Been looking into ways to watch HD content on my home cinema set-up in my lounge, but I'm very undecided what to do. Have a decent amp, 42" plasma and blu-ray player already (so don't need blu-ray or hd sound on my computer).
Not convinced by wireless for streaming content and don't have the option of running a cable upstairs to my pc, and not really familar with using that mains socket home LAN thingy.
Considered a western digital hdtv but wasn't convinced it would do everything i wanted, started looking a popcorn but at the price isn't far of a proper pc.
Considered the Aspire Revo but seem to have missed the boat on getting the £150 linux version, and £250 for a single core 1GB running windows seems madness, but it seemed seriously underpowered anyway and needed too much tweaking to get it to run 1080p content.
My current favorite option is the Asrock Ion (1.6Ghz dual core, which will o/c easy to 2.1Ghz) as for only £250ish it will allow HD playback, has a bit of storage (320GB) and an optical drive, has audio output, and will allow a bit of web browsing. Although small and cheap i suppose with its specs it has limited functionality and will not allow me to do any gaming. My main computer needs replacing in the next 6months anyway, so i could either get a decent htpc that will allow gaming at 1080p on my plasma and home cinema speakers or just get the asrock and get a decent gaming rig and monitor for the office later
So the main dilemas are:
1. If I want to accept that all I really need is the ability to play 1080p with dts/5.1 output and web browsing, Do I go with the Asrock? or is there a better system at a similar price?
2. If I do get the Asrock is there any point upgrading the 2GB memory to 4GB? (planning on running Windows 7)
3. Or should I just spend double the money and get a full blown HTPC and possibly add decent gaming possibilties?
Not convinced by wireless for streaming content and don't have the option of running a cable upstairs to my pc, and not really familar with using that mains socket home LAN thingy.
Considered a western digital hdtv but wasn't convinced it would do everything i wanted, started looking a popcorn but at the price isn't far of a proper pc.
Considered the Aspire Revo but seem to have missed the boat on getting the £150 linux version, and £250 for a single core 1GB running windows seems madness, but it seemed seriously underpowered anyway and needed too much tweaking to get it to run 1080p content.
My current favorite option is the Asrock Ion (1.6Ghz dual core, which will o/c easy to 2.1Ghz) as for only £250ish it will allow HD playback, has a bit of storage (320GB) and an optical drive, has audio output, and will allow a bit of web browsing. Although small and cheap i suppose with its specs it has limited functionality and will not allow me to do any gaming. My main computer needs replacing in the next 6months anyway, so i could either get a decent htpc that will allow gaming at 1080p on my plasma and home cinema speakers or just get the asrock and get a decent gaming rig and monitor for the office later
So the main dilemas are:
1. If I want to accept that all I really need is the ability to play 1080p with dts/5.1 output and web browsing, Do I go with the Asrock? or is there a better system at a similar price?
2. If I do get the Asrock is there any point upgrading the 2GB memory to 4GB? (planning on running Windows 7)
3. Or should I just spend double the money and get a full blown HTPC and possibly add decent gaming possibilties?
