Hi, after looking at a Kaleidescape installation, I decided I wanted to create a player similar what they have. It's a small box that uses the network as it's feed. I want to put several in my home and and make various media available over my network. I pretty much know how i want to do it but am stuck on one point - HD output (720p, 1080p).

In a nutshell, I want to build a mini-ITX based linux (ubuntu, probably) system and, if at all possible, go fanless. I particularly am interested in the EPIA en or ex (when it ships) motherboards but have been reading posts that the unichrome stuff doesn't do greater than 1024 pixels wide. this basically sucks since 720p needs 1280 to do justice to wide screen formats. First off, if that isn't true, I'd love to hear that from you all. Is it just driver issues?

Secondly, are there any miniITX boards that support decent 720p and 1080p? I think the aopen I945GMt (I think that's the name) will work but it isn't fanless, best I can tell. I believe that's the mobo in the miniPC. Anyone have other mobo suggestions?

Anyway, thanks for reading this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813202004

Not cheap though. I don't think any epia board would work without full mpeg-2 decoding.

that is one stunningly expensive board. everything but the kitchen sink. kind of cool though. I didn't see DVI add on card, probably missed it, though.

No boards do full mpeg2 but the epia chrome stuff has a nice little accelerator in the C700 version (EPIA EN, I think). problem is that accelerator only supports up to 1024x1024 which rules out even 720p. Supposedly the CX700 on the EPIA EX series does 2048x2048 MPEG2 acceleration so it could do 1080p. rockin! no linux drivers yet, though. not.rockin...

so, either I wait or live with a larger form factor with a fast enough processor to do mpeg in sw. I'm protoyping on an old AX system so I can afford to wait a bit.

HD output (720p, 1080p).

In a nutshell, I want to build a mini-ITX based linux (ubuntu, probably) system and, if at all possible, go fanless. I particularly am interested in the EPIA en or ex (when it ships) motherboards but have been reading posts that the unichrome stuff doesn't do greater than 1024 pixels wide. this basically sucks since 720p needs 1280 to do justice to wide screen formats. First off, if that isn't true, I'd love to hear that from you all. Is it just driver issues?Nope. The Unicrhome in the CN700 is a step backwards.

Secondly, are there any miniITX boards that support decent 720p and 1080p? I think the aopen I945GMt (I think that's the name) will work but it isn't fanless, best I can tell. I believe that's the mobo in the miniPC. Anyone have other mobo suggestions?Other then some Intel based boards, or the few that also have an PCIe x16 slot for adding a third party adaptor, you could look into the sp8000. The Unichrome in the CN400 is capable of HDTV. How reliable is another question -- I've seen some report no problems, and others say they have problems. Browse the openChrome m/l for examples ... you might want to check the mythtv list as well.

That said, I'd wait on the EX boards (or equivalents with the CX700M2 chipset) -- preliminary reports sound promising.

However, you might want to redefine what you exactly mean by HD ... are you content with HDTV sources or are you aiming higher for support for next gen HD formats too? I touch upon this in my posts starting here ( http://www.epiacenter.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10759#10759)
Supposedly the CX700 on the EPIA EX series does 2048x2048 MPEG2 acceleration so it could do 1080p Out of curiosity, where did you read about the frame size (I haven't seen anything as of yet)

I wanna love these things but I just can't (over and over again!) due to cost vs. limitations. It seems that there's always some catch with these little MBs regardless of the fact that you're getting gouged with pricing for the thing itself and peripherals. I WILL pay more but heck, make it compelling. At this point, I'd rather go bigger with a mATX board and have some flexibility for expansion with a big quiet fan. Be it whacked chipsets or very specific needs for video acceleration, I just can't justify it.

-Trouble

Still doesn't answer your question, but:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813170012

At least it has DVI. And supports Turion mobile CPUs. And is slightly less stunningly expensive.

Nope. The Unicrhome in the CN700 is a step backwards.
...
That said, I'd wait on the EX boards (or equivalents with the CX700M2 chipset) -- preliminary reports sound promising.

Yup, that's basically what I'm doing. while I'm waiting, I'm cobbling together a kaleidescape-like system. Note that EX is currently available but the issue is Linux drivers.


However, you might want to redefine what you exactly mean by HD ... are you content with HDTV sources or are you aiming higher for support for next gen HD formats too? I touch upon this in my posts starting here ( http://www.epiacenter.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10759#10759)
Out of curiosity, where did you read about the frame size (I haven't seen anything as of yet)

hmmm, good point. To be clear, I want 1080p and 720p. plus anything lower than that, which should be a walk in the park...

frame size 2Kx2K - I don't recall where I saw it and my history buffer long ago got flushed so I'm kicking myself for not bookmarking. It was in an epia discussion forum somewhere. I'm pretty sure I didn't dream it.

I touch upon this in my posts starting here ( http://www.epiacenter.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10759#10759)

Yes, I had read that thread early on in my explorations. IMO, 1440x1080p isn't truly 1080p though I guess you could take the 4x3 image and display it in "wide mode" for a 16x9 AR. kind of cheating...

frame size 2Kx2K - I don't recall where I saw it and my history buffer long ago got flushed so I'm kicking myself for not bookmarking. It was in an epia discussion forum somewhere. I'm pretty sure I didn't dream it.no worries. thanks (forgot to reply earlier)