OFFICIAL ION 2 (Second-Generation ION) HTPC Nettop Thread - Page 4

I don't recall you posting here before, wasn't aware we were having a discussion.

considering this is your first post to the ion 2 forum, would be great to post something related to the ion 2. Seems more like your trolling

Aside from the fact that you are taking a shot at each one of us, you seem to be under the illusion that the Ion 2 is equal to or a step up from the Ion 330, which is not the case. For HTPC usage, it’s a step backwards, but considering you continue to discuss your revo 3610 I’m not clear if you even know the difference between the two.

There are difference in the programs and file formats, and how the CPU offloads video decoding to the GPU, so it is important to test the files to see if one plays better than another. And the last I checked there’s not a native OS that can play a BD disc or BD Iso mounted in a virtual drive, so applications like power dvd are necessary. Last I checked you can't play a BD/ BD ISO with XMBC either.

I'm open for any discussion, thay may help to improve the experience of the ion 2 and the NM10 chipset, as of now nvidia has not updated their latest driver for the lenovo Q150 and I like others, hope the update will provide a least an incremental improvement. Sure I jumped on board, as an early adopter, with out doing the due dilegence, but I would not call the discussion here complaints but more simply stating the facts of the ion 2. If you need an HTPC, I would agree the revo or anyother make with the Ion 330 and Ion graphics would be a better option if you would like to go the net top route.

Well said dbailey. "luvah" is just a troll and doesn't understand the wants of the users on this forum. He doesn't want bd iso, but I do.

In any event, nice response.

I'm very good at Linux As for the popbox comment, i wasnt posting that as a reply to you, more of "i dont even wanna hear that name" had 2 sent them back.

I'm no troll trust me and who says i dont want BD-ISO? i have many! what does that have to do with the price of tea in china? is this referring to my asking why use power dvd?? XMBC plays BD-ISO's and even a cheap O!player plays BD-ISO's why run windows and play your movies via power dvd which is just another windows app ..... again bringing back to the point, its either you want a HTPC or a COMPUTER with a big arse screen, which it seems thats what you all seem to be making and not really a true HTPC which does just that alone...

I posted because reading this thread and the consensus is the boxes mentioned cant do the job.. and they do them perfectly fine if you set it up properly... ie. not using it under on top of an OS. its why i said its either you want a HTPC or a Computer to surf.

All boxes mentioned at the beginning of this thread will do what you want and do it very well (unless your hogging it down with XP or windows 7) then thats your own fault as its not a HTPC anymore.

I am entitled to my oppinion as everyone else am i not? or is it because i dont have a million and one posts makes me stupid and a troll? Well sorry i rather read and learn and pick out the good from the BS before i post anything, and this thread is pure BS. how i know this? because even a eeebox eb1006 thats got an older processor, slower processor, less capable graphics card etc etc etc vs the computers talked about here can do the job running xbmc live. so these should have ZERO problems.

You say XBMC doesnt do BD iso... WEll NO IT DOESNT if your running it under windows!! its why i keep mentioning the live version, which DOES their is a plug in for it.

here is just one reference to it
http://bloggingabout.com/bluray-play...mc-plugin.html

so again its back to what do you want?!?! A Computer that can surf and play movies to a tv or you want a Dedicated computer that is solely for Movies/Music/Pictures (not surfing the net blah blah) thats the big difference! its either your hogging down the computer with windows trying to do it or Not hogging it down, thats the big difference.

this is an A/V forum so i would think people making anything on this site would be for Audio and Video! not a PC with full blown windows on it and then running seperate apps like Winamp to play mp3s and power DVD to play your iso's.. that defeats the purpose of the name HTPC. When you turn this thing on it should boot up AS A HTPC not into windows where you gotta use a mouse and operate a seperate application.

so Yes i do know exactly what people want on this forum, its just seems to me they dont know what they want themselves and going in an entire wrong direction trying to get it done.

ps yes i know the difference between the boxes listed here and the REvo 3610, but i also now mentioned a eeebox thats less capable than these listed that still runs it perfectly fine.

