Albatron's KI51PV-754 motherboard

THE MINI-ITX FORM FACTOR'S diminutive 17 cm x 17 cm dimensions allow it to squeeze into exotic, small chassis that make Shuttle's XPC systems look portly, but this form factor hasn't exactly caught on among PC enthusiasts. Processor horsepower has always been a problem, and while it would be unfair to expect the performance of a six-liter V8 from a two-door hatchback, you want more than a one-liter four banger under the hood.

Unfortunately, the Mini-ITX world is littered with four bangers, lawn mower engines, and even a few golf cart power plants. VIA's EPIA boards dominate the scene, and they all sport relatively slow processors that can't be upgraded or replaced. Mini-ITX boards with sockets that can accommodate real horsepower are few and far between, and often only available from industrial specialists that don't cater to enthusiasts.

That is until Albatron stepped into the Mini-ITX market.

Albatron's new KI51PV-754 uniquely blends GeForce graphics, nForce core logic, and support for Turion and Athlon 64 processors on a Mini-ITX motherboard. Read on to see if that combination makes this board a hot hatch like the Audi S3 or something that more closely resembles a Yugo.