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+--- Thread: linux n00b need help selecting hardware (/showthread.php?tid=67749)
linux n00b need help selecting hardware - dabagboy - 2010-01-18
I finally am getting around to building my movie server.
I have been dissatisfied with the picture quality of streaming from my PC to my XBOX 360, so I'm looking at buying an
Acer Aspire REVO - R1600-U910H - 1 GB RAM - 1.6 GHz
as discussed here
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=53888
and here
http://lifehacker.com/5391308/build-a-silent-standalone-xbmc-media-center-on-the-cheap
I spent 3 months and a small fortune building this home theater with a 135" screen and amazing sound, I'm not really willing to compromise (much) with sound / picture quality.
described here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1189374
pictures here
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/575175777gyUunz
First Q is should I consider buying this
Zotac IONITX-B-E Barebone - Nvidia ION Mini ITX w/ Atom 1.6GHz CPU, 2GB DDR2, Case w/ 250 Watt PSU
as it already has 2 Gb of RAM?
Next Q is even more open ended...what (if anything) will I be "missing" (wish I had) if I buy one of these PCs?
Finally will I be able to rip blu-rays from this device?
- redstorm - 2010-01-18
The 250Watt power supply is about 200 Watts more than you need.
The Zotac will only use about 24Watts under load.
- dabagboy - 2010-01-18
Thanks Redstorm, I spose power consumption should matter some, more as I'd like to avoid the heat in a stereo cabinet vs. a "rack"
But I read that these Ions struggle with Flash HD? to answer my own second Question...
should that steer me toward another Mobo & Graphics card?
something like this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153124
EDIT: Or is that issue resolved with Flash 10.1?
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3678&p=1
- Mallet21 - 2010-01-18
The problem with the atom processor is that you are completely dependent on hardware acceleration working for playback. I'd go with this mini-itx board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500035 along with a dual core e5300 and you should have zero problems with playback. This will still give you a relatively small form factor and mimize power requirements.
- t2ffn - 2010-01-18
What projector have you got, and what is the quality of the picture like?
I've always liked the thought of a huge screen, but always linked that with a poorer, noisy picture, compared to say an LED, Plasma.
Do blurays (top quality videos) have clean, clear highly defined edges, such as hair, stubble etc. That's something I noticed with HD, hair is very clearly defined, whereas I'd imagine the projector couldnt keep and show such detail?
Maybe I'm still imagining old school projectors.
My last experience with a projector was one I stole (*borrowed) along with some medical plastic type white sheets to build a diy Xbox 360 projector setup in a tent in Afghan
Worked a treat but picture was NOT HD, prob down to it being a knackered dusty old cheapo projector. 
- dabagboy - 2010-01-19
t2ffn Wrote:What projector have you got, and what is the quality of the picture like?
I've always liked the thought of a huge screen, but always linked that with a poorer, noisy picture, compared to say an LED, Plasma.
Do blurays (top quality videos) have clean, clear highly defined edges, such as hair, stubble etc. That's something I noticed with HD, hair is very clearly defined, whereas I'd imagine the projector couldnt keep and show such detail?
Maybe I'm still imagining old school projectors.
My last experience with a projector was one I stole (*borrowed) along with some medical plastic type white sheets to build a diy Xbox 360 projector setup in a tent in Afghan
Panasonic AE4000U
you haven't seen projectors in too long.....
read a bit here
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm
and here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php
The first one I saw, after encouraging my Dad to buy on was at his house 106"....it looked like a 106" Plasma
Light control helps of course....you can't put them in a bright kitchen...these are pure "digital" pictures LCOS or 3-LCD lights, 1080p (BluRay) is amazing
- dabagboy - 2010-01-19
ps: in case you or someone here doesn't feel like browsing that 110 page thread here are some photos of a 110" screen
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17951102&highlight=#post17951102