| ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe mini-ITX H67 Motherboard |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Motherboards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Hank Tolman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, 17 June 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe mini-ITX Motherboard
Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by ASUS. By now we have all heard of the media capabilities of the Intel H67 Chipset. With so much going for it in this aspect, it seems like an H67 motherboard would be great as a starting point for the perfect Home Theatre PC. ASUS has decided to take this idea to the next level with the ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe mini-ITX motherboard. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will break down all the special features ASUS has included in the P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard to see if it is ready to provide a comprehensive solution for the HTPC enthusiast. I love my HTPC. I always have. I have gradually updated over the years, constantly trying to find anything and everything that would make my HTPC better at what I want it to do; provide me with a comprehensive Home Theatre solution. Originally, I started my HTPC days with a Pentium-4 laptop stuffed under my entertainment center and hooked up to my TV. I soon found that situation to be lacking, so I added an external hard drive, a PCMCIA TV tuner card, a webcam... well, you get the idea. Later on I upgraded my entire system using a socket 775 mini-ITX motherboard with an E-6600 CPU. I put it all in an awesome little case by SilverStone and I was ready to go. By that time, my wife and I had decided to give up conventional TV, relying on Hulu, Netflix, and other online streaming sites for our TV and movie needs. So far, that HTPC has worked very well for us. One of the things I love about my HTPC is how it makes all of my photos and home movies so readily available. Have you ever noticed that you never develop or even look at all those digital pictures you take? Mine now constantly scroll across my screen as the background of Windows Media Center. Sometimes I find myself just sitting and looking at them instead of watching anything else.
Anyway, when I got the chance to take a look at ASUS' P8H67-I Deluxe mini-ITX motherboard, I was really excited. I have tested the H67 platform and found it to be extremely media centric. I am very excited for the prospects of an HTPC running on a Sandy Bridge CPU. It should take me a fraction of the time now to convert my entire Disney DVD collection to digital video for my home use or portable devices. Closer Look: ASUS P8H67-I DeluxeThe ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard looks a lot like you might expect a mini-ITX motherboard to look. Phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space. Well, we will have to judge the powers part a little later. But the motherboard is pretty tiny. It's made, of course, to fit one of the many mini-ITX cases that are now available. Just a couple years ago, I think you would have been a little hard-pressed to find mini-ITX anything. Now, Media PCs are much more common and people are a lot more interested in combining their entertainment means into a single, convenient box.
Not everyone is a gaming and overclocking enthusiast, believe it or not. A lot of people just want a computer that works well enough to browse the internet and do homework. At the same time, Hulu, Netflix, and other media sites are making people want to watch streaming media online from the comfort of their living room. A lot of devices are out now that will connect to that media, I even own a few of them. Unfortunately, none have come close to taking the place of my HTPC.
The ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe mini-ITX motherboard looks about like your average mini-ITX motherboards, but there are a few differences. For one, ASUS put a heatsink with their name on it over the H67-Express chipset that extends around the side and top of the CPU socket. Besides covering the chipset and spreading the heat across the heatsink, it's really cosmetic. The H67-Express Chipset puts out extremely low amounts of heat, as do the Sandy Bridge CPUs themselves. The heatsink isn't high enough to cover the MOSFETs, so, as I said, it's mostly cosmetic.
Another feature the P8H67-I Deluxe brings to the mix is a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. This is a somewhat rare offering on a mini-ITX motherboard because it is assumed that you will use the onboard graphics. The 2nd Generation Intel HD Graphics that come bundled with the Sandy Bridge CPUs are very good, especially as far as integrated graphics are concerned. The PCIe 2.0 x16 slot allows users the possibility of using this motherboard in a different system and adding a decent discrete graphics solution, but most mini-ITX cases would limit you to a low-profile card. The truth of the matter is, with a discrete graphics solution, you could put this motherboard in any case and have a very credible gaming system. I'm not really sure why you do that, however, considering there are a lot of full featured H67 motherboards in this price range. There is really only room for one slot on a mini-ITX motherboard, which is why it is so often taken up with either a PCI 1.0 slot or a PCIe x1 slot. The benefit of having a PCIe x1 slot is that it makes it a little easier find a good TV Tuner card to add in to your HTPC.
The I/O panel on the ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe gives a good idea of its capabilities. All the way on the left of the I/O panel, where we would normally find the PS/2 or USB inputs for a keyboard and mouse, we find a couple of coaxial inputs on the P8H67-I Deluxe. These are for the built-in wireless controller. Two antennae found with the accessories connect to these inputs and pick up the signal from your wireless router. A WiFi card on a mini-ITX motherboard isn't exactly new, and I am glad ASUS included it here, as it is very nice addition for any Home Theatre or Media PC. It saves from having to run a cable or get a USB wireless adapter.
Moving to the right, we have the legacy PS/2 port for keyboard or mouse and two black USB 2.0 ports. An HDMI port that, of course, carries audio as well, sits below an audiophiles much needed S/PDIF out port. Continuing with the legacy connections we find a VGA port above a single-link DVI port. That little blue nub sitting above the two red USB 2.0 ports is the ASUS BT GO! Bluetooth receiver. A lot of the ASUS motherboards in the P67 and H67-Express lines are touting this nice little enhancement. This feature makes syncing up a smart-phone or tablet a breeze. I, personally, take a lot of photos and video on my phone, since I always have it with me. With the HTPC being my media hub, the Bluetooth connection makes it easy for me to share those files directly from my phone without having to connect a wire. The final features we fine on the I/O panel include an eSATA port, a Gigabit LAN port, two blue USB 3.0 ports, and the standard 3.5mm audio outputs. The eSATA port is becoming very common on motherboards now, but I have to say that I haven't ever found the occasion to use it in anything other than a testing environment. In a computer that I have tucked away inside of a cabinet in my entertainment center, I just don't think I'll find a use for it. That is especially true, I think, with the availability of USB 3.0 ports on the back panel. Unless the eSATA port is a 6.0Gb/s port, which it is not in this case, the USB 3.0 ports offer faster transfer speeds.P8H67-I Deluxe Detailed FeaturesMotherboard manufacturers have to add their own touches to stay competitive. This is no less true when talking about mini-ITX motherboards for HTPCs. Lots of manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon, including Intel themselves. In this section, we will take a look at some of the additions ASUS has made to the P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard.
One of the things the Intel H67-Express chipset lacks is native SuperSpeed USB 3.0 support. It does offer a whopping 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports. With a 5Gb/s signaling rate, USB 3.0 doesn't quite match up to SATA 6Gb/s. It does, however, far outpace older SATA 3Gb/s transfer rates. It seems like an easy choice for motherboard manufactures to add a controller for USB 3.0 support and ASUS does this on the P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard through the use of the NEC D720200F1 SuperSpeed USB-3.0 chip.
On many of their full-sized and mATX motherboards, ASUS is now using a new feature called DIP2 (Dual-Intelligent Processors). The two processors are a TPU (TurboV Processing Unit) and an EPU (Energy Processing Unit) and focus on performance and power management. The TPU takes some stress off the CPU to increase performance and the EPU decreases power drain from system components. The DIP2 can be controlled using the ASUS AI Suite II that comes with the P8H67-I Deluxe or through the uEFI. The P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard utilized the EPU, but lacks the TPU.
The ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard also shaves a little off the power management system. The P8H67-I Deluxe touts a light 3+2+1 phase power design. Another interesting feature is the MemOK! button. This button is for a feature that helps you deal with using incompatible memory in the four DDR3 dual-channel DIMM slots. If the motherboard won't boot because of incompatible memory, you can hold down the MemOK! button until the DRAM_LED starts blinking. The ASUS MemOK! feature will automatically try to tune the memory to make it more likely for the system to boot successfully. Next to the MemOK! Button is a GPU boost switch that allows for immediate overclocking of the GPU.
You'll immediately notice that the DIMM slots on the P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard are different that what you are probably used to. The P8H67-I Deluxe utilized SODIMM 204-pin slots, better known as laptop memory. These slots mean you will probably have to pay a little more than normal for your RAM. You also will probably not be able to keep your RAM if you are upgraded from a previous mini-ITX build. The P8H67-I Deluxe supports up to 16GB of 1333MHz RAM.
P8H67-I Deluxe Specifications
Motherboard Testing MethodologyAt the start of all tests, the previous display adapter driver is uninstalled and trace components are removed using Driver Cleaner Pro. We then restart the computer system to establish our display settings and define the monitor. Once the hardware is prepared, we begin our testing. Each benchmark test program begins after a system restart, and the very first result for every test will be ignored since it often only caches the test. This process proves extremely important in many gaming benchmarks, as the first run served to cache maps allowing subsequent tests to perform much better than the first. Each test is completed five times, with the average results displayed in our article.
We are all familiar with the performance of the H67-Express chipset by now. We don't expect the P8H67-I Deluxe to offer any differences here. What is interesting about the P8H67-I Deluxe is its capability to be a gaming system. There isn't any overclockability for the CPU, but gaming mostly depends on a GPU anyway. The PCIe X16 slot provides what is necessary for this motherboard to succeed in any game, given the right discrete GPU. In the testing, we have included various other platforms to show that performance is not hindered by size, but the key I am looking for with the P8H67-I Deluxe is its performance as an HTPC. The media tests and various CPU and memory benchmarks should give us a good idea of this. Intel P67 Test Platform
Intel H67 Test Platform
Intel X58 Test Platform
AMD 990FX Test Platform
AMD 890GX Test Platform
Benchmark Applications
AIDA64 Extreme Edition v1.1 Benchmark TestsIn November, 2010, FinalWire acquired and discontinued Lavalys EVEREST, updated it, and released it as AIDA64. AIDA64 is an industry leading system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for enthusiasts PC users, based on the award-winning EVEREST Technology. During system optimizations and tweaking it provides essential system and overclock information, advanced hardware monitoring and diagnostics capabilities to check the effects of the applied settings. CPU, FPU and memory benchmarks are available to measure the actual system performance and compare it to previous states or other systems. Furthermore, complete software, operating system and security information makes AIDA64 a comprehensive system diagnostics tool that offers a total of 100 pages of information about your PC. All of the benchmarks used in our test bed rely on basic x86 instructions and consume very low system memory while also being aware of HyperThreading, multi-processors, and multi-core processors. While the AIDA64 CPU tests really only compare the processor performance more than it measures platforms, it still offers a glimpse into what kind of power each platform possesses. Queen and Photoworxx tests are synthetic benchmarks that operate the function many times and over-exaggerate by several magnitudes what the real-world performance would be like. The Queen benchmark focuses on the branch prediction capabilities and misprediction penalties of the CPU. It does this by finding possible solutions to the classic queen problem on a chessboard. At the same clock speed theoretically the processor with the shorter pipeline and smaller misprediction penalties will attain higher benchmark scores.
Like the Queen benchmark, the Photoworxx tests for penalties against pipeline architecture. The synthetic Photoworxx benchmark stresses the integer arithmetic and multiplication execution units of the CPU and also the memory subsystem. Due to the fact that this test performs high memory read/write traffic, it cannot effectively scale in situations where more than two processing threads are used. The AIDA64 Photoworxx benchmark performs the following tasks on a very large RGB image:
The Zip Library test measures combined CPU and memory subsystem performance through the public ZLib compression library. ZLib is designed as a free lossless data compression library for use on virtually any computer hardware and operating system. The ZLib data format is itself portable across platforms and has a footprint independent of input data that can be reduced at some cost in compression.
The AES integer benchmark measures CPU performance using AES data encryption. It utilizes Vincent Rijmen, Antoon Bosselaers and Paulo Barreto's public domain C code in ECB mode and consumes 48 MB of memory.
In our next section we take a look at the results of the Passmark Performance Test. Passmark Performance TestPassMark Performance Test is a PC hardware benchmark utility that allows a user to quickly assess the performance of their computer and compare it to a number of standard 'baseline' computer systems. The Passmark Performance Test CPU tests all benchmark the mathematical operations, compression, encryption, SSE, and 3DNow! instructions of modern processors. In our tests there were several areas of concentration for each benchmark, which are combined into one compound score. This score is referred to as the CPU Mark, and is a composite of the following tests: Integer Math, Floating Point Math, Find Prime Numbers, SSE/3DNow!, Compression, Encryption, Image Rotation, and String Sorting. For this review, we've also decided to run the memory benchmark, which results in a composite score based on the following tests: small block allocation, cached read, uncached read, write performance, and large block allocation.
With the IMC integrated onto the CPU die, communication between the CPU and the memory should be faster, and we can see through the Passmark Memory tests that bandwidth is improved. The 890GX chipset, even with the 3.6GHz Phenom-II X4-975BE, can't keep up. PCMark Vantage System Tests
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Fresh Startup (15 min idle) |
25 degrees |
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After 2hr Netflix Stream |
36 degrees |
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Prime95 & Furmark Stress Test (2hr) |
59 degrees |
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After 2 days of normal use |
42 degrees |
ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe Conclusion
IMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently at various points in time. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes which occur after publication that could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion, as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.
As if it wasn't obvious throughout the article, I am an HTPC enthusiast. I love my HTPC and I would give up any other computer in my house before that one. I have a built in DVR, I actually look at the pictures and home videos I take, and I can stream from or browse any site on the internet from the comfort of my couch. The ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe brings a lot of features to my HTPC that I had to make up for before by using USB devices or an add-in card.
The ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe performs just as well as any H67 motherboard. With the PCIe x16 capability on the P8H67-I Deluxe, you could do the opposite of what I've done and make an awesome gaming PC that's super portable inside of a mini-ITX case. The performance is enhanced by the built-in WiFi capability and USB 3.0. As an HTPC, the P8H67-I Deluxe performs extremely well. The 2nd Generation Intel HD Graphics were built for media and it shows. Quick Sync takes this performance to the next level, allowing for video transcoding in under a third of the time of other methods. The WiFi gives the P8H67-I Deluxe enhanced connectivity, as does the Bluetooth dongle. The EPU helps with lower power consumption and the graphics boost gives you the option of a worry free GPU overclock for the integrated video.
I love the look of a good mini-ITX motherboard. The tiny form factor pushes all the components together for a tight fit. ASUS picks up the aesthetics of the P8H67-I Deluxe motherboard by adding an extended chipset heatsink with the ASUS logo on it. Additionally, ASUS keeps up their blue and gray theme that is common throughout a lot of their Intel socket 1155 motherboards. ASUS saves space on the mini-ITX P8H67-I Deluxe by using 204-pin SODIMM slots. This helps keep the layout smooth, and also gives them room to add the mini-PCIe slot for the WiFi adapter.
The construction of the P8H67-I Deluxe stands up to the ASUS name. With such a small form factor, it is easy to skimp on materials or construction in order to save a little money and perhaps offer a cheaper motherboard. ASUS stays away from that temptation using solid state capacitors and high grade components. As is common with ASUS motherboards, it is very likely that the P8H67-I Deluxe with far outlast is usefulness. You will probably be ready for an upgrade due to technology advancement long before the components give out.
ASUS added a lot of features to the P8H67-I Deluxe to enhance its functionality, specifically as an HTPC. While a lot of mini-ITX motherboards now come with WiFi built in, not all of them do. The Atheros 802.11b/g/n gives the connectivity needed without having to pick up a USB WiFi adapter. ASUS has oft utilized the EPU in their recent motherboards and the P8H67-I Deluxe is no exception. The already low power consumption is aided by this feature. Pictures and videos from mobile devices are easily shared to your HTPC through the ASUS BT GO! Bluetooth dongle. ASUS adds USB 3.0 compatibility and a eSATA port as well.
As of mid-June 2011 the ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe mini-ITX motherboard costs $159.99 at NewEgg. This puts it at the very top end of Intel socket 1155 mini-ITX boards. That being said, the features on the P8H67-I Deluxe help justify the higher cost. Dual-antennae b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, eSATA, EPU enhanced power management, S/PDIF out, GPU Boost, MemOK!, and high-grade components are things that you may or may not find on competing motherboards that cost a little less. You might save a few bucks, but you'd be giving up some great features for you media PC.Pros:
+ UEFI Introduces Graphical User Interface BIOS replacement
+ Integrated Atheros b/g/n WiFi
+ MemOK! Increases memory compatibility for bootup
+ ASUS EPU increases energy savings
+ NEC-D720200F1 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 controller
+ ASUS BT GO! Bluetooth adapter
Cons:
Ratings:
- Performance: 9.50
- Appearance: 9.00
- Construction: 9.00
- Functionality: 9.50
- Value: 8.00
Final Score: 9.0 out of 10.
Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.
Benchmark Reviews invites you to leave constructive feedback below, or ask questions in our Discussion Forum.
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Comments
And I suppose the heat is really low because of 32nm chips? I guess I'm more amazed at the newer CPUs out now and the low heat they put out. But I'm pretty damn impressed all around. I've always loved small everything. I just sold my 2007 Toyota Tacoma Access cab 4WD and bought a brand new Nissan Cube (actually traded it car for car plus 860.0). I'm just going into a small is good frame of mind, and that's because small means efficiency, and who in the know doesn't like that?
I can see myself building something like this, but not the HTCP model MB, with my next upgrade. I can see I'll probably be using a mini case or at least small too. Pretty exciting.
Thanks for the review.