Official Dell Zino 410 HTPC - Page 20

First this is the set-up I ordered for $679.00

AMD Phenom II X4 P940 Quad Core 2MB
1TB Hard Drive
6GB Ram
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450 Graphics Card
Blu-Ray DVD/CD Burner
THX TruStudio Sound
And of course all the other stuff that comes standard including the wireless setup and remote.

This should be arriving Wednesday...I do have one question.

I have an older Onkyo receiver and I use with with a Bose 6.1 Surrond speaker system (1 output to the sub and the sub sends the sound to all the speakers). My receiver, being older, only has 1 HDMI input and no outputs so currently I run my ATT Uverse Cable Box and PS3 to my Epson 8350 Projector via HDMI and then run the regular red/white cables to my receiver for audio. Audio works great and I get full audio sound. I didnt think about this when I ordered the Zino...Im assuming it has not only the HDMI output but also the red/White audio plugs. Do you all think that I will be able to maintain the same setup as I do with the PS3...with the HDMI going from Zino to projector for video and the red/whites to the receiver for audio and still maintain the full surrond sound? I am assuming that since I can do it with the PS3 that it will also work with the Zino...Im just trying to avoid a replacing a receiver that works great.

I think that because the sound all goes to the sub and the sub takes care of audio placement to the correct speakers that I should be ok...I purchased this so I can play all my DVD's and Blu-Rays via the HTPC (I put them all on external hard drives) and I want to maintain the true surround sound.

any ideas on this?

(Edit - Just realized it has an Digitial Optical port for audio - if that is the case I do have an extra optical port for audio in my receiver and I should be ok)

I have the same Zino setup using a new Onkyo receiver. Use the coax digital port to your Onkyo. You'll get dts and dolby digital, but the newer audio codecs won't work unless you pass them thru the HDMI. I'd look into a new receiver. You don't have to spend a fortune to get something that works. Check out this Onkyo refurb at only $189 Onkyo 508. That site has a number of Onkyo refurbs for cheap, so pick your price range. I bought the Onkyo 3007 and it came looking brand new.

I appreciate the info. I have one of those Bose 6.1 systems and im not sure if upgrading the receiver at this point will make a difference if im still using the Bose system. I will probably be looking at upgrading the receiver and going with normal speakers in the next year or so so I can probably live with the sound quality I have been going with via the PS3 for now.

someone else the same issue with posted that solution on the green button.

another thing I had issues with is the dell 1501n wireless card. its is a single band 2.4 Ghz card and not fully compliant with all 802.11n standards. It is capable of 72Mbits MAX. I could not stream .wtv files frm my orher pc so I got an N router. the dell's connection was 72Mbps not quite fast enough to do it, better than 54G though. My Asus EEE netbook was connecting to the new router at 150Mbps so I knew it was something funny with Dell's DW1501. and found this.

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...p/sp1501hm.htm

then I looked up the drivers and found the Dell 1520 was a better card capable of 2.4 and 5Ghz and speeds up to 270. So I called Dell told them I was not plesased with the preformance. explained my problem and how I expected true N preformace when I ordered the computer be there if I needed it since the card was marketed as such and leaned on them for the 1520 wireless mini card. They agreed and are sending a tech with the 1520 so that I am happy with the purchase.

So if you plan to stream HD video over your LAN don't order the 1501 wireless get the 1520. the 1501 is not a full N capable wireless. you need atleast 100 Mbit connection to stream .wtv files.

i have 8gb of ram... anyone have an answer to the 1080p/24fp question?

Never had any problem with 1080p24 Blu-Ray material using TMT5 / PowerDVD. What issue are you seeing?

MKVs at 1080p24 play fine too using DXVA in MPC-HC

Hey guys and girls!!

I really need help.. I have been scanning through a ton of post from you guys and can't really find what I'm looking for.. My problem is I am not technical savvy at all... You guys are talking HD Tuners, OTA Recorders or whatever... I just like to watch streaming video on my laptop.. I don't have cable so this is my main source of entertainment. With that said I have a 37" Vizio XVT LCD television.. I am trying to choose between the Acer Revo 3700 and the Dell Zino HD.. Problem is my budget is 400.00 max... What do you guys think I should get for streaming?

