ASRock introduces the mini-ITX Board To Have...? Almost

[jgreco]

E3C224D4I-14S


The trick: it's "extended mini-ITX". It is obviously meant to be set inside this 1U storage monster that they've created.

Four slots for memory, 32GB. Dual Intel ethernets. LSI 2308. What's not to like? Oh. Yeah. "extended" mini-ITX.

But ASRock seems determined to fill the weak spots in the server ecosystem with ZFS-friendly port-rich storage-dense platforms. I am ... not unimpressed.

 

[cyberjock]

So.. can I just say "WTF"?

 

[jgreco]

I can only hope that their hardware is as good as it looks and that they're wildly successful. I like their willingness to make what I see as sensible compromises.

 

[cyberjock]

My WTF comment is in regards to the extended mini-itx. Because we don't have enough form factors so we need a manufacturer to make up their own? Really? I already own one of those "custom form factor" designs in my desktop. And let me tell you, it's not a cake walk at all. I'll never EVER make that god-forsaken mistake again!

 

[jgreco]

Well look at the pictures I posted of their 1U storage appliance and you can see why. The unit is already slightly dimensionally challenged at 32" long and to cram three rows of four drives each in basically means you only get so much space! Storage servers are challenging that way, and for them to actually produce something like that means they have a certain amount of confidence that they can sell it. It doesn't strike me as being good at much else than being a storage platform.

 

[cyberjock]

Uh.. pictures of their 1U? I see no pictures in this thread. Am I missing something?

 

[Lordadmiral Drake]

I guess he meant the one from this thread: http://www.asrock.com/server/overview.asp?Model=1U12LW-C2750

 

[CrazySurfaNZ]

I guess he meant the one from this thread: http://www.asrock.com/server/overview.asp?Model=1U12LW-C2750

Hmm, I don't think that's the right one, I think you meant to link this one: http://www.asrockrack.com/general/productdetail.asp?Model=1U12L2SW-14S

I came across that model on their site the other day, and I have to say I'm very interested... I was looking at the C224/C226 Mini ITX mobo's they do... for a freenas box (my first)... also considering virtualising as well (don't worry I'm reading ALL of the threads :))

 

[jgreco]

Be very aware that proper support for VT-d seems to be rather tricky. There's no harm in trying an unknown board as long as you can live with the very possible outcome that it will not support VT-d reliably (and therefore you must run FreeNAS on the bare metal). We've seen all sorts of fun failures which is part of the reason that the stickies are kind of pessimistic.

 

[D4nthr4x]

I wonder if this will also fit in say a node 304 in which they have extra space already for double wide graphics cards... I'm thinking it would be very tight/not fit but in other cases it might be possible.

 

[joelmusicman]

I wonder if this will also fit in say a node 304 in which they have extra space already for double wide graphics cards... I'm thinking it would be very tight/not fit but in other cases it might be possible.

Nope. Not a chance, in the Node at least. This Asrock board might as well be mATX...

 

[D4nthr4x]

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...case/fractal-design-node-304-case_install.jpg plenty of room, might require some metal working though.

 

[MrHorizontal]

Has anyone got a Lian Li PC-Q25 case? It looks like it might also have some room for the ASRock E3C224D4I-14S.

Could someone who has a PC-Q25 measure to see if there's an extra 4.3 cm from the bottom of a normal ITX mobo to the bottom of the case and also whether or not the bottom HDD tray can be fitted or not.

For reference, the mobo's full dimensions are: 8.4" x 6.7'' (21.3 cm x 17 cm).

Thanks in advance.

 

[jcrossley]

In case anyone is interested in using this board, it will not boot a 9.2 image successfully. 10.0 Alpha boots and works fine, but after some searching and digging, the incompatibility with Lynx Point chipset prevents it. I have tried disabling USB3 in the bios to no avail. Other than this, it's a pretty nice board. I am waiting on the rest of my parts for my build, i will update with some performance #'s when I complete it.

 

[madik]

Has anyone got a Lian Li PC-Q25 case? It looks like it might also have some room for the ASRock E3C224D4I-14S.

Could someone who has a PC-Q25 measure to see if there's an extra 4.3 cm from the bottom of a normal ITX mobo to the bottom of the case and also whether or not the bottom HDD tray can be fitted or not.

For reference, the mobo's full dimensions are: 8.4" x 6.7'' (21.3 cm x 17 cm).

Thanks in advance.

I have this nice case and i will try to check it. Ive probably already meassured it but cant remember the results to be sure (typical). But i think that it will fit.

 

[jcrossley]

I should probably also mention for those wondering about it's size. if you are using a minit-itx case that has double or triple slot solutions typically used for large VGA card cooling solutions, this will probably fit. The board extends halfway across the third pcie blank. It works great in my Case Labs S3. I can't speak to the fractal case. Also if you are planning on using all 3 SFF-8087 ports, one exits on the side of the board where there is additional overhang. The other two are vertical. If your case is tight you might have to source a right angle cable, if such an animal exists. The board includes two SFF-8087 cables, but does not include a third for some reason.

 

[SirMaster]

Why does it have 3 SFF-8087? Can you even use all 3 at once? Wouldn't that require it have an internal expander? Specs say: "LSI 2308: 8 x SAS2 6Gbps (from 2 x mini SAS 8087 connector)"

 

[jcrossley]

Why does it have 3 SFF-8087? Can you even use all 3 at once? Wouldn't that require it have an internal expander? Specs say: "LSI 2308: 8 x SAS2 6Gbps (from 2 x mini SAS 8087 connector)"

It also has the onboard controller, which I am assuming is the Lynx Point. There are 3x+SFF 8087 +2 standard SATA ports. FWIW, I am waiting on 5 drives to arrive so I can complete my build. The drives attached to the 3rd SFF8087 show up as da0, da1, drive name just like the drives attached to the other SFF connector does. The drives attached to the two standard SATA ports show up as ada0 and ada1. I will post a screenshot when I get all the drives plugged in.

 

[SirMaster]

I don't understand, the Lynx Point SATA controller has 4 ports via SFF-8087?

 

[D4nthr4x]

Where are you getting that the mini-sas are from lynx point? They are LSI based, the board has an LSI controller onboard. The Intel chipset has a mini-sas that only goes to sata.