But hey i'm a troll and have under a 1000 posts so i know not what i do.

continue your topic i wount interject anymore.

B

i digress

I've been inspired by XMBCluvah, I'll give XMBC live go, and I've found some other useful links for those with some understanding of linux (this counts me out), seems there are some success stories, but it's not all fun and games.

Info on the Zotac
http://blog.insanegenius.com/2010/05...264-video.html

Info on the Q150
http://ossnotebook.blogspot.com/

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php...highlight=Q150

Luvah,

So, are you saying I can run bd isos with FULL menus using xmbc lite? If so, I'm interested, but I really want full menus/features.

I was only considering running under w7, but with a more powerful computer, to get full menu bd iso support, and netflix. I'll look into your options an see if this is possible.

Skro

I've been looking around, and so far the only way I have found to use xmbc Linux and view bd iso files is to use an external player. I'm confused. Has, as luvah states, the Linux version of xbmc advanced enough to handle bd iso without tmt3 etc (he said he uses a plugin, but not sure which one)?

True. I should take it there. Xbmcluvah just seemed so adamant the his way was the right way, I thought I'd ask a bit more.

I'm a bit disappointed with the ion2 (for netflix), but I think I'll just build a corei3 pc and keep windows.

Thanks.

Linux has come a long way, it installs just as easy if not easier than windows.

But this is beyond your worries anyways. I never said install Linux.. i said XMBC Live runs under Linux Kernel (its not the full blown OS, its just using its Kernel and engine to run XBMC).

in other words when you install XBMC Live, when you turn on the machine it doesnt go into any OS what so ever, it boots directly into XBMC OS (Which is Linux Kernel Driven) it overwrites whatever os is on your drive, be it linux or windows. (a huge drive is not necessary)

yes i get full menu's ect ect just as if you copy a regular dvd folder structure.

There are a couple plugins to get bd-iso menu's to work. Suggest you join up on XBMC.org forum, the guys there will be more than willing to help you out. if in the end you still cant get it what do you have left? still an awesome HTPC bar none.

Someone said XBMC lite... its LIVE you need to use.. XBMC Lite (remote) is an app for Smart Phones

PS HPMOON,

your referring to flash and problems with linux... simply the mention of Flash (which works perfectly fine in Linux, suggest if you never tried newer versions such as Ubuntu everythign works without even a taught)

as i was saying your mentioning flash, which means your still thinking OS install.. again XBMC LIVE does not run under any OS it has its own OS built in, its stand alone (linux ubuntu kernel)

This is why i believe everyones having these issues and misconceptions, stop thinking of XBMC as an application that runs under an OS.... XMBC Standard yes has a version for Windows, Mac and Linux.

XBMC Live = its own OS. it resides on its own on the hard drive with nothing else.. (if you MUST have an OS to surf) then make it dual boot. Windows or XBMC Live

You can download XBMC Live image file and put it on a Memory stick... Set your computer to boot from USB Device and when you turn on your computer again with memory stick in it, XBMC Live will be in your face, nothing else (for testing purposes, althought thats not the full blown thing with all the drives for all the hardware ect, but it certainly will play your movies even thru that)

hi

sorry but I dont have all the time to read the complete thread...

of the listed only the XS35 is fanless and unfortunately its 2.1 audio for a very steep price...

what is the next best option, I am intending to run a XBMC/Boxee system on a fanless and no moving parts (ie w/SSD) system...

at a minumum I am looking at a 5.1 audio over HDMI (linux)

G

Ok, this may answer one of my questions, so I can use the same USB drive to boot the XMBC live for the initial installation and then install back to the same usb drive is Ok? I don't have an external CD drive. I've been "trolling" the Xbmc forums, and started a couple of posts, some mention not to use the build 9.11, but another build, don't recall the name right off hand, but another guy did confirm the 9.11 build works fine for the q150.

