mini-ITX規格之平價H55 MB-ECS H55H-I超頻效能分享

電腦產品在近一兩年來，因為Atom與ION主機這類省電上網主機的意識抬頭

市場上變得容易看到以省電、節能為主打的上網PC主機，產品價位也比一般PC還低上一些

迷你小PC的風潮，許多品牌在今年都有推出ITX MB產品，也帶動ITX MB產品的多元化

以往消費者想買到ITX MB，幾乎都是要買品牌電腦才有機會購入ITX規格的PC主機。



另外ITX MB尺寸較小，大部份產品也都與NoteBook產品一樣，BIOS沒有開出選項可以設定

在先前DFI推出超頻版的ITX P55後，似乎讓許多MB廠對於ITX市場也更有興趣

而且小弟在發表過ITX P55文章後，發現某些消費者更有興趣的ITX MB就是內建IGP H55系列。



此回的主角就是mini-ITX H55晶片組的產品，由ECS精英電腦推出的H55H-I

ECS這個品牌在我印象中有購買過幾款產品，那是距離現在有好幾年前的年代

當時是K7系列的MB，因為價格便宜，我與朋友都有購買使用過的經驗

後來ECS好像退出台灣一段時間，不過還是可以在網路上看到ECS的出貨量名列前三名的新聞

最近一年來，ECS想要重新經營台灣市場，小弟希望它們可以為市場帶來更價廉物美的產品。



首先看到產品外包裝，由於mini-ITX規格的產品，外包裝體積也小巧許多

藍與黑兩種顏色搭配，外觀美工與包裝質感都還算不錯





內附的配件

產品說明書、快速安裝手冊、MB驅動光碟、IO檔板與線材





ECS H55H-I本體

主要部份使用固態電容，其它都使用電解電容





綠色PCB在消費市場比較少見，若能改成黑色PCB，相信質感會更佳





1 X PCI-E X16，提供安裝VGA做3D效能擴充

Realtek ALC892音效晶片，支援8聲道與High Definition Audio技術





4 X 橘色SATAII，Intel H55晶片組並沒有提供RAID功能

24PIN 電源輸入，紅色為Clear CMOS Jump





2 X DIMM DDR3，支援1066/1333，DDR3容量最高可以支援到8GB





IO

6 X USB 2.0

1 X eSATA

1 X S/PDIF 光纖/同軸輸出

1 X RJ-45網路孔

1 X D-SUB

1 X DVI

1 X HDMI





LGA 1156 CPU安裝腳座，CPU供電為3相





黑色散熱片下方為H55晶片，左上為4PIN電源輸入處







BIOS主要畫面





M.I.B II主要為調效時脈與電壓的功能頁面





CPU.CPU VTT.DRAM Voltage最高都是加到0.63V





DRAM選項800/1066/1333/1600

因為i3/i5CPU支援度不同，只能使用DDR3 1066或1333





PC Health Status





以ITX MB來說，ECS在此款產品的BIOS選項相當豐富，該有的超頻選項都有打開，讓使用者可以任意地調整。

超頻能力也不會比一般ATX/MATX的H55弱，內建IGP的狀況下，CPU還可以OC到180MHz穩定的水準



測試平台

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core G6950

MB: ECS H55H-I

DRAM: CORSAIR CMD8GX3M4A1600C8

VGA: Intel Clarkdale 533MHz

HD: Intel X25-V 40GB

POWER: be quiet! STRAIGHT POWER DELUXE 400W

Cooler: Intel Cooler

OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit





CPU使用Intel Pentium Dual Core G6950，目前最入門的32nm CPU

核心代號為Clarkdale，時脈2.80GHz、L2 2 x 256KB與L3 3MB的規格





預設值測試

CPU 133 X 21 => 2893.3MHz

DDR3 1064 CL6 6-6-18 1T

IGP 533MHz



Hyper 2 X PI 32M=> 15m 02.414s

CPUMARK 99=> 430





Nuclearus Multi Core => 10050

Fritz Chess Benchmark => 8.00/3840





CrystalMark 2004R3 => 108881





CINEBENCH R11.5

CPU => 1.76 pts

CPU(Single Core) => 0.91 pts





PCMark Vantage => 7268





這樣的效能當然比起常見的LGA 775 Atom架構要強上許多

Intel G6950雖然是最入門的產品，但因為新架構有高時脈與L3的加持

在CPU效能也比起大多數中階ITX會使用Core 2 Duo平台還要好上一點。



3D效能

3DMARK2006 => 1301





StreetFighter IV Benchmark

800 X 600 => 20.41FPS





G6950的GPU時脈為533MHz，會比其他32nm Clarkdale的733MHz低上一些

不過G6950在3D上的效能表現比前代的G4X系列較優秀



溫度測試

系統待機時 - 31/36





Intel Burn Test v2.4 - 57/59

Stress Level Maximum





在室溫約25度的裸機環境中，全速時大約接近60度的水準，這樣的溫度表現還算不錯



耗電量測試

系統待機時 - 38W





OCCT全速時 - 73W

Intel Burn Test v2.4，Stress Level Maximum





耗電量表現是32nm CPU自豪的地方，CPU全速運作時也只有73W

希望未來可以早點看到Intel把32nm CPU可以運用在4 Cores上



DRAM頻寬效能

DDR3 1064 CL6 6-6-18 1T

Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 9097MB/s

EVEREST Memory Read - 7614MB/s





DDR3 1444 CL7 7-7-21 1T

Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 12742MB/s

EVEREST Memory Read - 10210MB/s





