Aopen i945GTt

vihila · 06-19-2006, 05:13 PM

FYI

A couple weeks ago, I was looking around for Core Duo mini-itx motherboards, and it seemed like the Commell 677 was the only one available. Today I searched again on Froogle, and this one popped up for pre-order at a few different retailers (PCMall, MacMall, and ClubMac, all look suspiciously the same

). At $30 less than the Commell, and a name that more people recognize, it seems like it would be a great carputer board for those interested. Last I heard, Albatron, MSI, and DFI are all planning on releasing a core-duo mini-itx motherboard also. This means that prices should go down over the next few months.

Just thought I'd let everybody know.

Kalt · 06-19-2006, 05:21 PM

I have been waiting on this board for a couple of months now. I currently have one on preorder and cant wait to get my hands on it, but i was told the onces available for preorder are test units. The board would have to be powered by a carnetix p1900 since and thats another plus for me. Someone from aopen did tell me it would be released in a couple of weeks and newegg should be one the first to get them.

vihila · 06-19-2006, 05:28 PM

Kalt, have they told you when it will ship?

Kalt · 06-19-2006, 05:31 PM

Nope the Eta keeps getting pushed back

Kalt · 06-20-2006, 08:27 AM

Here is a pic of the board im kind of dissapionted because the cpu cooler is huge which kind of defeats the purpose of have a mini-itx board, i have the i945GTm-VHL Micro-atx version of the board and the cpu cooler sits at the same height of the vga port. I will just have to replace the cooler with this one in order for it to fit in my case

bland · 06-20-2006, 12:01 PM

Looking at your picture kalt. What I beleive is the southbridge cooler. Is it supposed to be trying to spell something out, or am I way off and that is something else?

Kalt · 06-20-2006, 12:03 PM

Yeah all aopen southbridge heatsinks spell out Aopen

vihila · 06-21-2006, 02:43 PM

Looks like it is now for sale at a few other locations! (Buy.com is cheapest, but out of stock)

Kalt · 06-22-2006, 07:06 AM

I hope they come in soon cause I've been wainting since April.

vihila · 06-22-2006, 09:03 AM

30+ Locations are now listing it on Froogle, but they are all OOS. Looks like they are expecting shipments very soon

Kalt · 06-22-2006, 09:15 AM

The funny thing is all those places on froogle listed the board as out of stock back in late april, and couple of place had an eta of May 2nd then May 27. I spoke to someone from Aopen and was told the board has not been officially released for retail and is still in the test phase. I first placed an order with www.excaliberpc.com cause i was told it was a special order item and he could get it form me in a week, but i found out i was going to recieve a bare test version so i cancelled my order.

vihila · 06-22-2006, 09:34 AM

http://www.nordichardware.com/news,4034.html

"AOpen has confirmed to us that the motherboard will be launched at the end of June and at a recommended price of 275 euro"

Looks like the wait is almost over, although I don't know if it will take longer for it to reach the US

Kalt · 06-22-2006, 09:42 AM

I saw that article too and got happy till i realised $277 euro is about $350 but from all the signs it seems the board should be hear at the end of the month.

Here is the email i got from Aopen on monday

Dear Sir,

Thanks for asking about i945GTt-VFA http://usa.aopen.com/products/mb/i945GTt-VFA.htm on website
if you are interesting to buy, you may go to "Newegg" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nufactory=1316
we will be release it soon

Thanks for choosing AOpen
http://usa.aopen.com

vihila · 06-22-2006, 10:29 AM

Edit: This information is wrong, so don't listen, cuz it's not important

OK, Listen up, cuz this is important! The i945GTt is a socket 479, which means that the only Core Duo processors that will fit are the 479-pin T2300E and the 479-pin T2500. Note that there are 478-pin versions of these processors also, so make sure to buy the right one!

Core Duo Spec Sheet

Kalt · 06-22-2006, 01:58 PM

They always have the boards as 479pin to accomodate both cpu's. I currently have a 478 core duo T2300 cpu in a i945GTm-VHL which is basicaly the same board but at micro-atx factor. All core duo/solo chips on the market will work with this board. The 479 pins Cpus are mostly found in embedded system but can also be used/found in laptops. In the past people including me had problems with older Pentium M chips not working with 915 chipset motherboards because the cpu could only handle a motherboard with an 855 chipsets, and the newer cpu's could handle both the 915/855. The problem did not come from being 479 or 478 pin since they have the same pin arrangements.