And for others, there is discussion going on regarding the the IOn 2 in general on the xbmc fourms. Most folks are not as "direct" as our good friend luvah.

Ok, quick update, didn't have a lot of time this weekend, but I was able to create a bootable USB flash drive with XMBC Live, Q150 boots just find the crappy USB drive I have, but I could not access my network shares using wireless. I will post the question in the XMBC forums. I was able to play a BD rip, m2ts files, but I didn't have audio, but I later realized that I only included the 5.1 audio stream, and was playing directly to the TV, so that may be the issue, I ripped the file again to include 5 channel stero, but didn't have time to test.

On a side note, the Q150 has gotten a lot of usage now, I'd say close to 24 hours of uptime, and the fan, is making a not so good noise, and I'm not talking about "fan noise", sounds like the fan is on its way out noise. From what I can tell, I'll need to do a warranty claim with lenovo to get a new one.

If anyone else has has any luck with XMBC live on your ION 2 please post. I think it's a great Idea.

The HD shuttle model does have up to 7.1 audio by HDMI, there is models that don't have it but there is ones that do at newegg. Hope this helps people understand, as there is one reviewer on newegg saying it only supports 2.1 but that is just not true. I am waiting for the new Revo model announced back in May, I am hoping they show it at IFA this week! >

You can find some instructions here to load the latest nvidia drivers on the Q150, might work for other models aswell.

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/IdeaCent...0p/td-p/264557

Well here is the newest one, that I have been waiting for, LOTS of neat features, uses an AMD CPU but has ION2 so I think qualifies to be added to OP list! Should get more info this week at IFA in Germany! Definatly high on my list for my next system!!!!



http://translate.google.ca/translate...s:IE-SearchBox

You might like this guy too then, will be released this month (Sept), more kick than the current atom, and straped to the orgional Ion GPU, which has a better track record than the ion 2, I'm done beta testing, but I'd like to hear the results, I don't care about the form factor, but this may make a nice pasively cooled mother CPU, GPU, combo.
http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-zbox-z...e-mini-pc.html

Edit, this is an Ion one, just paired with a faster CPU, so maybe this should fall under a new thread, Ion, re-released.

If any one is interested, I've been playing around with the wireless on the Q150 and have made some conclusions. Max connection speed is 150MB/s for the built in, but after the first few minutes the connection drops to 30-50MB/s. I have a USB adapter that connects at 300MB/s, and then it drops off to around 120-180MB/s. Ok, so I was using a USB hub the other day, for some Flash drives. Well I plugged the USB wireless adapter in the USB Hub, and it maintains steady connection of 300MB/s. I can only assume that the heat being generated inside the case is affecting the wireless single or connectivity some how.

Any way, just a note for anyone having wireless issues on the Q150.

I've been using the Lenovo Q150 ION 2 for a while now for local video playback and I'm quite pleased with everything except for just a few MKV h.264 videos when using hardware acceleration. The same videos play fine on other PC's in the house, and they play accurately (though choppy) when using software decoding on the Q150. It's only when using DXVA or CUDA does it give me problems. I've tried everything I can think of including FFDShow, MPC-HC, CoreAVC, DivX MF, and even XBMC (beta with DXVA2 support). They all have the same results if acceleration is enabled. A format and fresh install of Windows 7 x86 or x64 with updated DirectX and ION drivers is no help either. The corruption and artifacting is always in the same spot in the video. Screenshot below.

Video Artifacts

Anyone else having these problems with hardware acceleration enabled? Normally I would just go with software decoding and call it a day but some videos get choppy during fast action scenes, so hardware acceleration is a must.

On a related note, I was able to update to the latest nvidia drivers by using the INF from laptopvideo2go in combination with official drivers from nvidia's site.

Zotac just announced another ION2 nettop, with blu-ray and the new 1.8gHz Atom.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/z...ete-with-atom/

I was interested in an ION2 PC, but the Flash/Silverlight issues are scaring me away. Small, quiet, and low power consumption are a must for me.

