ASRock ION 330

[ilovejedd]

I just got the ACER REVO from Newegg for US $199.

The new Acer Aspire Revo R3600 is looking like a very good alternative. While it can't be considered a powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination, the extra core does help.

[mvallevand]

With the ION 2 out this year an the next gen Atoms now set for Jan http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/...-released/ the future is looking very bright.

Martin

[psycik]

Just seen HDNation (revision3.com) review the IONs and earlier the C200 popcorn hour.

They liked both devices.

[wsmaal]

I thought I'd share this photo showing for comparison my new ASRock ION 330, the PCH A110, and my two year old HTPC in an Antec NSK 2400 case which was a good form factor at the time!

$400 CDN though no Windows, keyboard or mouse.

Martin

Last year I do the daily things on my netbook (Samsung NC10), most times combined with a 20" Dell LCD. I use my older power consuming Pentium IV PC (with Hauppauge 150 and GB-PVR/Comskip installed) only for (analog) recording TV.

I consider an *ASRock 330 ION as PVR, not as HTPC (I have a NMT with GB-PVR client). Main reason is the much low power consumption. However, I suppose that HDTV (recording) isn't possible with the dual core Atom N330, in combination with the USB Anysee E30 Combo Plus. The software CAM (MPEG-2 decoding) and automatically deleting of the commercials in films (comskip) IMHO loads the Atom CPU to heavy (to high CPU utilization)..

I think that I must looking forward to at least AMD Athlon II X2 250 CPU, however some Dutch users reported that HDTV (720p) on the ASRock 330/ION is possible, but with overclocking from the default 1.6 to the maximum 2.1 Ghz in combination with SSD or higher speed disk (7200rpm 2.5").

[SIZE="1"]*Second generation models are coming very soon with f.i. RC, eSata, WiFi and 500Gb disk.[/SIZE]

[mvallevand]

I don't really consider the Asrock ION as the PVR as a full backend. The lack of internal 3.5" drive, no PCI or PCIe slots for capture cards and no eSATA limit it too much.

It is a good HTPC client I don't have problems with 1080p including the killa bird sample on XBMC, it just find it too expensive. The price has dropped but the Acer Revo is probably a better choice.

Martin

[mvallevand]

What can, I say, I can't write anything about the ION without some new appearing. There is a new version http://apcmag.com/asrock-unveils-ion330h...lu-ray.htm that supports eSATA and adds 1TB (I guess JBOD) so it could be a PVR.

Martin

[wsmaal]

What can, I say, I can't write anything about the ION without some new appearing. There is a new version http://apcmag.com/asrock-unveils-ion330h...lu-ray.htm that supports eSATA and adds 1TB (I guess JBOD) so it could be a PVR.

Depends on. F.i. the *CPU requirements for HDTV channels are much higher then dual core Atom N330 (Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core with at least 3.0GHZ or higher). The ASRock 330/ION in combination with the Anysee E30C can probably support SD channels (at least Pentium4 1.0GHZ (with DxVA) or 1.6GHZ (without DxVA).

*For the Anysee E30C Plus

The new ASRock 330/ION Models:
ION 330HT-BD
ION 330HT
ION 330Pro

[mvallevand]

The ION's hardware video acceleration is certainly up to broadcast 720p or 1080i samples I have tried to play.

Martin

[imagn]

Here is what i am wondering, do you need a codec with DXVA to use ion

I am seriously considering an ion, but want to be sure that it will be able to play my H264 movies and US HD bradcast 720P 1080I. Bu i am getting the feeling you that in GBPVR you will have to use DXVA codec only or use something like MPC HC to play files

[mvallevand]

Just because the ION is fully capable, that doesn't mean you can escape Windows codec and decoder woes or issues with the filesharing vs streaming GBPVR client. This is one reason I still prefer the NMT.

Martin