Dell Zino HD - New mini HTPC - Page 8

Originally Posted by lawlen2

Hi, I have a Shuttle X100 as my htpc, currently. I can't play 1080p due to the ati x1400 video card that it now uses. Is the 4330 in the zino a MXM II card? I use two WinTv usb 950q as my two tuners. Can I use them on a Zino with an external usb hub? I ask because of the IR and bluetooth usb devices I use for the remote and the keyboard-mouse.

Originally Posted by epete

Java Jack - Not sure if I saw the question here or in TGB, but someone asked if the Zino HD would work with the ATI Digital Cable Wonder. I am now leaning towards two of these (6850e CPU + 4330 GPU + Windows 7 upgrade). My goal is to upgrade my main machine with an internal multistreaming card (when available) and than take the two ATI DCT's that I have and connect one to each so that it can have live TV functionality.

Do you have any way to test with the DCT?

Originally Posted by emacs

the Zino HD does look intriguing. although lossy 5.1 across HDMI is a nice touch i'm keen to see whether the dual-core Neo is sufficient (without hardware assist from the 4330) to playback 1080p content.

Originally Posted by jeffkro

Even the base model comes with good hd hardware acceleration, so why do you need the neo to be fully capable on its own? The stickler with most of these low power machines has been playing adobe flash HD content.

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I'm still not sure whether the Intel CULV processors are soldered or not so aside from the seemingly OEM-only availability, that's another catch for DIYers.

However, the GS45 chipset paired with the CULV processors can certainly support dedicated graphics. Needless to say, that tends to increase costs. The ASUS UL80VT & UL50VT both have NVIDIA G210M graphics cards. You can switch between the integrated Intel 4500MHD for longer battery life or the NVIDIA G210M for faster performance. It also has an overclock feature (Turbo Boost) that allows both cores of the SU7300 to go up to 1.7GHz or a single core to 2+GHz. The HP dm3t has the option to upgrade to an NVIDIA G105M. In both cases, you just have to pay for the privilege as the laptops end up costing around double the price of a cheapie Acer or Gateway CULV.

Also, it should be noted that Intel's CULV processors are not cheap. The 1Ku cost of the Celeron SU2300 is $134 and the GS45 chipset is $53. I'm actually amazed that Acer's AS1410 only costs $400. Dell's Inspiron 11z starts at $449 and that model only has a single-core Celeron 743 which should be roughly equivalent to the base Zino HD's Athlon 2650e. The only thing detracting from the Zino HD's appeal is the $40 shipping charge. I think the upgrades most people are considering are:
Windows 7 HP +30
3250e +60
6850e +110
HD4330 +75

Those bring up the cost of the unit to $319~$444 making the shipping charge an extra 9~12% increase.

Originally Posted by candre23

They're soldered on. All the CULV processors use the BGA956 package, which as the name implies, is a BGA arrangement.

Originally Posted by jeffkro

Amd is talking about putting the cpu and gpu all on one piece of silicon with "bulldozer," but not until 2011. Thats when things will really get good for us HTPC guys. I believe Intel is on about the same time schedule with their sand-something.

Originally Posted by candre23

That's good news. It certainly puts the Zino head and shoulders above any of the ION nettop offerings.

Originally Posted by Java Jack

I was thinking about that the other day. I think I may use this for a series of blogs on XBMC, Boxee, and a Myth TV or Sage TV implementation. Not sure if it will be one blog or a few...I know that people have been doing stuff like that with the Mac Mini, it would be interesting to see how well those might work on the Zino HD.

Originally Posted by Java Jack

Yes, the 4330 version is an MXM card that is plugged into the bottom side of the mobo.

I don't see any reason why you would not be able to use your 2 tuners, however, I did not test with a usb hub. I would fully expect it to work though.

Originally Posted by jalyst

Mmmm MXM....

Is anything soldered down in the Zino like apple have now 'suckily' done to Mini's or are you free to swap most stuff out?