因為內建IGP的Clarkdale平台在DDR3效能表現並沒有高階i5/i7 CPU那麼高

與自家LGA 775與對手AM3這三個平台的DRAM頻寬來說，Clarkdale頻寬表現還是較高一點

新架構在電壓表現方面也比以往舊平台好，DDR3電壓往往只需要1.5~1.7V左右就可以使用。



HDD測試

搭配Intel推出的平價版SSD，X25-V 40GB





背面外殼若可以做拋光處理，相信質感會加分不少





HD Tune Pro 4.01 Benchmark

Average 195.2 MB/s，Access Time 0.1ms

CrystalDiskMark讀取190.3 Mb/s，寫入43.47 MB/s

ATTO DISK Benchmark超過128k以上測試時就可以發揮到最高讀取196 MB/s，寫入43 MB/s





EVEREST Read Test Suite Randon Read 281.3 MB/s

FDEBENCH測試得到讀取187.2 Mb/s，寫入42.8 MB/s





X25-V官方規格是170/35 MB/s，在H55晶片組測試中大部份都有達到190/40 MB/s以上的水準

Value版的X25-V SSD最大優勢是組RAID 0效能幾乎加倍，價位也與單買一顆X25-M 80GB差不多。



超頻效能測試

CPU 180.5 X 21 => 3790.4MHz

DDR3 1444 CL7 7-7-21 1T

IGP 533MHz



Hyper 2 X PI 32M=> 11m 11.456s

CPUMARK 99=> 585





Nuclearus Multi Core => 13572

Fritz Chess Benchmark => 10.79/5179





CrystalMark 2004R3 => 134258





CINEBENCH R11.5

CPU => 2.40 pts

CPU(Single Core) => 1.23 pts





超頻過後，CPU的效能測試大約提高2~3成的效能，電壓也只有使用1.212V

以原廠散熱器來說，Dual Core搭配32nm CPU的超頻能力都很高，外頻想拉到180MHZ以上就需要使用外接VGA

先前使用過的其他H55 MB，內建IGP來OC大約在170~175MHz以上就無法開機，ECS在H55H-I的超頻能力很不錯。



溫度測試

系統待機時 - 37/41





Intel Burn Test v2.4 - 70/72

Stress Level Maximum





超頻3790MHz時，搭配原廠散熱器全速時大約在72度的水準

待機與全速溫度都比不超頻高約5~10度左右的範圍



耗電量測試

系統待機時 - 49W





OCCT全速時 - 100W

Intel Burn Test v2.4，Stress Level Maximum





超頻前後做耗電量比較，CPU待機時約11W、CPU全速運作也只有73W

希望未來可以早點看到Intel能把32nm CPU運用在4 Cores上，讓更低溫更低耗電的CPU越早普及在市場上。



ECS H55H-I

優點

1.外包裝配色讓產品看起來質感加分

2.ITX MB中少見配有豐富的BIOS選項，電壓範圍大、外頻與可以調整範圍很廣

3.CPU在內建IGP狀況下，可以OC到180MHz，比許多ATX或M-ATX H55超得還高

4.使用H55晶片組，在CPU支援度較新，可以拉高ITX平台整體效能

5.價位約台幣3600元，以往ITX MB價位都偏高來說，此款C/P值還算不錯



缺點

1.PCB若換成黑色，外觀質感會更佳

2.改用全固態電容可以讓消費者對品質更加信賴

3.CPU-Z或EVEREST還無法抓到H55H-I正確的CPU電壓







效能比 ★★★★★★★★★☆

用料比 ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

規格比 ★★★★★★★★☆☆

外觀比 ★★★★★★★★☆☆

性價比 ★★★★★★★★☆☆



有關CPU方面，Intel Pentium G6950承襲Core i7的高階架構，雖然只有Dual Core與L3 3MB的規格

效能上並不會比Core 2 Duo的CPU遜色，32nm CPU也讓超頻範圍有所提升，也讓溫度與耗電量有效下降

更重要的是在IGP的平台搭配上，32nm CPU擁有較佳的效能，也有更好的C/P值

在Core i5等級的32nm 目前價位還有些略高，未來如果價位能往下調整，消費者更能輕鬆購入高效能的HTPC平台。



今年初因為H55晶片組的推出，替換上一代的Intel G4X晶片組產品，讓PC平台在整體3D效能可以再往上提升

目前在市場上看來，H55在M-ATX規格上普及率很高，各家MB廠也紛紛推出多款H55 MB的產品

ITX MB以往的價位印象，入門版本都落在台幣4500元以上，折合美金約143元以上，價位事實上並不便宜

工業ACP等級的ITX MB主打用料高階，如果是搭配GM45晶片，價位上更是高達300美金以上

ITX產品價位普遍比ATX/M-ATX高上許多，ITX幾乎都走價格較高的路線。



ECS的H55H-I遵循一般消費市場的路線，推出此款mini-ITX規格的H55 MB，所以在價位上比較有利

又因採用Intel最新款的IGP晶片組，BIOS開出常見的超頻選項與不輸其他大尺寸H55 MB的超頻能力等等優勢

如果ECS能在用料上更加提升，相信可以提供消費者多一個平價又有高效能的MB品牌來選擇 :)

Evaluation of be quiet! Straight Power E7 CM 680W (80+ Bronze Certified)

be quiet! has made 2 revisions out of its own product line for the past 6 months,
respectively upgrading Straight Power Series into “Deluxe” version (coded as E6/non CM),
and upgrading Straight Power Series recently into CM version (coded as E7).
Therefore, you’ll find E6 and E7 versions of Straight Power series on the market.
The major difference between these two versions is whether it has CM or not.

be quiet! Straight Power E7 CM (Cable Management) has 3 wattages for you to choose from, 480, 580 and 680W.
This wattage range covers the wattage commonly required by most of the users.
In addition, all of them are 80Plus Bronze certified.

The efficiency test result of E7 680W’s 20/50/100% loading listed in 80Plus website is 85.84/86.86/83.05% respectively.
The test result looks quite satisfying. 80+ Bronze could be considered as an index of middle-high level power supplies.

Here is our start - Straight Power E7 CM 680W
There is no jaguar image as be quiet! usually would put on their color box this time.
Through the simpler color combination, the color box looks of even more quality.


Accessories
Multi-language User Manual, CM Cable Kit, Cable Tie, Screws, Power Cord


Straight Power E7 680W Dimensions 160mm X 150mm X 86mm
The case is coated in titanium gray, making it quite different from black cases commonly seen.


The sand texture surface of the case is finger-print proof and the appearance of the heat sink is also a great feature of the product.   


CM Cables
1 X 12V P8
2 X 6 Pin VGA
2 X 6+2 Pin VGA
8 X HDD
7 X SATA
2 X FDD




Connectors from inside of E7 680W
1 X 24/20 Pin
1 X 12V P4
2 X Fan connectors


12cm FDB fan with black symmetric grill-like fan guard is adopted into this series.
The fan guard does look like BBQ grill, ……anyway, quite a special design.
E7 series is integrated with a FDB fan, developed by be quiet!, which has a MTBF of 300,000 Hrs and a super low noise level down to 17dBA.


The rear end of the PSU is equipped with the commonly seen ventilation holes in honeycomb shape.
Active PFC, applicable in 110~240Vac


CM connection sockets
A sticker is pasted stating the name/function of each socket so that end users could avoid mistaken connections.
There are also 3 rows of ventilations holes beneath for enhancing overall cooling mechanism.



Spec of Straight Power E7 CM 680W; Model Name: BQT E7-CM-680W
+12V*4, with a combined current of 52A and a combined output wattage of 624W


Silient Wings, a FDB fan designed by be quiet!, is also specially integrated into E7 series.


The M/B used in this test is GIGABYTE P55A-UD5, a middle-high spec among LGA 1156 sockets.
Through my recent experience, I found out when LGA 1156 was under overclocking mode, it would demand quite a high consumption of +12V.


UD5 is integrated with USB3.0 and the latest MB technology.


Test Platform
CPU: Intel Core i7-870
MB: GIGABYTE P55A-UD5
DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT CMG4GX3M2A2000C8
VGA: GIGABYTE GTX260 OC SLI
HD: CORSAIR CMFSSD-128GBG2D RAID0
POWER: be quiet! Straight Power E7 CM 680W
Cooler: Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit


OS system defaults
CPU 200 X 20 => 4000Mhz
DARM DDR3 2000 CL8 8-8-24 1T


OCCT V3.1.0
POWER SUPPLY mode, Shader Complexity 8


What above is the test platform used in this test. In order to display the status of power consumption during the test,
the consumption data would be obtained from the measurement made by “Power Angle”.

