Intel recently launched Braswell processors to succeed to their Bay Trail processor family, using 14nm lithography, a newer generation Intel GPU, more L2 cache, and various other improvements. Some ASRock motherboards based on such processors are now listed on Newegg starting at $58.99 with ASRock N3050B-ITX motherboard (dual core processor), and $69.99 for the quad core version (ASRock N3150B-ITX).
Apart from the different processors, both mini-ITX motherboard mostly share the same specifications:
- SoC
- Intel Celeron N3050 dual core processor @ up to 2.16 GHz with Intel HD Graphics Gen8 @ up to 600 MHz – 6W TDP
- Intel Celeron N3150 quad core processor @ up to 2.08 GHz with Intel HD Graphics Gen8 @ up to 640 MHz – 6W TDP
- System Memory – 2x 240-pin DDR3/DDR3L 1600/1066 for up to 16GB RAM
- Storage – 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors, support NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug
- Audio Codec – Realtek ALC887 Audio Codec, 7.1 CH HD Audio
- Expansion – 1x PCI Express 2.0 x1 Slot
- Rear panel ports
- 1x PS/2 Mouse Port; 1x PS/2 Keyboard Port
- 1x COM port; 1x Parallel/LPT port
- Video Output
- 1x D-sub (VGA) port up to 1920×1200 @ 60Hz
- 1x HDMI port up to 2560×1600 @ 60Hz
- Dual display supported
- USB – 2 x USB 2.0 Ports; 2 x USB 3.0 Ports
- Audio – Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone.
- Connectivity – 1x Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek 8111GR)
- Internal Connectors
- USB – 2 x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports) ; 1x USB 3.0 header
- 1x COM Port Header
- 1x TPM Header
- 1x Chassis Intrusion Header
- 1x CPU Fan Connector (3-pin)
- 1x Chassis Fan Connector (3-pin)
- 1x 24 pin ATX Power Connector
- 1x Front Panel Audio Connector
- Dimensions – Mini-ITX form factor
The motherboards ship with a quick installation guide, a support CD, a rear panel I/O shield, and two SATA data cables. The GPU found in Braswell processors supports H.264 @ level 5.2, H.265/HEVC @ level 5 (GPU accelerated), and VP8 video codecs.
To get a complete system, you’ll also need memory, storage (HDD or SSD), a power supply unit (PSU), and an enclosure, but you should be able to get a complete system for $150 and up depending on your requirements. You could also buy Intel N3050 NUC on Amazon for about $145, but you’ll still need to add memory and storage.
ASRock explains the system supports Windows 10, 8 and 7 (64-bit), but Linux should be supported too, at least the Yocto Project has specific support for these low power Braswell processors, so hopeful that means a fully working kernnel (and drivers) will be available, but this needs to be tested/confirmed…
I could not find benchmarks comparing Celeron N3050 to the older Celeron N2807 (Bay Trail) yet. You may also want to visit ASRock’s N3050B-ITX and N3150B-ITX product pages.
Via FanlessTech
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Here is compared against J1800, J1900, J2900:
http://www.techspot.com/review/1014-intel-celeron-n3050-pentium-n3700/
@Gabe
Thanks! Extract from conclusion:
Full ATX psu is kept this design could not fit in embedded solution.
19V laptop dc adapter jack would be great.
@iridiumsat
as Q1900DC-ITX ? write to ASRock your Xmas letter !!!
Otherwise use a 6-24V M2 Atx power supply board for an embedded solution (best solution) or the classic 12Vdc Pico-PSU.
I could use a board like that, but the graphics are pretty unimpressive and if it’s a step back in speed from the Bay-Trail processors… I can’t really get too excited over this one…
@cnxsoft
“these new Braswell processors are slower than their Bay-Trail equivalents”
A very good reason to wait until the Skylake equivalents arrive then, especially as initial findings appear favorable, at the top end at least.
The link got chopped off for some reason, trying again …
guru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/first-review-of-intel-core-i7-6700k-skylake-published-up-to-29-faster-than-core-i7-4790k/
Ignore that broken link … this one …
http://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/first-review-of-intel-core-i7-6700k-skylake-published-up-to-29-faster-than-core-i7-4790k/
@Jibril
Yep, as Q1900DC-ITX but in Brasswell 14nm platform and DC jack PSU.
I’m looking for this solution for adapting custom Linux kernel and file system in usb flash drive to get a rock-solid embedded platform.
Finally, only one graphical app running is Chromium no any desktop and building HTML5 on top.
you can allways use a pico-psu clone…
Mixed results running Linux on Intel NUC based on N3050:
Fedora 22 has some issues during installation
Ubuntu 15.04 appears to install and run OK
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Intel-Braswell-Fedora-Ubuntu
How can this board support 16 GB RAM if the CPU on it only supports 8 GB?
@herbikum at discard.email
Yes, that’s odd that Intel product page says 8GB maximum, but that’s the specs on Newegg, and other N3150 boards on Amazon, eBay and other shops are also listed as supporting up to 16GB RAM.
So either the mistake went through, and everybody is just copying and pasting the wrong information, or maybe it’s 8GB RAM max per memory channel, and N3150 has 2 memory channels.
@herbikum at discard.email
Asrock Beebox is also said to support 16GB -> http://www.asrock.com/nettop/Intel/Beebox%20Series/
Two Zotac mini PCs based on N3150:
1. Zotac ZBOX BI323 -> http://www.zotac.com/us/products/mini-pcs/zbox-b-series/product/zbox-b-series/detail/zbox-bi323-zbox-bi323/sort/starttime/order/DESC/amount/10.html
2. Zotac ZBOX CI323 nano -> http://www.zotac.com/us/products/mini-pcs/zbox-c-series/product/zbox-c-series/detail/zbox-ci323-nano-zbox-ci323nano.html
In the meantime, ASRock Beebox N3000 for $119.99 (or is it $89.99) @ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856158043
Just install an Intel NUC with a N3050 in it as a media center. Works great. Hardware decoding of H264 and HECV/H265 at 4K/UHD resolutions!
Use MPC-HC as your media player.