Thank you for your time and have a good day

A couple weeks ago they had a Zino configuration with the 5450 discreet graphics and 4G RAM for $399. That would have been my recommendation.

Looks like the price went up $50 though, now it's $449.

I got the low end Zino with upgraded CPU. I bought with my Discover card which give me cashback came in under $310.

I don't stream anything greater then 720P/1080i and it works great.

I too was trying to stay on budget and looked at the Revo 3700. I was going to buy it but heard that it didn't handle flash well in full screen. I have Crapcast limited Basic for now and plan to go to a roof top antenna when the weather is better to put it up. I wanted to use HULU desktop and netflix for the few things I liked from cable. Hulu is Flash. I got the zino with upgraded video card. so far it plays everything I have tried from the internet. I added a tuner.... Avermedia volar max usb. if you never plan to do any large file sharing the dw1501 wireless is ok, only 72Mbps Max, otherwise try to get the 1520 wireless.

I stream netflix in 720p it looks fine and so does Hulu at what ever they put it out at. HD shows off the tuner or recorded to the hard drive look outstanding. I have an old Sony reciever and am passing the sound through my samsung 40" TV to it the sound is pretty good. the reviever is only dolby pro-logic and sounds good in theater mode. I would upgrade that but its working and sounds good also have no ieda what to get to replace it.

Well my brand new Zino 410 HD finally arrived today and I cannot wait to bring it home and get it setup.

I currently use a Harmony 900 remote with my home theater...has anyone had any problems or maybe some suggestions to getting this Zino working with the remote?

As mentioned earlier in this thread, the Medion EPC II codes are a good starting point. Mine is working fine after starting with that and learning a few other commands from the Dell remote.

I also set mine to sleep when the top power button is pushed in the power management settings so the Harmony can power it on/off (or at least try to).

It works but it's not perfect. I was previously using an XBox 360 as a WMC extender and I like the standard WMC command set much better that this stripped-down Medion crap. There are no shortcut commands to get to Recorded TV, Music, etc. No button to get out of WMC. Sometimes Zino doesn't stay asleep so when you use the Harmony to power it on, it actually turns it off.

Maybe I'll figure some of things out eventually, but so far I'm a little disappointed. I don't know why they couldn't have just used the standard WMC remote command set that all other PCs use.

BTW, I also got a Lenovo Multimedia Remote (they often go on sale for ~$30).

For TV/netflix/WMC I use the Harmony but if you want to do more PC-type functions, it's nice to have the small keyboard & trackball to enter URLs, search strings, internet browsing etc. without having to keep a full size keyboard/mouse next to the couch.

I use the Harmony One (same as the 900 but IR only) and originally I used the Medion EPC II codes and they did work well. However, if you plan to add a TV tuner and want to tune channels with the remote when in Win Media Center, the Harmony SW does NOT recognize that code set as being able to tune channels. What I had to do is declare the Zino as a Win Media Center device which changes the code set of the remote.

BUT. . . for whatever reason the Dell remote does not use the standard WMC remote code set so NONE of the ccommands sent from the Harmony will now control the Zino.

BUT. . . all you have to do is learn all of the commands from the Dell remote into the buttons for the WMC device in the Harmony and then it works quite well. When you go to learn the buttons put a check mark in all of the buttons you want to learn and then the Harmony SW goes through them one at a time and it really doesn't take long at all.

Once you're done then you can set up Favorite channels for the activity that is using the Zino's TV tuner.

Good luck,
Gerry

Thanks for the info guys

I just set up my new Zino and am using an Epson 8350 projector. When everything is setup the computer doesnt fill the entire screen. It is set at the highest resolution but is there a setting to fill out my screen with the computer screen?

The point of me getting the HTPC was to watch the videos but id be pretty disappointed if im now losing 6" or so on each side of a blu-ray movie and the same on top.

