New hardware consideration

rodalpho · 2008-04-21 19:46

I would consider a mac mini over that setup; you can run OSXBMC or XBMC for linux on it, and since you'd need to purchase the laptop CPU separately it'd probably be roughly the same price.

rodalpho · 2008-04-21 19:49

Also note that apple is rumored to be refreshing the mac mini with penryn CPUs and faster video in the near future; likely june at the very latest.

bmfrosty · 2008-04-21 20:42

rodalpho Wrote:Also note that apple is rumored to be refreshing the mac mini with penryn CPUs and faster video in the near future; likely june at the very latest.

This news coming true will probably be my excuse for buying a mac mini to do my XBMC bidding instead of going the KPC route.

embrion · 2008-04-21 22:12

bmfrosty Wrote:This news coming true will probably be my excuse for buying a mac mini to do my XBMC bidding instead of going the KPC route.

Or wait for http://en.expreview.com/2008/03/06/intel...-g45-mobo/

bmfrosty · 2008-04-21 22:17

embrion Wrote:Or wait for http://en.expreview.com/2008/03/06/intel...-g45-mobo/

Sweet. Although.. my big problem with Mini-ITX has always been finding cheap cases and power supplies. I'd think that it wouldn't be a problem, but it always seems to be. Time to start looking again.

kapten79 · 2008-04-21 22:22

That mobo looks awesome !

bmfrosty · 2008-04-21 22:26

This may be the one. $40 with all the bits I'll need.

rrambo · 2008-04-22 16:51

bmfrosty Wrote:Sweet. Although.. my big problem with Mini-ITX has always been finding cheap cases and power supplies. I'd think that it wouldn't be a problem, but it always seems to be. Time to start looking again.

I've never had a problem finding good inexpensive mini itx cases... just that all mini itx boards had via graphics... that intel board is SWEET!!.. even with the integrated intel graphics... I have GOT to have that board when it comes out.. well, if it's not entirely too expensive.. which it probably will be...

rodalpho · 2008-04-22 17:46

The atom CPUs are actually quite slow; they're meant to be used in subnotebooks, cellphones, and UMPCs. I wouldn't count on even the Z540 (1.86Ghz) atom handling 720p. I guess we'll see, but my feeling is that the mac mini refresh will be the best way to go, whether you choose OSX or linux.

**althekiller** · 2008-04-22 19:16

Just a little heads up, Intel nearly halved the prices on all of the non-penryn c2d/qs yesterday so now might be a good time to jump on them.

EDIT: link
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,15...X1K0000532

rodalpho Fan Posts: 546 Joined: Nov 2006 Reputation: 16	2008-04-21 19:46 Post: #11 I would consider a mac mini over that setup; you can run OSXBMC or XBMC for linux on it, and since you'd need to purchase the laptop CPU separately it'd probably be roughly the same price.
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rodalpho Fan Posts: 546 Joined: Nov 2006 Reputation: 16	2008-04-21 19:49 Post: #12 Also note that apple is rumored to be refreshing the mac mini with penryn CPUs and faster video in the near future; likely june at the very latest.
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bmfrosty Senior Member Posts: 290 Joined: Mar 2007 Reputation: 0	2008-04-21 20:42 Post: #13 rodalpho Wrote:Also note that apple is rumored to be refreshing the mac mini with penryn CPUs and faster video in the near future; likely june at the very latest. This news coming true will probably be my excuse for buying a mac mini to do my XBMC bidding instead of going the KPC route.
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embrion Member Posts: 96 Joined: Dec 2006 Reputation: 0 Location: Poland	2008-04-21 22:12 Post: #14 bmfrosty Wrote:This news coming true will probably be my excuse for buying a mac mini to do my XBMC bidding instead of going the KPC route. Or wait for http://en.expreview.com/2008/03/06/intel...-g45-mobo/ Regards, Embrion
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bmfrosty Senior Member Posts: 290 Joined: Mar 2007 Reputation: 0	2008-04-21 22:17 Post: #15 embrion Wrote:Or wait for http://en.expreview.com/2008/03/06/intel...-g45-mobo/ Sweet. Although.. my big problem with Mini-ITX has always been finding cheap cases and power supplies. I'd think that it wouldn't be a problem, but it always seems to be. Time to start looking again.
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kapten79 Junior Member Posts: 10 Joined: Apr 2008 Reputation: 0	2008-04-21 22:22 Post: #16 That mobo looks awesome !
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bmfrosty Senior Member Posts: 290 Joined: Mar 2007 Reputation: 0	2008-04-21 22:26 Post: #17 This may be the one. $40 with all the bits I'll need.
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rodalpho Fan Posts: 546 Joined: Nov 2006 Reputation: 16	2008-04-22 17:46 Post: #19 The atom CPUs are actually quite slow; they're meant to be used in subnotebooks, cellphones, and UMPCs. I wouldn't count on even the Z540 (1.86Ghz) atom handling 720p. I guess we'll see, but my feeling is that the mac mini refresh will be the best way to go, whether you choose OSX or linux.
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