Intel Next Generation Core i3-i5 DQ??xx vPro Mini-ITX Is Due When?

We put most of our local client systems together around the Intel Desktop Board DQ45EK Mini-ITX motherboard.

We do this because it offers dual DVI out along with Intel’s Active Management Technology (vPro designation).

It also gives us the flexibility to utilize an ultra small form factor case such as the A-Open S145A or In-Win BM639.

What has been puzzling has been the fact that the Micro-ATX DQ57TM board has been available for quite a while but its smaller Mini-ITX sibling has been conspicuously absent.

And, based on this we may not be seeing a newer generation Mini-ITX Executive Series board for a while:

 

• Intel® Desktop Board Extended Life Cycle Plan (North America only)

It seems that the DQ45EK is on extended life support at this time. As a result, a newer Mini-ITX board capable of supporting the new Core i5 or i3 series CPUs may not be available until sometime next year.

When that is exactly has yet to be made public.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer