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I think I finally found a great htpc. =)  

post #1 of 4
Thread Starter 
http://www.googlegear.com/ggweb/jsp/...uctCode=150628

I actually just bought mine at the local fry's and I've got it in little bits on my living room floor right now. Aside from color (Spraypaint, anyone?) this seems awesome.

The build quality is very good. I'll post some pictures if anyone is interested but some highlights:

* Front mounted pcmcia slot!
* 3x pci, one low profile
* spdif on front, along with usb and firewire behind slide down panel
* dvi and vga outputs
* Great fan design- this thing is quiet from the get-go, no modifications needed. A unique ducting system "plugs in" the cpu to the front mounted fan. Seems to be thermally controlled.
* accepts full sized dvd rom drive. I'm putting a Toshiba in it right now.


I've gone through computer after computer in an attempt to find something that's "just right", and this is very promising!

Sox


[This message has been edited by iwearnosox (edited 06-10-2001).]
post #2 of 4
Hi Sox, The only problem these all in one computer motherboards have is the lack of an AGP slot for a good video card. You are pretty much stuck with the video chipset included on the MB which does not have much memory to use and the performance is offen lacking especially for 3D game acceleration.When you read about the new video cards that are certain to come out in the future,you will wish you had that AGP slot.If however,you are happy with the performance you presently are getting, then enjoy your new HTPC knowing that you saved a good sum of money.

------------------
Clark Burk
post #3 of 4
Thread Starter 
Money really isn't a factor, but size is. I've used the radeon PCI with my previous htpc with great success, and plan to continue that tradition with this one..
post #4 of 4
Sox, keep us posted. Thanks.

Even if the graphics performance is not quite there, the next generation of boards like this - with the nForce integrated chipset could be great for small HTPCs. http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1484&p=3

A while back I played briefly with an Intel 815 board and found that PowerDVD did an adequate job with the built-in video, as long as the resolution was set to 800x600.

IMHO, in 2 years we'll all wonder why we put those clunky PCs in our equipment racks!

JasG

btw, Krylon semi-flat black works great.
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