Trying to find a "bare" microATX motherboard.

[dragos240]

Hello Tom's Hardware,

I'm looking for a motherboard that's "bare" in the sense that it has nothing on the side of it. Usually there are things like a VGA connector, PS/2 connector, USB ports. Things like that I want gone. I want all of that to be external. I can't find anything of the sort on newegg, but maybe it's because I'm not sure what to search for.

Does anyone know what that may be called? Maybe someone has a suggestion? I'm very open to suggestions.

Thanks,
Dragos240

 

[COLGeek]

So, you want a motherboard with no rear panel connectors? How do you plan to interface with the system, then? What do you plan to use this motherboard for? Please elaborate and someone may be able to help point you in the right direction.

 

[dragos240]

Yes. That's exactly it.

All of these things can be bought and can plug into PCI ports. The main reason I'm doing this is I'm working on a project to see if I can create a laptop from scratch using desktop parts, even if it's really heavy and bulky in the end, I want a laptop that I can easily open up and customise. I'd prefer the laptop to have its audio ports on the front, 1 USB connection on the left along with an ethernet port and on the other side, 4 other USB connectors with a VGA connector.

The rear panel would use up space, and when building a laptop, I need to be as compact as can be.

Thanks,
Dragos240

 

[COLGeek]

Short of recycling a laptop motherboard (which also has external devices/interfaces integrated into it, you are going to have to look at an embedded solution. Also, how are you going to install peripherals without external connectivity?

Go to txcesssurplus.com and look at their selection of laptop motherboards and their layout, you might find something to work with.

Good luck!

 

[dragos240]

Hm. Guess I'll just have to connect the rear panel connectors to custom side ports and leave the panel there. The challenge is still to make a laptop using desktop parts and a custom case.

 

[geofelt]

Any desktop motherboard will have a certain height to it. The rear panel ports may be 3.5cm high, but that is similar to the height of the ram sticks which will be installed, and you will find that the voltage heat sinks may be tall too.
I doubt that you can find a desktop cpu cooler that is lower in height than the rear panel.

Your best bet is to look at M-ITX motherboards, which are at least small.

 

[totalknowledge]

Going too small though won't give you all of the PCIe/pci slots needed to get all of the things you need.

Most of the "things" in the back are usb ports. Boards no longer have a parallel, or serial port, and many don't have an integrated video port any longer.

This one for example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131736

looks like it has a bunch of stuff, but its mostly all USB ports.

 

[davcon]

Get a Pi.
http://www.techspot.com/news/46799-25-raspberry-pi-computer-handles-1080p-video-coming-soon.html

 

[dragos240]

Best answer selected by dragos240.

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr