ASRock unveiled what it says are the world’s first Mini-STX motherboard and mini-PC, based on 6th Gen Intel Core (“Skylake”) processors, up to 65W TDP.

ASRock was among a handful companies to announce Mini-ITX form factor motherboards based on Intel’s 6th Gen Core (Skylake) last August, a month prior to Intel’s formal Skylake processor rollout at IDF 2015. Now, ASRock is leading the pack with its demonstration of what it calls the “world’s first Mini-STX” motherboard and mini-PC.

ASRock’s “H110M-STX” motherboard complies with the “5×5” form factor standard that Intel announced last summer. The 5×5 format — which is now starting to be called “Mini-STX” — is basically a downsized alternative to the highly popular Mini-ITX format. With a 147 x 140mm footprint that’s 29 percent smaller than Mini-ITX’s 170 x 170mm size, Intel claims 5×5 (Mini-STX) to be the world’s “smallest socketed board standard.”

ASRock H110M-STX motherboard
(click image to enlarge)

Like Mini-ITX, Mini-STX supports LGA-socketed processors, including Intel Celeron and Core i3, i5 and i7 chips with TDPs ranging from 35W to 65W. Unlike Mini-ITX, Mini-STX can be powered directly from DC; and like NUC boards it supports dual-channel SODIMM RAM. It’s also designed primarily for thin M.2 SSDs common on NUCs, although 2.5-inch drives are also supportable provided they fit within the Mini-STX spec’s Z-height restrictions. Additionally, unlike Mini-ITX but like NUC, Mini-STX supports full-sized PCIe expansion slots.

ASRock’s HM110M-STX Mini-STX board has an LGA-1151 processor socket that supports Intel’s S-Series Skylake processors. However, although the S-Series chips come in 35W, 65W, and 95W TDP varieties, the ASRock Mini-STX board tops out at the 65W level. (Sorry, gamers!)

Features and specifications listed by ASRock for the H110M-STX board include:

• Processor — socket LGA1151-compatible 6th Generation Intel Core i7/i5/i3/Pentium/Celeron, up to 65W TDP; Intel H110 chipset
• Memory — 2x SODIMM sockets, for up to 32GB of DDR4 2133MHz RAM
• Storage — 2x SATA 3, 1x M.2 SSD (supports M.2 SATA3)
• Networking — Gigabit LAN (Intel I219V)
• Graphics:
  • Intel HD Graphics (implemented by H110 chipset)
  • Video outputs — 1x VGA, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
• Other I/O:
  • 4x USB 3.0 (coastline)
  • 2x USB 2.0 (headers)
  • 1x COM port (header)
  • Audio in/out (Realtek ALC283 codec)
• Other features — TPM 2.0 (optional); chassis intrusion protection
• Operating temperature — unspecified
• Cooling — supports Intel LGA-1151 box fan
• Dimensions — Mini-STX (presumably 5×5-compatible, at 147 x 140mm)
• Power — unspecified (supports up to 65W TDP processors)

Although ASRock has not specified the board’s OS support, it’s a safe bet that it can be operated with all currently popular Linux and Windows versions.

ASRock will also be offering a Mini-STX mini-PC based on the H110M-STX motherboard. The “H110M-STX Mini PC” measures 155 x 155 x 80mm, and accommodates a single internal 2.5-inch HDD or flash drive. It also hahs two M.2 slots, where you can add SSD, WiFi/Bluetooth modules, or other M.2 options.

ASRock H110M-STX Mini-STX mini-PC
(click images to enlarge)

ASRock’s Mini-STX Mini PC cools its 6th Gen Core processor with a standard Intel LGA-1151 box fan, and supports 0 to 50°C ambient operation.

 
Further information

ASRock has not said when the HM110M-STX motherboard or mini-PC will ship, and has not disclosed pricing at this point. Further details may be found in a post on ASRock’s blog.