Upon entering the desktop screen of OS system- 225~226W


Active PFC - 0.97~0.98


The test items for the Power Supply in OCCT
i7-870 OC 4GHz, a 4-core CPU with simulated full-loading 4-core HT and a physical speeding up from GTX260 - 681~727W。

Running power supply test item in OCCT
i7-870 OC 4GHz, quad physical cores and quad HT virtual cores run in full speed plus GTX260 SLI 2WAY and GTX260 PhysX - 681~727W



Active PFC - 0.99~1.00


The measurement data outputted by Power Angel is only for reference, since its accuracy level is not that high.
Though 3WAY SLI couldn’t be applied to reach an utmost 3D efficiency and hence put the system under a full loading condition during the test,
still, I got an utmost consumption value, 727W, from this test, which could also be considered as a middle/high loading test for 680W.

OCCT test result
CPU temperature fluctuation


System temperature fluctuation


CPU voltage fluctuation
While in standby mode, it was around 1.38V; during full-speed operation, it was around 1.38~1.41V.
The fluctuation range of CPU’s voltage is majorly related to the voltage characteristic of M/B.


3.3V
The utmost value measured was 3.34V; the fluctuation majorly lied in the range of 3.28~3.3V.
The fluctuation rate was around 1.80%.
3.3V


5V
It was around 4.95~5.03V. The fluctuation rate was around 1.59%.


12V
The utmost value measured was 12.48V, majorly covering the rage of 12.03~12.10V. The fluctuation rate was around 3.6%.  


The voltage fluctuation rates of Straight Power E7 680W’s 3.3V & 12V were both under 1.8%, which is considered quite a satisfying number.
The fluctuation of 12V started to become less stable after OCCT operated over 10 minutes.
The rate was around 3.6%, a larger fluctuation rate than any other voltages tested. However,
this fluctuation rate still lied inside the range of +-5% required by Intel.
Also, the voltage measured for 12V was not actually the real voltage value.

Here, we used a multimeter for a more accurate result.
While in standby mode, 5Vwas around 5.07V, still a bit higher than that measured by M/B.


While OCCT was operating at full-speed, 5V was around 5.07~5.0V, making almost no difference from that measured in standby mode.  


While in standby mode, 12 was around 12.13V, a bit lower than 12.43V measured by M/B.



While OCCT was operating at full speed,
12V was around 11.92~11.93V; 0,20V lower than it was in standby mode.


With the application of the multimeter, the voltage fluctuation of 5V at full speed was only 0.02V and 12V was only 0.20V.
Both of these two values were much better than those measured by M/B in OCCT operation.
Though the fluctuation rate of 12V in OCCT operation was 3.6%, it was actually only 1.60% measured by multimeter, apparently a lot better.

Conclusion:
Advantages:
1, the color box of Straight Power E7’s latest version is a lot more attractive
2, special case coating and fan guard design
3, 80Plus Bronze certified; equipped with APFC circuit
4, all capacitors are Japanese, and noise level is only 17dBA
5, 5-year warranty, free to exchange for a new one within 540days if malfunction happens, and free NG PSU collection and delivery within 3 years.

Disadvantages:
1, the fluctuation range of 12V still leaves room for improvement
2, it would be better if 12V is changed into single rail




Efficiency  ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Material    ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Spec.      ★★★★★★★★★☆
Appearance ★★★★★★★★★☆
C/P        ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Upon my first glance at Straight Power E7, I could tell it was quite a special product.
Its appearance and fan design both greatly differentiate it from other ordinary looking power supplies.
Also, in other points you could also see how hard be quiet! has tried to differentiate it from other PSU,
such as the external fan connectors that allows more silence for the system, honeycomb ventilation holes on both sides of the case, scratch-proof case,
and the rounding of case sharp corners that could prevent users from being hurt, etc.

During the system test, E7 CM 680W was very quiet in both standby and full-speed modes; hardly could you hear any noise.
The temperature measured from its surface was around 45~50℃.
The stability of 3.3V & 5V is relatively higher than that of 12V.
Though after voltage fluctuation of 12V was more accurately measured by a multimeter,
the fluctuation rate was proved 50% less than that measured by M/B, still there is room for improvement of 12V’s stability.

The market price range of be quiet! Straight Power E7 680W is around 5990NTD, roughly equal to 186USD,
making it neither an expensive nor an inexpensive PSU on the market.
Though the quality is good and the materials used are of high quality, personally, I think if the price could be lowered a bit, it would be even better.
At least, a lowered price would allow end users who are interested in this product more possibility to purchase this product. : )