So I want to build a PC based on the mini-STX form factor. The problem is that right now there are only 3 motherboards on the market: ASUS H110S1/S2, Asrock H110M-STX and ECS H110S-2P. I don't particularly like any of them, especially because there's no thunderbolt 3 port if I want to eventually attach an eGPU and there's very few USB ports.
My question is, are more mini-STX motherboards to be expected soon? I know this is still a niche market but I'm not sure if it will catch on or die out in 2017. They first showed up in Jan 2016 but there hasn't been much talk about them since then. What do you think? Should I build it now or wait?
You're pretty much limited to the U line processors on the NUCs, not to mention they're usually not replaceable, whereas on a mini-stx board you can put any processor up to 65W
Parker King
This fills an even more niche gap between Mini ITX and NUC so it's unlikely to get much bigger.
You're basically going to have to look for any new announcements from CES and Computex
>few USB ports just use hubs with their own power supply
>eGPU Do explain why do you need an dedicated GPU for a system like this.
Justin Richardson
I don't need it, that's why I said "if I want to eventually", meaning in a few years when eGPU become cheaper I might try gaming on something like this
Carter Hill
why not just go for itx then
Cameron Thomas
>So I want to build a PC based on the mini-STX form factor > thunderbolt 3 port if I want to eventually attach an eGPU
You should just die Right fucking now, go and kill yourself, no one will miss you
Liam Nelson
>not gaming on a tiny computer and being able to pack everything neatly in your backpack when you go and spend the weekend at your parents'
Mini-ITX means a bigger, heavier box that won't fit in a backpack
Anthony Baker
What about the monitor and everything else?
KILL YOURSELF
Noah Garcia
If you want a computer that fits in a backpack get a fuckin laptop
Jaxon Brooks
>his parents don't have spare TVs or monitors at home
Tyler Lopez
I honestly don't understand the hostility
Look, I have a chromebox right now, I fell in love with mini-pcs after this. I installed Windows on it and it surpassed my expectations. When I go to my parents' house I take it with me in a side pocket of my backpack together with the keyboard and mouse, and that's a huge advantage to me. Not to mention the low power makes me save loads of money on electricity bills every month. I only want small PCs now but everytime I mention small PCs I get bombarded with people saying "hurr just get a laptop or a mini-ITX"
I mentioned Thunderbolt 3 so the board is future-proof. Imagine in 5 years if you can buy an eGPU, especially a small one with one of those mini-GPUs they've been releasing lately inside, for 100$ or 200$? It'd be about the same size as the computer itself and if you put them side by side it would still be smaller and lighter than a Node 202. And like I said, it's only just a precaution in case I start gaming in the future, because I don't play any games now.
Cooper Cooper
cringe
Robert Ramirez
A zen APU on this form factor would be epic af
Matthew Rogers
>tiny >gtx 1070
Julian Hall
Because it's a super silly niche between NUCs and ITX cases that really doesn't exist for any reason. Doing things because you can is alright I guess but why do you expect massive selections and hardware choices for a terrible idea?
Noah Moore
Just go Mini ITX, fuck
Mason Parker
There are Mini ITX boards with PCIe slot above the processor in parallel with board for slim builds. Take this if you would want to have good GPU for future.
Jayden Martin
but mini ITX is bigger
Jack Hill
Yeah I've been drooling over that for a while but it's way too expensive for me. Zotac actually had the CI549 Nano on display on CES this year which I am really hoping has a mini-STX board inside, but nothing's been announced so far. Pic related (and it has a thunderbolt port!).
Where did you get the idea that I'm expecting "massive selection and hardware choices"? I'm only asking if more motherboards are to be expected. It's not a silly niche. NUCs are very limited, mini-ITX is too much. Mini-STX is the perfect size if you want a CPU power on par with a normal desktop computer and don't need a GPU - all while dropping the need to have a PSU inside the case and having a low power consumption.
Josiah Hill
>mini-ITX is too much Dude I am also obsessed with small PCs and STX is just not good enough. Pic related, we're barely losing any size desu.
Colton Sanders
yeah but you need a case to fit that AND the PSU. Mini-STX allows a much smaller and lighter case...
Cameron Sullivan
M-ITX build and mod an iPad display into the case.
>wont fit in a backpack get a bigger bag or one of the rally old ones made to carry around macintoshes from the 80s.
Christian Baker
oh shit is the power exclusively external? That'd be pretty cool.
As someone into eGPUs/TB3 I'm not sure it's a good move for desktops...
Jordan Turner
this is backpackable and is on sale with an integrated 450w PSU on newegg for $110