(http://i50.tinypic.com/21bjc00.jpg)
Inexpensive mini computers with ARM-based chips have gotten a lot of attention this year. But if you’re willing to spend a few dollars more you can get a much more powerful and versatile system with an x86 processor.
Recently we took a look at the Asus C60M1-I mini-ITX motherboard with an AMD C-60 dual core CPU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131843&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboard+/+CPU+/+VGA+Sets-_-ASUS-_-13131843). A feature that makes this mobo especially attractive is the addition of a DVI port allowing for dual monitors (http://i50.tinypic.com/2zy8t5d.jpg). It’s an $80 system that can be used as a full-fledged Windows or Linux computer when you add a power supply (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=32&name=Power-Supplies), stor (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=15&name=Hard-Drives)age (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=119&name=SSD), and memory (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=17&name=Memory) (and optionally a case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%20600006306&IsNodeId=1&name=MicroATX%20Mini%20Tower)). But it’s hardly the only CPU+board combo in that price range.
Note: Under the word storage above both mechanical and SSD are presented. Here is the break down, stor = mechanical hard drives & age = SSD
Newegg has at least 2 dozen motherboard+CPU combo deals available at the moment, and many of them include low power processors and low price tags. Here are a few examples:
• ECS VX900-I (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135322) 1.6 GHz VIA L2007 combo for $50 after rebate
• ASRock E35LM1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157324&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboard+/+CPU+/+VGA+Sets-_-ASRock-_-13157324) AMD E-240 combo for $55
• JetWay JTAE24G (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153249&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboard+/+CPU+/+VGA+Sets-_-JETWAY-_-13153249) AMD E-240 combo for $70
• Foxconn D250S (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186223&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboard+/+CPU+/+VGA+Sets-_-Foxconn-_-13186223) Intel Atom D2500 combo for $70
• Gigabyte GA-E350N (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128561&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboard+/+CPU+/+VGA+Sets-_-GIGABYTE-_-13128561) AMD E-350 combo for $75
• ASRock AD2700B-ITX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157308&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboard+/+CPU+/+VGA+Sets-_-ASRock-_-13157308) Intel Atom D2700 combo for $75
All of these systems feature mini ITX cases (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%20600006318&IsNodeId=1&name=Mini-ITX%20Tower), which means they should fit into standard small form-factor PC cases. And they all have x86 processors, which means they should be able to handle a range of operating systems including Windows 7, Windows 8, Ubuntu, or other Linux-based operating systems (although some of the integrated graphics cards are better supported than others under Linux).