I haven't seen any discussion on this box:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-043-_-Product

Can anyone comment on how the ATI HD 4330 would perform?

I think I would stay away from the ION two if siliver light and flash are part of your requirements

Check out zotac's site, they have some new lower powered units with a Celeron 1.2 (SU2300)and pentium 1.3, (SU4100) both are dual core, and more power than the Atom 330, and are both paired with the First gen ION GPU. The celeron will be relased this month, and should retail around $170.

The atom 330 is already a proven HTPC, and these faster CPU's, in theory should yield a nice machine, uising the same GPU. But I've not seen any reviews yet.

The deal with the ion 2 is not so much the performance of the GPU or the CPU, but the NM10 Chipset, and it can't handle the traffic of HD and GPU/CPU intense applications.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp-2...ta-driver.html

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64...ta-driver.html

http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-wi...ta-driver.html

http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-wi...ta-driver.html

Can someone test and see if these beta drivers supports Ion 2?

Alright, following those suggestions, how about this Acer for $550? This is $200 more than the Lenovo Q150 (now back in stock on newegg.com), but at least it's still a SFF, and unlike the Dell or HP SFF mentioned earlier, it does have a digital audio connection.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...IN#detailspecs

Extract:

- Intel Core 2 Quad, 2.5GHz
- 6.0GB RAM: DDR3-1066 (PC3-8500)
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
- H: 10.4" x W: 3.9" x D: 13.9"

Any thoughts? Is there anything important that I might be missing? Would I need to add a dedicated video card to this, and would that be even possible?

Kex, I am in exactly the same predicament i.e., I want to watch Internet TV on my digital TV in a wife-friendly mode. After reading about Boxee box and GoogleTV box limitations on content access and performance, I decided to go for a PC and the Lenovo Q150 seemed a good fit. Then I learned about its limitations so, like you, I am now looking for a REAL PC. From what I read, it seems that i3 or Athlon X2, 4 GB RAM and a reasonable external video card (not integrated video) is a MINIMUM. The bill is now about $600 - a long way from the $199 Boxee Box!
I am still reading and learning hoping to cut the cost.

For the CPU, I have no idea if a Core 2 Quad is better or worse than an i3 for a HTPC, but yes, the lack of a dedicated video card with 1GB of memory does seem to be the limitation of the Acer, which might make $550 actually seem like a lot to pay.

I was initially interested in the Q150 (or any other ION based USFF) thinking it might be a great way to explore the capabilities of HTPC's as a new user, but since that seems to be far from the reality being demonstrated in this thread, I'm now thinking more of an experimental SFF office PC/HTPC, instead of an USFF living room HTPC.

I do want digital audio (coax or optical) so that I can connect audio to a receiver, and get some decent sound in the office with equipment I already own but don't currently use (including a good, but older receiver; and some "real" speakers, not computer speakers). The receiver does not have HDMI audio capability. Other than that, my requirements have morphed into just wanting a decent office PC for web browsing, emails, standard office applications, and that would allow me to at least experiment with HT functions.

Like I said earlier, those Dell and HP SFF units would be great compact office computers, and I could even configure them with a 512MB or 1GB video card, but neither have digital audio (maybe the HDMI output does, but I can't use that right now).

I may end up getting the Q150 anyway, since it's probably fine for the office applications mentioned (and that currently run on a "mere" laptop, so I'm not being very demanding here) and it does have an optical audio output. I would have preferred the fanless Shuttle, but there again, as I mentioned earlier: no digital audio!

Does anyone have any idea how the dual core atom CPU's line up in terms of capability when compared to something like a single core Celeron?

My objective is exclusively Internet TV i.e., what a nettop is supposed to do in the first place. I am worried by all the comments about poor HD video and inadequacy of integrated video card and of ATOM CPU.
So I have the same question about Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 as you do: is it adequate or is a dedicated video card necessary?

You will need a dedicated video card, and you can add one to that acer system easily and it is possible as the motherboard according to the specs has PCI-E x16 slot available and also expansion slots available on the case for your video card.