[pilluli]

Hi guys,

For a while now I am looking to replace my old nas+xbmc machine for a dedicated one in the living room (running ONLY xbmc). What I am looking for is:

1. Small factor (zontac, asrock or similar will be the best option)

2. Dead silent (I've got two kids so I don't want to add another "noise source" in the room :-)

3. Able to play full 1080p 3D SBS content (to be honest I don't have a 3D tv set but I want this to be as "future proof" as possible) without drop or jitter.

4. Able to do audio passthrough through HDMI (ac3,dts,truehd,etc.) Actually I don't mind if it is passthrough or decoded to 7.1 LPCM as my AV handles it (I've been trying to set audio through HDMI working in my old setup, I have tried all posts I could find and still no luck with my p5n7a-vm board with Nvidia GeForce 9300M chipset so I would love it to "just" work if possible).

5. Able to use my Harmony One remote control with it (I guess this is easy with an extra remote usb receiver dongle)


That's it really, some other things I don't mind/care are:

1. HDD space as all content will be accessed through wired network to my nas server

2. Ugliness of the thing, if it is small I think it'll pass my wife's final decision :-)

3. Price! Well, don't want to spend a year salary on this :-) but I don't mind spending some money if it just works and will stay there for some years.

4. OS, I would prefer running XBMC live or linux but don't mind doing the switch to "devil" Windows if things work there.

So, what do you guys think? am I dreaming? I was considering buying the boxee box but I have been an xbmc user for so long (xbox era) that I feel like cheating my wife if I change I would prefer staying with XBMC!!

[PatrickVogeli]

The asrock vision 3d will be a good start:

http://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.as...D%20Series

[numb7rs]

If you wanted totally silent, take away the need for 3D, and you can use a passive GT210.

[eskro]

the GT210 wont let him bitstream True HD audio...
he needs a GT430 or HD5xxx series as they handle all True HD audio formats...
now if he wants 3D, he has to stick with the GT430...
HD5xxx series dont do 3D...
so, take a look at these parts....

[cpu] Athlon X2 3.0GHz AM3 65W ($60) http:// http://fwd4.me/u0U
[ram] G.SKILL Ripjaws 2 x 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1066 CL7 ($40) http://fwd4.me/uJ3
[mobo] ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 USB2 MicroATX ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJS
[gpu] ZOTAC GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJ8
[ssd] Corsair Nova 2.5" 32GB SATAII ($79) http://fwd4.me/uJ4
[case + psu] Sentey SS1-2422 MicroATX 450W ($52) http://fwd4.me/u0Y

[SpectreX]

@numb7rs - Why take away 3D when you can get a GT430 with passive cooling ? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814500175 . Also the GT210 doesn`t do HD audio bitstreaming, it`s just an obsolete card that has been replaced with the GT430.

@eskro - (Dolby) TrueHD is a format, not a number of formats. DTS-HD Master Audio is the other one (and the most used one at the moment)

[PatrickVogeli]

I don't know you, but I don't consider Micro-ATX small at all..

[eskro]

the GT210 doesn`t do HD audio bitstreaming,
it`s just an obsolete card that has been replaced with the GT430.

agree

[numb7rs]

The GT430 may come as passive cards, but I wouldn't want to run one without any air flow.

I didn't know about the bitstreaming though.

[eskro]

GT430 cards do bitstream true HD audio.... they rock!!
now in the setup im suggesting here

[cpu] Athlon X2 3.0GHz AM3 65W ($60) http://fwd4.me/u0U
[ram] G.SKILL Ripjaws 2 x 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1066 CL7 ($40) http://fwd4.me/uJ3
[mobo] ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 USB2 MicroATX ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJS
[gpu] ZOTAC GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($60) http://fwd4.me/uJ8
[ssd] Corsair Nova 2.5" 32GB SATAII ($79) http://fwd4.me/uJ4
[case + psu] Sentey SS1-2422 MicroATX 450W ($52) http://fwd4.me/u0Y

to fit the GT430 in that SENTEY case,
it needs to be a low profile card...
and they are all with Fans...
there's no GT430 FanLess Low Profile cards on the market... yet....
but, i prefer having a FAN to cool my video card in a small form factor cases....

[pilluli]

Thanks for the answers, micro-atx is definitely too big for what I had in mind (and the shelf I've got under the TV! I could trade 3D performance but not size ... :-(

I guess there is only one option then, asrock vision 3D. I don't like it to come with a 500gb and optical drive as I won't use it, otherwise, seems to be a fine machine. I guess soon enough other brands might start using the GT425M chipset in their machines and might provide it without optical/hdd.

I've checked some threads but haven't really see that HD audio through HDMI works fine in the asrock vision. I'll do some digging to see if everything is working fine.

What I would love to see is an official "recommended hardware" for XBMC. Or even some devs that say, "look, we use this specific hardware for testing". I'd buy that thing in a instant :-)

Thanks,

[eskro]

What I would love to see is a "recommended hardware" for XBMC.

i listed you recommended hardware already

[pilluli]

i listed you recommended hardware already

Ha ha, I meant "official recommended hardware"!

[eskro]

there's none.....
only hardware recommended by users who use them,,,,
with those parts i listed, you can do everything,,,
play everything...

** Bitstream Dolby True-HD & DTS-HD Master
** Play 1080P movies
** Play 3D movies

[cpu] Athlon X2 3.0GHz AM3 65W ($60) http:// http://fwd4.me/u0U
[ram] G.SKILL Ripjaws 2 x 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1066 CL7 ($40) http://fwd4.me/uJ3
[mobo] ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 USB2 MicroATX ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJS
[gpu] ZOTAC GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJ8
[ssd] Corsair Nova 2.5" 32GB SATAII ($79) http://fwd4.me/uJ4
[case + psu] Sentey SS1-2422 MicroATX 450W ($52) http://fwd4.me/u0Y

[wiseguyworks]

Maybe mini itx mainboard that Zotac announced on CES is an idea. It has an GT430 onboard.

http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows...7555.shtml

[htpc guy]

Maybe mini itx mainboard that Zotac announced on CES is an idea. It has an GT430 onboard.

http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows...7555.shtml

I find myself drooling over this MB.
Looks like it has everything that we all want.