Originally Posted by candre23

$444 (6850e CPU + 4330 GPU upgrade) - 1080p h.264 blu-ray rip / MKV playback, 720p streaming flash video, 7.1 LPCM and 5.1 AC3/DTS over HDMI

Originally Posted by candre23

That's good news. It certainly puts the Zino head and shoulders above any of the ION nettop offerings.

For those looking to equate pricing with capabilities, it breaks down like this:

$289 (3250e CPU upgrade) - 1080p h.264 blu-ray rip / MKV playback, 480p streaming flash video, 5.1 AC3/DTS over HDMI

$339 (6850e CPU upgrade) - 1080p h.264 blu-ray rip / MKV playback, 720p streaming flash video, 5.1 AC3/DTS over HDMI

$364 (3250e CPU + 4330 GPU upgrade) - 1080p h.264 blu-ray rip / MKV playback, 480p streaming flash video, 7.1 LPCM and 5.1 AC3/DTS over HDMI

$414 (6850e CPU + 4330 GPU upgrade) - 1080p h.264 blu-ray rip / MKV playback, 720p streaming flash video, 7.1 LPCM and 5.1 AC3/DTS over HDMI

Add $100 to any configuration for an actual blu-ray drive.

Originally Posted by STL

The value doesn't seem very impressive to me. One can get an Acer AS1410-2285 that I understand will do everything you listed above -- except for maybe the 7.1 sound (which is highly overrated) -- for just $400, and with it you also get the additional functionality of a notebook.

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Not comparable. For one thing, the 6850e is a better processor. Needless to say, the 4330 is also better. Config that most resembles the AS1410-2285 costs $319 (3250e+Win 7 upgrade).

Originally Posted by chambemd

Sorry for bringing this back up again, but I'm hoping to pull the trigger on this one today :-)

We're sure that the 6850 with the bult in video option definitely provides 5.1 audio over HDMI? I know the 4330 won't make a difference with the 720p flash streaming and just want to confirm I don't need it for normal 5.1...

Originally Posted by epete

I am now wondering how the 6850e CPU + 4330 GPU + Windows 7 upgrade version compares to renethx's Mini-ITX.

Similar in price but renethx's system is customized with HTPC specifically in mind. I can live without any DVD or Blu Ray Drives as my main system is used to rip to my library. Just a bit more expensive as I will have to purchase W7, but maybe better in the ling run.


Intel/NVIDIA

System

CPU: Pentium Dual-Core E5300 2.60GHz 2MB L2 LGA775, $64.
CPU Cooler: SilverStone NT07-775, $20.
Motherboard: ZOTAC GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi GF9300-D-E LGA775 GeForce 9300 mGPU Mini-ITX, $140.
Memory: A-DATA ADQVE1A16K DDR2-800 2 x 1GB Kit, $32.
Graphics Card: GeForce 9300 (integrated in the chipset), $0.
HDD: Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB SATA 3.0Gbps, $70.
PSU: ATX12V 250W SFX PSU (included in the case): $0.
Case: Apex MI-008 Mini-ITX, $40. An alternative is Apex MI-100BK Mini-ITX, $48.
Total Cost: $366

Originally Posted by jeffkro

The E5300 will obviously spank the neo X2. Not exactly a fair comparison.

Originally Posted by epete

Well, the comparison is that they are both small form factor and similar price range. I find it dificult rank microprocessors, especially when one is intel and the other is AMD, so I thank you for pointing that out.

Originally Posted by epete

Well, the comparison is that they are both small form factor and similar price range. I find it dificult rank microprocessors, especially when one is intel and the other is AMD, so I thank you for pointing that out.

I think the NVDIA seems to have less documented issues and the GeForce9300 may also play better than the Radion 4330.

Originally Posted by Kevenz

When will be possible to buy the Zino HD in canada? dell.ca doesn't list them.

Or is there anything similar to the Zino in canada? I'm noob in the HTPC genre.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Java Jack

The 9300 is on par performance wise as our RS780 chipset.

The 4330 will outperform the 9300 is most benchmarks.

Originally Posted by Java Jack

The 9300 is on par performance wise as our RS780 chipset.