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Intel 5x5. Photo by Matthew Murray

For years, mini-ITX has been the smallest mainstream system form factor that enthusiasts could reasonably buy. Intel wants to alter that with its new 5×five initiative, and it's offer the new platform with socketed CPUs rather than relying solely on soldered parts. This could prove a potent selling point, since soldered systems are ofttimes less bonny to customers who want the selection to upgrade the integrated CPU.

Despite the 5×five name, the board is more like five.v by 5.eight inches (HW), but it packs a number of features. The board is capable of handling up to 65W TDP fries, with 2 SO-DIMM slots for memory, M.2 support for storage, and both wired and wireless networking options. The 5×5 can also utilise an external DC power supply. Intel says the mounting holes are "standard," which implies that they conform to existing hardware mounts, merely we oasis't seen hardware however to verify exactly which cases will be able to mount a 5×v board.

Socket support, higher TDPs improve value proposition

If yous consider Intel'due south five×5 in the context of Skylake'south increased graphics performance, the offering makes more sense. Intel's GPU functioning has been growing essentially faster than its CPU operation, merely that's not much of a benefit in a soldered organisation without PCI-Express slots. With Skylake, Intel is continuing to button the graphics envelope — and socketed systems theoretically offer lower-end gamers the power to buy a CPU today and upgrade later to a higher-performance GPU.

Intel5x5

The reason that gain is theoretical, however, is that Intel doesn't exactly have a great track record when it comes to supporting multiple generations of processor on the same platform. It'due south not clear still if current Skylake motherboards will support Kaby Lake, the 14nm refresh at present scheduled for 2022. A solution similar this would be more exciting if we knew that Intel would offer multiple products with improved graphics performance integrated into each core — specially if those parts would fit into a 65W TDP.

The 5×v probably won't revolutionize small organization pattern — Intel NUCs and the existing mini-ITX standard make full the low-power market fairly well — but the power to upgrade to a faster socketed processor in the miniature form factor could sell some living room computer enthusiasts on Skylake as a Steam Box processor. Intel claims that the smallest arrangement course factors volition fit into 0.85L worth of volume, which should permit it skid inconspicuously into a living room or entertainment system.