiast market: small form factor machines.
 
EVGA showed off its Mini ITX Box, which supports both traditional air cooling and water cooling. The chassis comes equipped with a 500W power supply, a bay for a vertical mounted slot-loading optical drive, dual USB 3.0 headers up front, and the chassis itself can accommodate full-length graphics cards.
 
The Mini ITX Box is still in the prototype stage, so the design/final details may change between now and when it official launches. We weren't given a confirmed launch date for the Mini ITX Box, but we expect that it will ship in the latter half of 2013.

Source: EVGA


Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 2:56:44 PM , Rating: 2
Very cool, I like this. Fitting high end GPUs is often a crapshoot with these mini ITX cases, but you know that EVGA is going to make that a top priority. I see that a GTX 680 fits in there no problem.

The only thing they could improve is dropping the optical drive, that would easily shave off a few more inches for something that doesn't really get used these days. I have a Blu Ray drive in my full size Corsair 800D tower case and it never gets used anymore. I don't even use it for installing Windows anymore, I just use a USB key. Fortunately the waste of space isn't a big deal for something like a tower case, but dropping it makes total sense for something where being compact is one of the main design goals.

Really cool stuff either way, I love little LAN boxes like these.




RE: Cool!
By Samus on 1/8/2013 3:13:19 PM , Rating: 2
Wow TYP you actually made a legitimate post! And I agree with it!


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 3:20:58 PM , Rating: 2
All my posts are legitimate, I can't help it if your bias is crazy strong. ;)


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 3:23:15 PM , Rating: 2
And on the opposite side of the spectrum this just got announced: http://www.corsair.com/900d

As someone who owns an 800D and thinks it is already borderline comically huge, OMG, haha


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 4:31:58 PM , Rating: 2
Says you...


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 5:03:29 PM , Rating: 2
How mad are you that you stalk my comments in other threads? So funny


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 5:05:31 PM , Rating: 2
How ignorant are you that you think I would stalk your dumbass?

It's a public forum..and I read most articles. DERP.


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 5:22:37 PM , Rating: 2
You could have said nothing but you didn't, you just have to write attacks because you're so angry on the internet.

I mean, at least try to veil your angry posts at me with a point or contribution that is relevant to the topic at hand. Instead its the standard "u dum me mad! post from cheesewhiz, pretty funny.


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 5:42:42 PM , Rating: 2
Once again you dolt, I am not mad. Because I don't like you, doesn't mean I am mad. DERP!

Like I said, PARROT, all you do is recycle the same shit over and over HOPING someone sides with you.

Doesn't mean anyone is mad...

quote:
contribution that is relevant to the topic at hand.
Gee. Coming from you, that's rich.


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 5:57:48 PM , Rating: 2
You getting angry about a post talking about how useless an optical drive is in a gaming machine designed to be small is hilarious.

If you really need an optical drive, get a big computer, simple!

And again, optical being a requirement is passing, its going the way of the floppy. Games and applications are primarily downloaded now, digital music sales exceeded physical ages ago, services like Steam and Battlenet have over 100 million users, the largest game in the world (League Of Legends) is download only, and a full third of all internet traffic in the US comes from Netflix alone.

The only legit use for physical is Blu Ray, and that's more of an enthusiast format. That's something I admit to even though I love Blu Ray and have a large collection. Dedicated Blu Ray players like the PS3 are better than PCs for that anyways; BR software for Windows sucks and streaming is again more popular.

Don't you see how something as increasingly niche as an optical drive might be a little unnecessary in a gaming chassis designed to be as small as possible?

See, I'm giving you a chance to participate in a discussion. I don't expect anything other than your standard "no u" idiocy, but let's see, maybe you'll surprise us all.


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 7:12:55 PM , Rating: 2
All anyone sees from you on here is "blah blah I am right, you are wrong blah blah".

It's pretty sad, pathetic and amusing all at the same time that you think you are right all the time.

Your ego must be the size of a football field.

You are a pathetic troll, nothing more.


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 9:12:51 PM , Rating: 1
You haven't made any points while I've backed up my own completely. I know its hard to make a real argument using hard data when you have your gut to guide you, but you should try it sometime.

"Ur dum" doesn't count.