I know I can manually adjust the picture size with my projector but I would hate to have to do that manually everytime I went from PS3 to the HTPC or to my Cable service...

Do you all know of something I can change to fill the screen?

Somewhere in the Catalyst video setup utility is an over/under scan adjustment. I needed to adjust mine which is connected to a 50" screen as it had an underscan. Sorry, I can't recall how to get there. Perhaps in the help for Catalyst utility.

Start>All Programs>Catalyst Control Center>CCC

Graphics>Desktops & Displays

Right Click on display

Select Scaling options

Adjust scaling. Click OK.

I think mine was defaulted to 15% (or -15%?). I set it to 0% and it was perfect.

Perfect - thank tou

Our review finally posted after testing the system for more than 4 months!

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4185/d...10-htpc-review

Hey, could you tell me what Version of the CCC you are running? I followed your instructions and cannot access any scaling properties. I recently purchased a Zino HD and the Catalyst Software and drivers were the first things I updated on my system.

Update, I had to downgrade the Catalyst Software to the original version which came with the computer in order to have access to the Scaling settings.

Thanks

Has anyone tried upgrading the graphics of the Zino 410? I see that people are selling Mobility Radeons 5650 and even 5850 on Ebay. Is it possible to put one of these in a 410?

Will the base model stream internet content?

Yes, with Windows Media Center, the interface has built-in features to access Programs from the web such as Netflix, Shows from various networks, and a gang of video podcasts.

I highly recommend removing as much "bloatware" from your PC to free up resources and gain performance.

The issue is I can't find where to turn on 24fp. I have power dvd 9.5

You can do that from within Catalyst Control Center (I am not on a ATI m/c right now, so unable to provide screenshots)

OR

Go to:

Control Panel\\All Control Panel Items\\Display\\Screen Resolution

Advanced Settings

Go to the Monitor Tab

And choose 'Screen Refresh Rate' from 'Monitor Settings'

(At least this is how it is on an Intel iGPU m/c. Hopefully Windows maintains it for all GPUs)

I have almost the base model. I upgraded the CPU for about ~$25.

I have no problems streaming from Netflix, Comedy Central, ESPN3 and Foxsoccer.tv, for example using a combination of Boxee and Kylo.

noticed the change from p340 to p360, whats the difference?

I just bought a 1st gen Zino from Costco. 6850e, 4330, Blu-ray, 4gb ram and 1tb hard drive. It seems perfectly adequate for my needs so far, but it is getting really hot. I have it in a cabinet and I have been monitoring the temperatures which have climbed up to 80* C at times.

I noticed that Walmart.com has newer models for about the same price ~$600. The Walmart model has a P320 2.1ghz processor, 4gb DDR3, 1tb hard drive, blu-ray drive, but does not have the dedicated graphics card.

From what I have read, the newer (410) models have bigger fans and overall better cooling. Is this true? Do the new models seem to stay cool? Is this something I could leave on 24/7? Could I leave it on 24/7 in a media cabinet? Am I just asking too much?

Do the 410 models play OTA HD recordings okay without the dedicated graphics card? I'm most interested in DVR functionality and I have no care about 7.1 audio. I don't want stuttering problems though.

I'm contemplating returning the Costco unit and getting the newer model from Walmart since the price is basically the same and the newer model seems more likely to last if the heat issues are sorted. Any advice?

Trying to get sound properly setup on my new Zino HD 410. It has the ATI HD5450 video card which is connected via HDMI to my Onkyo reciever running a 5.1 setup. I have the latest ATI Catalyst package/drivers installed for Windows 7 x64. However under CONTROL PANEL --> HARDWARE and SOUND --> SOUND I am not seeing an ATI HDMI Output option. I have a Digital Audio (HDMI) option but it only allows me to select a 2 speaker setup. I believe somehow the ATI HDMI driver is not getting installed when I install the Catalyst drivers but not 100% sure on that.

Any help/suggestions?