We’ve already seen several Intel Gemini Lake mini PCs at CES 2018 from companies such as ZOTAC, MeLE or ECS, but if we exclude LattePanda Delta development board, I had not seen any motherboards with the latest low power Intel processors.
But today I found out ASRock had listed at least two Gemini Lake mini-ITX motherboards on their website, namely J4105-ITX & J4105B-ITX, both powered by an Intel Celeron J4105 quad core Desktop processor.
Both motherboards have similar specifications, except for some connectors and features:
- SoC – Intel Celeron J4105 quad core processor @ 1.50/2.5 GHz with 12EU Intel UHD Graphics 600 up to 750 MHz; 10W TDP
- System Memory – 2x DDR4-2400/2100 SO-DIMM slots up to 8GB (2GB per module not supported)
- Storage
- 2x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, support NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug
- 128Mb NOR flash for AMI UEFI BIOS with GUI support
- J4105-ITX only – 2x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors via ASMedia ASM1061, support NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug
- Video Output
- J4105-ITX
- D-Sub (VGA) up to 2048×1536 @ 60Hz
- HDMI 2.0 up to 4K x 2K (4096×2160) @ 60Hz
- DVI-D up to 1920×1200 @ 60Hz
- J4105B-ITX
- D-Sub (VGA) up to 2048×1536 @ 60Hz
- HDMI up to 4K x 2K (4096×2160) @ 30Hz (Not sure why, since GLK processor should all support HDMI 2.0, maybe error in specs?)
- J4105-ITX
- Video
- HW Acceleration Decode: HEVC (H.265) 8 bit, HEVC (H.265)10 bit, H.264 @ Lvl5.2 (AVC), JPEG/MJPEG, VP8, VP9 8bit, VP9 10 bit
- HW Acceleration Encode: HEVC (H.265) 8 bit, HEVC (H.265)10 bit, H.264 @ Lvl5.2 (AVC), JPEG/MJPEG, VP8, VP9 8bit
- Audio
- J4105-ITX
- 7.1 CH HD Audio with content protection (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec)
- Premium Blu-ray Audio support
- 1x Optical SPDIF Out Port
- HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone
- J4105B-ITX
- 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC887 Audio Codec)
- HD Audio Jacks: Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone
- Supports Surge Protection, and comes with ELNA Audio Caps
- J4105-ITX
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet via Realtek RTL8111H with Wake-On-LAN, Lightning/ESD Protection, 802.3az, and PXE support
- USB ports
- J4105-ITX – 2x USB 2.0 ports (with ESD Protection); 2x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports (with ESD protection)
- J4105B-ITX – 1x USB 2.0 Port (with ESD Protection); 3x USB 3.1 Gen1 Ports (with ESD Protection)
- Expansion Slots
- 1x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot
- J4105-ITX only – 1x M.2 Socket (Key E), supports type 2230 WiFi/BT module and Intel CNVi (Integrated WiFi/BT)
- Internal headers and connectors:
- 1x COM Port Header
- 1x Chassis Intrusion and Speaker Header
- 1x CPU Fan Connector (3-pin)
- 1x Chassis Fan Connector (3-pin)
- 1x 24 pin ATX Power Connector
- 1x Front Panel Audio Connector
- 2x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 3 or 4 USB 2.0 ports) (Supports ESD Protection)
- 1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Header (Supports 2 USB 3.1 Gen1 ports) (Supports ESD Protection)
- Misc
- J4105-ITX – 1x PS/2 Mouse Port, 1x PS/2 Keyboard Port, hardware monitor (temperature, fan control, and voltage)
- J4105B-ITX – 1x PS/2 mouse/keyboard combo port, 1x parallel Port (ECP/EPP Support), 1x serial port (COM1),
- Dimensions – 17.0 cm x 17.0 cm (mini-ITX form factor)
- Certifications – FCC, CE, ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply required)
So J4105-ITX motherboard supports up to three monitors, comes with four SATA ports, better audio support, and an M.2 socket for wireless modules, while J4105B-ITX supports dual display setup, comes with less SATA ports (two), but includes serial and parallel ports, and more USB 3.0 ports
Both support Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit (no word about Linux), and come with ASRock software and UEFI features such as Power Gear, XFast LAN, Instant Flash, and Internet Flash which can be download from ASRock Live Update & APP Shop.
The motherboards will ship with a support CD including drivers, utilities, an AntiVirus Software (Trial Version), Google Chrome browser and toolbar, a quick installation guide, and an I/O shield. J4105-ITX model also includes a screw for the M.2 socket.
Availability and pricing are unknown at this stage, but I’d expect the motherboards to launch at the same time as mini PCs that is at the end of March, or in Q2 2018. Visit the product pages here and there for more details.
Via AndroidPC.es
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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The reason why the J4105B-ITX only supports 30Hz, is probably that they use the same “trick” that they used with the J4205-ITX board, and Intel uses with their NUCs:
The native HDMI port can only do 30Hz at 4K, but the DisplayPort can do 60Hz. So they added a DisplayPort to HDMI converter chip. On the J4105B-ITX it is probably missing.
