HD6310 or ION2?

[koushikp]

Hi,

thanks for your inputs on my post in the media streamer section...I have decided to go for an HTPC with Linux+Boxee/XBMC..the sole purpose of this device will be to play 1080p/720p videos on my HDTV, no gaming, no surfing, no productive work..I have a xtreamer, but now I want something with a slick interface with auto scraping..

Had considered the hacked apple TV..but looking at apple TV price in India+40 USD for firecore, decided the HTPC was more powerful at a similar cost..

I am not really interested in building one as aesthetics are important, and am seeing the Zotac nettops to be quite suitable (or so I think) for my purpose..I have a few confusions here:

1. between the ION2 and Fusion, which is better for faster and glitch free decoding of full HD H.264 videos? Not interested in BD ISOs..have a blu-ray player, and I buy all my BDs...so that's not going to be a consideration..the articles I found on the web were not definitive about this, maybe u guys can share ur perspective on this?
2. XBMC seems to be more popular among the forum members, is it better than Boxee?
3. The few HTPC threads I read were all with Windows 7 as the OS..didn't understand why since Linux is free? Is there any issue with using Linux+Boxee/XBMC?
4. Any other suggestion of a nettop apart from the ones from Zotac? the Zotac one I like is around 12k..

 

[manniraj]

Hi koushik

Linux/xbmc or otherwise openelec (linux version of xbmc with complete os) does not support hd audio bitstreaming. That is the reason why many of the forum members go for windows 7 with xbmc and other applications like mpc-hc and potplayer for hd audio decoding. In fact I tried and installed the openelec and it is very good boots so fast that you will not find any diff between a blu-ray player or htpc, but the only down side maintaining will be a huge task as linux will be a big learning curve for most of us.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

 

[koushikp]

Hi koushik

Linux/xbmc or otherwise openelec (linux version of xbmc with complete os) does not support hd audio bitstreaming. That is the reason why many of the forum members go for windows 7 with xbmc and other applications like mpc-hc and potplayer for hd audio decoding. In fact I tried and installed the openelec and it is very good boots so fast that you will not find any diff between a blu-ray player or htpc, but the only down side maintaining will be a huge task as linux will be a big learning curve for most of us.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

Thanks Manni...so if I am not interested in bitstream HD audio decoding no problem with Linux right? This is going to be a bedroom device where I will not even have a 5.1 setup, so doesnt matter..

 

[reignofchaos]

Get the Fusion. Its much snappier and faster than atom. Have been using one for the last 8 months. Runs all HD movies perfectly - including 50mbps bluray dumps.

 

[manniraj]

Thanks Manni...so if I am not interested in bitstream HD audio decoding no problem with Linux right? This is going to be a bedroom device where I will not even have a 5.1 setup, so doesnt matter..

Yes you should be good to go with openelec and I believe it is very small in size when installed. So Install it on a separate hard drive preferably a small capacity as I think it would be of no use once the os is installed the entire hdd will be showing as full. I am not sure this is how it works but better to check it in google before you go ahead for the same.
Also I think this os can be installed in a pendrive and can be loaded instead of hdd to save the space.

Thanks

 

[reignofchaos]

Actually newer beta builds of XBMC (Eden) bitstream all HD formats correctly.

 

[koushikp]

Hi guys I was trying to get a cost differential by seeing what will be the price if I source all thecomponents myself, but in none of the IT hardware e-tailer sites can I find the fusion apu platform..is it something only available to OEMs?

 

[hydra]

^^ You should look for the Asus E350-M1 M/M Pro or the Gigabyte E350N-USB3 or the MSI E350IA-E45. The Asus is a mATX board and the other two are miniITX boards.

Perhaps the E450 boards will be available here soon, and maybe that is the reason for the shortage of E350 boards, if there is a shortage.

The Asus board should be available here.

 

[reignofchaos]

Actually I'm planning to upgrade to an intel 2100T, intel dh67cf and an nvidia geforce 545 soon since I need a bit more grunt to do some encoding on my media rig. If you are interested, I could give you the MSI fusion board for 5000 only. Please let me know if you are remotely interested.

 

[manniraj]

Actually I'm planning to upgrade to an intel 2100T, intel dh67cf and an nvidia geforce 545 soon since I need a bit more grunt to do some encoding on my media rig. If you are interested, I could give you the MSI fusion board for 5000 only. Please let me know if you are remotely interested.

+1 please grab the offer kaushikp.

Thanks.

 

[koushikp]

Actually I'm planning to upgrade to an intel 2100T, intel dh67cf and an nvidia geforce 545 soon since I need a bit more grunt to do some encoding on my media rig. If you are interested, I could give you the MSI fusion board for 5000 only. Please let me know if you are remotely interested.

Hi am definitely interested, but not 100% sure whether I would build or buy. I will take that decision by this weekend and will get back to you on this..in the meantime can you please share some details about the board? Like model no. Age etc...u can pm me or post here, whatever suits you...also do mention where u r located, I am in mumbai..

Cheers!



---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=19.066654,72.867645

 

[reignofchaos]

Sent a pm.

 

[sidglide]

Fusion is a beter option for HTPC as this runs cooler and is less power hungry than the ION2 option.

Cheers