BTW, I just read this interview with Gabe Newell about the Steambox. This quote regarding "letting go" to hardware partners, even though they may not make the best decisions, seemed incredibly relevant: http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/8/3852144/gabe-newe...

quote:
Not because our goal is to control it; it’s been surprisingly difficult when we say to people "don’t put an optical media drive in there" and they put an optical media drive in there and you’re like "that makes it hotter, that makes it more expensive, and it makes the box bigger." Go ahead.


What an ego that giant troll must have. EVERYONE in 2013 needs an optical media drive, especially in a compact enclosure. Duh.


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/10/2013 8:06:22 AM , Rating: 1
Except, he, isn't a douchebag. And that, is one persons opinion.

And repeating the same things over and over, isn't backing up anything.


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 4:30:39 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The only thing they could improve is dropping the optical drive, that would easily shave off a few more inches for something that doesn't really get used these days.
YOU don't use it much, fortunately, you don't speak for anyone else but yourself.


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 5:02:00 PM , Rating: 2
Optical drive usage is dropping through the basement, fact.

More hardware than ever is shipping without them and most software is sold digitally rather than optically these days. Whether it is games or productivity, digital sales on the PC exceeds physical. Look at applications like ones from Adobe or digital storefronts like Steam or Battlenet, gigantic! The most popular PC game in the world right now, League Of Legends, is download only, you can't even buy a disc if you wanted!

Even Microsoft, late to the party as they usually are, is finally encouraging people to get Windows 8 with a much cheaper price for digital download.

Finally, the most important thing that your one-dimensional mind is missing out on is that the design goal of a mini-ITX PC is to be small. Reducing size by dropping old technology that is going the way of the floppy seems like a logical choice, and if you want an optical drive then just get a normal mid-tower case or larger. Simple!


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 5:08:09 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Finally, the most important thing that your one-dimensional mind is missing out on
That's pretty funny coming from an idiot like you.


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 5:15:54 PM , Rating: 2
As usual, absolutely nothing of substance from you, just ad hominem attacks.

Paraphrasing your next response: "No, YOU!"


RE: Cool!
By Cheesew1z69 on 1/8/2013 5:18:54 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
As usual, absolutely nothing of substance from you,
Exactly like the parrot you are...


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/8/2013 5:13:01 PM , Rating: 2
To add to that, physical sales of Windows in China, the biggest market in the world for PC shipments, is no more. It is digital download only, and again the same goes for numerous games and applications. Who installs applications only from physical media these days? Pointless when download services are fast and super convenient (no physical storage, no keeping track of CD keys, etc etc).

Again, a SFF designed around being as small as possible would benefit from losing technology that has already been shown to be superfluous for many people. Optical is a compromise when trying to reduce size, and if you really need it then just get a normal larger cases.


RE: Cool!
By Samus on 1/9/2013 1:31:34 AM , Rating: 2
I still put an optical drive in every PC (HTPC, Workstation, etc) I build.

Mobile computing is another story. I'd rather have an Ultrabook form factor than carry around 'dead weight' that is an optical drive.


RE: Cool!
By TakinYourPoints on 1/9/2013 2:01:45 AM , Rating: 2
I think it depends on what you're dealing with. For a full or mid size tower its totally fine, there is more than enough space for an optical drive even if it doesn't really get used. Between USB keys for OS installations and downloads/hard drive backups for games/applications I don't really need it, but whatever, there's more than enough room for a drive and they're cheap. No big deal.

For an ultraportable LAN cube its the same situation as with a laptop IMHO: dead weight. The size and design constraints with mobile hardware are much more severe, you want to get the machine as small as possible without compromising necessary components. Portability and size are key design goals. The cool thing is that with the demise of optical media and the rise of streaming/downloads/cloud, optical drives aren't necessary components anymore.

I'm sure there's someone clinging to their Encarta discs that's bummed out, but whatever, tech moves on.

Gabe Newell made a similar comment today regarding the Steam Box and his open approach with hardware partners, even if he doesn't always agree with them:

quote:
Not because our goal is to control it [the Steam Box]; it’s been surprisingly difficult when we say to people "don’t put an optical media drive in there" and they put an optical media drive in there and you’re like "that makes it hotter, that makes it more expensive, and it makes the box bigger." Go ahead.


I'm certain that there will be a LAN gaming box with no room for an optical drive at some point, just a good CPU/GPU and a 2.5" SSD. It'll be pretty cool!


"Google fired a shot heard 'round the world, and now a second American company has answered the call to defend the rights of the Chinese people." -- Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.)











botimage
Copyright 2013 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki