Tranquil PC are out of the blocks early this year with news that the Intel Atom D510 -packing D510MO (Mount Olive) motherboards are now shipping for self-builders looking to take advantage of that new dual core processor for a home server or mini-HTPC.
This very low power CPU + North Bridge (TDP = 13W), with multiple core / multiple thread support, is exceptionally efficient. The Atom D510 CPU used on this board is a 2x 1.66GHz model, with 2x 512K of L2 cache, based on Intel’s latest 45nM process. The supporting chipset, the Intel NM10 provides desktop connectivity and performance. Intel high definition audio, 10/100/1000 LAN, PCI, SATA2 (3GB/s) DDR2 667/800 are all there, to ensure connectivity, expandability and performance.
The board is shipping for £68.95 (ex VAT) and for that you’ll get the following specs:
Name
D510MO
Processor
Intel Atom D510 @ 2x 1.66GHz ( 45nm)
Chipset
Intel NM10
L2 Cache
2x 512kb
System Memory
2x DDR2 667/800 RAM (max 4GB)
Graphics
Intel GMA3150 (VGA)
Power
24 Pin ATX
Connectors (rear)
1x D-SUB15 (VGA)
1x LAN 10/100/1000MBit (Realtek)
3x Sound (Line Out, Line In, Microphone)
2x PS2
4x USB2.0
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio (ALC) Incl multi-stream support
Connectors (internal)
1x PCI
1x Mini PCIex
AUDIO (Front panel)
AUDIO (SPDIF)
3x USB
2x SATA (3GBs)
2x COM (Serial)
1x Parallel
Included
D510MO Main board (with 1.66Ghz Atom N510 CPU)
I/O ATX rear plate
SATA cable
Drivers CD
Form Factor
Mini-ITX (17×17cm)
More Info: Tranquil PC
5. January 2010 at 12:42 pm
This might just be my personal opinion, but it seems like intels really crippling the potential here.
It seems like they are trying to make it hard to get an atom platform with 4 or more sata connections. Also whats the point of a standard pci slot…there should be a pci-e x1 slot instead.
For once id like to see a company really step up to this demographic and offer a solution that provides an energy efficient platform with current option like pci-e, e-sata, more sata ports, no ps/2…
Also who would use this for an HTPC, theres no HDMI (like on ION), theres not even DVI/SPDIF.
Im kind of disappointed with the direction Intel has taken here and i wish AMD would pick up the slack and make an energy efficient solution with better performance and more up to date tech. Especially with them now owning ATI (no issues like intel and nvidia had).
5. January 2010 at 5:20 pm
Completely agree, this just looks like a re-hash of old tech with only the ATOM giving something fresh.
6. January 2010 at 2:39 pm
Of course Intel are crippling the potential – they want you to buy their more expensive processors !
If they allowed the Atom-based systems to do everything they're capable of, then they'd kill their own higher-end-processor market, and that would be foolish.
6. January 2010 at 5:29 pm
Its too expensive too. 2 SATA but no IDE now. So thats LESS ports… Not good.
9. January 2010 at 8:13 am
Its not expensive for a silent, fanless, small motherboard. see here: http://www.mini-box.com/D510MO-mini-ITX-Intel they have it at USD79.95 in stock. I this this board have plenty of potential use. Not to mention the miniPCI express slot that gives you another alternatives.
21. January 2010 at 1:56 pm
Received my D510MO a week ago as the basis of a rebuild for my ageing 1.4GHZ Pentium M based system.
Intial observations are:
CPU will indeed run passively, however the northbridge and to a lesser degree the mosfets run very hot. Intel points out that these are the items that need to be kept cool. I am going to add a BGA heatsink to the northbridge chip. CPU is generally 35'c in a 20'c ambient under normal use.
BIOS is very basic, can turn hyperthreading on off but not one of the CPU cores.
Will not install WHS with disks in AHCI mode only IDE and no AHCI drivers available. Might not be an issue but generally makes performance slower.
Under a default WHS install there are no drivers for ethernet, video or SM bus.
Intel has suitable drivers for ethernet, but not video. Not checked on smbus yet.
So other than the usual teething problems with drivers on new products I am impressed. Hvae yet to take power readings and assess the performance in detail, but suspect that this setup with a 1Tb Samsung eco HD is faster and lower power than my 1.4GHz Pentium M setup with 500Gb ATA HD.
Will post an update when I have done more playing and put this into production.
21. January 2010 at 1:57 pm
Bump – forgot to subscribe!