minimum via mini-itx required to play divx and dvd?
- Thread starter dubcat
- Start date
Not sure of divx performance but my GF's atom 330 can play 720p WMV files with no problem. 1080's are a different story with stuttering being the main focus.
What res files are you looking to play? If it's SD then you should be fine.
Had a 1.5ghz C7 - it should manage SD fine although the Atom is still a better alternative IMHO.
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What res files are you looking to play? If it's SD then you should be fine.
Had a 1.5ghz C7 - it should manage SD fine although the Atom is still a better alternative IMHO.
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Primarily standard definition - although I still don't know what the minimum required would be to do this. If I could play high def without incurring a massive power usage and cost penalty I would definitely go for that instead though.
Not sure about the Nahemia but the 1.5ghz C7 didn't manage downloaded video off the web that well. I didn't try SD DVD's but i would imagine it would be pretty close to the limit of its capabilities.
With the exception of the Atom which can cope A-OK and is affordable have you considered something with a decent onboard video processor?
Some of the AMD boards with the 780G chipset look good in this regard (1080p) although after buying the board and processor it could get pretty pricy.
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With the exception of the Atom which can cope A-OK and is affordable have you considered something with a decent onboard video processor?
Some of the AMD boards with the 780G chipset look good in this regard (1080p) although after buying the board and processor it could get pretty pricy.
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I figured power draw on those 780g + AMD processor will be more than the Atom. Is that right? If that is the case it sounds like Atom may be the way to go 
I'll check out the 330.
Real shame about the 1.5ghz C7 not even being able to manage video
That sucks - I thought they were way more powerful than that!
Thanks for the advice,
Dub
I'll check out the 330. Real shame about the 1.5ghz C7 not even being able to manage video
That sucks - I thought they were way more powerful than that!Thanks for the advice,
Dub
Hmm according to this review the Via Nano stuff is actually faster than atom:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/cpu-memory/review/2008/08/14/VIA-Nano-vs-Intel-Atom/p6
I r confused.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/cpu-memory/review/2008/08/14/VIA-Nano-vs-Intel-Atom/p6
I r confused.
No problem!
TBH, when i tried to play it i was surprised too as all other desktop stuff was quite fast - all it was trying to play was some streamed stuff off the internet and then a couple of downloaded clips at SD. It didn't really stop but rather perpetually stuttered as though it was trying to catch up with itself all the time.
As for the AMD - yeah, i'd imagine the Atom uses less.
Finally, yeah the Nano's a newer piece of kit. Maybe track down a via user forum to see what they say.
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TBH, when i tried to play it i was surprised too as all other desktop stuff was quite fast - all it was trying to play was some streamed stuff off the internet and then a couple of downloaded clips at SD. It didn't really stop but rather perpetually stuttered as though it was trying to catch up with itself all the time.
As for the AMD - yeah, i'd imagine the Atom uses less.
Finally, yeah the Nano's a newer piece of kit. Maybe track down a via user forum to see what they say.
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Oh another thing - if you happen to know of an Atom board that has a composite video output connector (the single phone/RCA connector for video) please do let me know. This is a really important feature so I can easily connect the mobo in to my car's AV system.
Going by the blurb on one review site it stated the following:
"Upgrades from the previous Intel Atom board includes Gigabit LAN(10/100/1000), a Dual-Core processor and also S-Video output.
The 7-pin S-Video output (located on the rear of the motherboard) provides 4-pin S-Video and a Composite Video signal.
Which means you can output to a composite video source without the need to purchase any expensive converter boxes."
Outputs a composite signal from the S-Video output by sound of it.
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"Upgrades from the previous Intel Atom board includes Gigabit LAN(10/100/1000), a Dual-Core processor and also S-Video output.
The 7-pin S-Video output (located on the rear of the motherboard) provides 4-pin S-Video and a Composite Video signal.
Which means you can output to a composite video source without the need to purchase any expensive converter boxes."
Outputs a composite signal from the S-Video output by sound of it.
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The Nehemiah M10000 has a hardware mpeg2 decoder built in that should help with SOME dvd playback stuff. I have one of these boards and it was fine with most vid files and dvd's i chucked at it, plus you can run it fanless if you stick a Zalman blue NB Heatsink on the cpu
The Nehemiah M10000 has a hardware mpeg2 decoder built in that should help with SOME dvd playback stuff. I have one of these boards and it was fine with most vid files and dvd's i chucked at it, plus you can run it fanless if you stick a Zalman blue NB Heatsink on the cpu
so it can play most divx files no problem?
I've considered building a VIA machine for ages, but I have no idea where to get the parts. I'm not asking for links (I know that's against the rules) but I wish OCUK would consider stocking them, even though they aren't exactly "performance" parts.
I've got a soft spot for underdogs.
I've got a soft spot for underdogs.
Last time I used it which was over a year ago it did play divx and xvid files, these were just generic 350meg kinda things so not the greatest quality or bitrate around. Without knowing what kind of content you plan to watch on it I couldnt say for sure whether it would be ok or not.
I gave the board to my friend a while ago who's using it as a basic file server now
The cheapo (50 quid) mini itx intel atom D945GCLF board is all you need for sd xvid and divx etc.
Use the freeware media portal and you have an ultra cheap HTPC.
I tried it and had no problems streaming and playing xvids. I used an ide to CF adaptor and ran with xp and media portal on a 4gb cf. All xvids where streamed from a NAS.
It was quite a nice little system. The fans a little noisy, but I removed it an glued on a 80mm.
However I dumped the system as it wasnt up to playback of HD 1080p.
Use the freeware media portal and you have an ultra cheap HTPC.
I tried it and had no problems streaming and playing xvids. I used an ide to CF adaptor and ran with xp and media portal on a 4gb cf. All xvids where streamed from a NAS.
It was quite a nice little system. The fans a little noisy, but I removed it an glued on a 80mm.
However I dumped the system as it wasnt up to playback of HD 1080p.
Great feedback - what are you using for HD?
Infact I just finished another HTPC last night with the intention of using it only for playback of SD and HD.
Again mini itx based.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-024-IN&utm_source=froogle
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-192-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=793
The cpu is probably overkill for even 1080p.
So far everything seems to be running ok, using media portal. I will post some pics of the finished system shortly
Yeah, had one of those for the past 3 months too - except mine's running an e7200. Handles 1080p with no problems @ only 30% cpu usage. The X4500HD onboard video is incredibly capable.
Whole rig idles @ 49w and uses 65w when playing HD material plus it's as quiet as a mouse. Case is a Cubit Hoojum 3.
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