We already have among us the first two models of fanless motherboards with Intel Gemini Lake new generation processor, as could not be otherwise this models come from the ASRock brand and for now have two versions ASRock J4105-ITX and ASRock J4105B-ITX. Two motherboards that bring us the new functions of these processors in its desktop version and a design similar to previous products of this brand who has great experience in this kind of passive hardware.
In the two new passive ASRock Gemini Lake boards we find the Intel Celeron J4105 Quad Core processor that works between 1.5 and 2.5 GHz with 4 MB of Cache and has a consumption of 10W TPD, supports up to 8 GB of DDR4 RAM with 2400 MHz speeds working on Dual Channel. In the graphical section we have the Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU that reaches up to 750 MHz with support for video output 4K@60fps and hardware decoding for the HVEC and VP9 codec with 10bit color. At the level of communications as a novelty in the Gemini Late we have integrated a Gigabit Wifi adapter integrated into the SoC itself, so we only need to connect an Intel CNVi adapter in the M.2 slot, such as the Intel Wireless-AC 9560 module, that only carries the hardware part necessary for radio frequency.
The passive motherboard ASRock J4105-ITX at the design and connection level continues with the ASRock line in this range of products, we have the processor under a large aluminum heatsink in the central part, at its sides we can see the two sockets for SODIMM DDR4 / 2400 memory up to 8 GB, it has triple monitor support with HDMI 2.0 4K@60fps connectors with HDCP, DVI and VGA. At the level of connections we have four SATA 3 ports, one M.2 slot for the Wifi module, Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe 2.0 1x slot, we have 7.1 audio jack and optical audio output in a protected area of the board with capacitors for avoid noise with support HBR (High Bit Rate Audio), we have two USB 2.0 ports and as a novelty two other USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports up to 5Gbps. In the graphic BIOS we have ample support for remote power on, ACPI 5.0 protocol and protection circuits for overloads.
The passive ASRock J4105B-ITX board offers a similar configuration but eliminates the audio jack for 7.1 support and a USB 2.0 port, it also has two SATA 3 less connectors and does not have an M.2 slot. On the other hand is added external COM port that in the other model is only internal and parallel port, the video output is HDMI 1.4 so we only reach 4K@30fps and we have a slot 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16. A product as we see focused more on an industrial field where we need this type of connections. We hope to have these plates in our hands soon to make their corresponding review and put them to the test, soon they will be for sale and presumably they will maintain the prices of the current gen models.
