Jetway NF96FL-510-LF Mini-ITX Motherboard

With more households than ever owning a second or third computer, it seems that they all have their own purpose for one or more functions. One system may be used for work related activities whilst the other is used for hardcore gaming. There may even be a computer for the kids to do their homework on and to facetwitter or mybook their friends. With computers having more functionality than ever, and the ability to do a multitude of tasks, we generally find another one in the living area devoted for HTPC purposes so that the family can sit down and watch their favourite TV shows, or movies whenever they want. It even works out great as a dedicated muscle centre, for those out of control parties that we all have……………..or is it just my house then?

When we hear the name HTPC we automatically think of small form factor and its micro design that we’ve all come to be familiar with. This is where manufacturers have seized the market with micro-ATX and Mini-ITX form factor systems to supply you with inexpensive components for the least amount of money possible. These are generally catered for by using a low profile design coupled with either an AMD Neo or more commonly Intel Atom processor, sufficient memory slots, suitable chipset and on-board audio, LAN and graphics to give you an all in one solution for your needs.

On the market, we can see the likes of the Zotac ZBOX with its slim, sleek design offering up all of the above in a mini barebone PC suitable for the average family man to provide for his family. The average enthusiast however, would rather build his own system to his own specification, so he knows exactly what he’s got for his money. That way he can decide on a budget, the needs for the system and the brands that will be used as we all know the world is full of fan boys and customers devoted to a particular manufacturer. We’ve seen this so many times in the past with the likes of the AMD/Intel battle, or the AMD/Nvidia clash, but that’s for another article.

In the past we have looked at a mini-ITX motherboard branded in the shape of the Jetway NC63-330-LF using an Intel Atom N330 Dual-Core 1.6GHz processor but as times change, so does the technology and the features used. This is where we introduce the Jetway NF96FL-510-LF with its improved processor (which is loosely based on the Atom 330), different chipset and improved features.

As we delve further into the review, you will see why this board is also perfect for other uses including for security or as a simple download box for all you pirates out there, but as we know, these types of motherboards are generally favoured for the above mentioned HTPC purposes due to their all in one design and passive cooling, whilst offering fantastic bang for buck when looking at the features and specifications of a board like this.

Now let’s take a look at the specifications in a bit more detail to give you clear and concise information on exactly what is supported on this mini ITX board which in turn should give you a better insight as to whether the board will be suitable for your needs.

Specifications
[HR][/HR]