If they use the same chip they used on the J4205-ITX, then better avoid this board for 4K video playback.
The signal is very weak, some TVs don’t detect it at all, and even if it works, you can only use short HDMI cables and no switches. The Intel NUCs are plagued by the same problems. After several firmware updates, it still doesn’t work for many users.
I hope ASM1061 can be turn off in BIOS to go <10W
parallel port
What decade is it? Late 90s?
@Ian Charles
I thought the parallel port complimented the VGA port well.
@Ian Charles : Careful. There is not much difference between a parallel port and a GPIO header. In either case you can programmatically set each pin to high or low logic states. What is old becomes new again 🙂
ASRock always builds also “industry versions” and they really still use that…
Gigabyte follows: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-motherboards-embedded-gemini-lake-cpu,36373.html
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
It appears I have been banned? Which puzzles me, I rarely post here, and when I did I was always on good behavior. ???
@karlkloss
The HDMI inside Gemini Lake processor supports HDMI 2.0, so they don’t need an extra chip to reach 4K @ 60 Hz.
@James
Moderation does not mean you are banned. It’s automatic in WordPress. Usually, it’s when people posted two links or more, but it may also be related to your IP address for example, as VPN or Tor network IP may be seen as dodgy since they are also used by spammers, or other parameters (which I don’t know).
@Ian Charles
Those boards are often used to replace older ones in industrial applications, like CNC, cash registers, etc.
As the (costly) peripherals remain the same, they still need RS232 and Centronics.
@cnxsoft
I think they still need the converter. If you look at the photo of the J4105-ITX, then you’ll see a BGA chip just behind the HDMI port, that looks exactly the same as the one on the J4205-ITX board.
@Karl Kloss
I can see an ITE chip indeed. That’s really weird they need that as Arm SoCs with HDMI 2.0 controller do not need such external chip.
It might also be a re-timer buffer, such as this http://www.ite.com.tw/zh-tw/product/view?mid=108
@karlkloss
I thought Gemini Lake included native HDMI 2.0 – unlike Apollo Lake which was native HDMI 1.4? (I agree Apollo Lake HDMI 2160/50p and 60p output has to be via a DP1.2->HDMI 2.0 adaptor – but I thought one of the features of the new Gemini Lake was that they dispensed with that and could do HDMI 2.0 2160/50p and 60p output natively?)
Gigabyte here now. Integrated PCIe Gen2 x2 M.2 slots supporting high speed NVMe SSD allows for fast data transfer speeds. J4005N D2P.
I’m waiting top model J5005-ITX (you can notice files on ftp for J5005-itx), also you shouldn’t forget this:
“Intel® CNVi (Integrated WiFi/BT)”
These Intel® Wireless Adapters are CRF modules that support the integrated Intel Wireless-AC:
Intel® Wireless-AC 9560
Intel® Wireless-AC 9462
Intel® Wireless-AC 9461
I’m still more interested in June Canyon NUCs from Intel, but Intel been very silent about them (during CES 2018, someone there said June Canyon NUCs are already in delivery state, but yeah… haven’t seen them anywhere yet)
I hope these release information from Asrock and Gigabyte put some small pressure for Intel to finally release officially and start delivery worldwide.
I wonder whether the m.2 port also supports more general use stuff like m.2 ethernet adapter for instance?
Same question applies to my current J345-ITX board where I had to use pci-e for that.
If only I could fit an m.2 ethernet card, I could dedicate it to my pfsense VM, and then use the pcie for a pcie usb2.0 card which I have and then hook up an external usb-wifi to also have a VM running openwrt for AP functionality.
It supports 8gb of ram per slot or in total?
Thanks
Max. capacity of system memory: 8GB
J4205-ITX supported up to 16GB RAM, but there seem to be many problems with get it working, so maybe they removed it totally for Gemini Lake.
@Tomm
My J3455B-ITX has 16GB of Hynix (2x8GB) ddr3-1866 ram, and it’s fine, so I doubt the J4205-ITX has any issues either, since ASrock supports it.
But why only 8GB (ddr4) max on this “newer” J4105-ITX ???,
and that’s the question not yet answered.
@Pete
Might be fixed on newer BIOS than stock.
I have talked with ASRock and it’s a design limitation of gemini lake, bios update won’t allow more ram
@Tomm
ASRock J5005-ITX is coming very soon. I have seen it listed for backorder on European and Japanese shops for around $120-$130.
Why do any of you think there is HDMI 2.0 support?
HDMI 2 is needed to drive 4K at 60hz. The UHD 600 graphics don’t have it. They’re identical to HD 500, which is Skylake-gen graphics.
None of intel’s graphics have HDMI 2.0 support. Not skylake, not kaby lake, not coffee lake. Not on desktop, and not on mobile, and not on any of the atoms which reuse the graphics.