REVIEW: Server team downloads/HTPC low power and noise

[Nemo]

XBMC is the bomb for playing network content as it allows many protocols for sharing multimedia content between PCs on the same local network. Ideal if you want to use it as an HTPC. Plus, it has interfaces that are very interesting and attractive.

Best regards

[Tassadar]

It's a joy for me to return to these hardlimit parts, it brings me many memories

[Sylver]

@Tassadar:

It's a joy for me to return to these hardlimit lands, it brings me many memories

I hope it's to stay

[Tassadar]

Many thanks to everyone for the responses,

I want to update the main post, but I will do it when I make consumption measurements (I have already ordered this little gadget on amazon).

You have commented on the option of the famous HP server that has an Athlon II, the truth is that it seems to me a very tempting little gadget, but I don't know how much consumption that Athlon II processor will be; does it reach the level of this E350??? Obviously for NAS it is better than the box that I have assembled, because at most we could put 2 disks of 3 1/2, and not in an "official" way, but adapting it on top of the one that I have put. Anyway, nothing prevents us from assembling this little gadget in a box with more possibilities in terms of the number of hard drives.

Regarding screwing the disk upside down, I already commented that no, I tried but the screw holes didn't match. I could put it obviously, but rotated 90 degrees, which would get in the way of the memory and even more so the ATX connector. The only way would be by making new holes using an electric drill and a metal drill bit.

This afternoon I have dedicated a lot of time to assemble "Zacatito" in the living room and do many tests. I advance first of all that the need to have a more bulky HTPC (like the one I have, a Phenom II x3) + dedicated ATI 6570 VGA is very much in question with this Zacate platform, although there are things that it doesn't do, or rather, at least I have been able to do.

**
-Audio through HDMI:**
It outputs audio through HDMI without problems, and the TV hears it both in AC3 and DTS (I had no doubts about this, the radeon 6xxx are estupendas in these senses, which can't be said of.. ahem… what envy).
_
-Refresh rate:
It works perfectly with 23,978 fps, 24 fps, 25, 50…. just like with the audio, I was convinced of this, and I believe that "other" graphics on the market are still incapable of outputting 23,978 fps.

1080p using processor:
With the MPClassic, without GPU acceleration, as expected, videos at 1080 have audio cuts and don't play smoothly, making it unfeasible to watch them, however, 720p seems to work without any problem.

-1080p using GPU acceleration
I have installed Splash Lite, a player that uses acceleration, and the situation is totally different, 1080p videos work perfectly and without any kind of cut or delay, maintaining CPU usage between 30 and 60% at maximum (much more 30 than 60).

That said, as a negative point, I have found two MKV movies that couldn't be seen (as if they were playing but with a black screen). These movies were Ice Age 3 and another animated one (I can't remember which). I suppose they don't meet the "necessary standards" to be decoded by GPU. Of course, these movies with Media Player Classic work perfectly (but using CPU, of course, so the E350 can't).
_

-To summarize, when the GPU comes into play, 1080p is not a problem, and 3D MKVs are not either, but I haven't been able to get 3D to work with PowerDVD, and in 2D there are some movies that I haven't been able to get to work (both MKVs and DVDs).

I appreciate any comments on this

Regards

[Tassadar]

@Sylver:

I hope it's to stay

I promise to come by more often.

I must admit that I thought hardlimit was more dead (sorry to say it like that, but it's the truth), so I've been VERY PLEASANTLY surprised by the amount of responses.

Hugs!!

[Sylver]

@Tassadar:

I promise to come by more often.

I must admit that I thought hardlimit was more dead (sorry to say it like that, but it's the truth), so I have been VERY PLEASED with the amount of responses.

Hugs!!

Hardlimit never dies, there are old titans still alive willing to keep it active
and many others who will try to do the same as time goes by

Cheers!

[pestanin]

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@Tassadar:

Es una alegria para mi volver por éstos lares de hardlimit, me trae muchos recuerdos

El hombre de los enlaces ;D

Bienvenido de vuelta.

[Tassadar]

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@pestanin:

El hombre de los enlaces ;D

Bienvenido de vuelta.

Creo que me confundes con SpaceRay, eh? xD

[Mystique]

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@Tassadar:

Creo que me confundes con SpaceRay, eh? xD

es que la edad no perdona y se lia… :ugly:

[pestanin]

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Creo que me confundes con SpaceRay, eh? xD

es que la edad no perdona y se lia… :ugly:

Joeeeeeer qué patinazo, es verdad :wall:

La edad no perdona no… :eoh:

Lo importante es el detalle de entrar a saludar y eso..., bienvenido de vuelta ;D

[Tassadar]

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@pestanin:

Joeeeeeer qué patinazo, es verdad :wall:

La edad no perdona no… :eoh:

Lo importante es el detalle de entrar a saludar y eso..., bienvenido de vuelta ;D

Graciassss!!

Que guai, habéis puesto emoticonos de forever alone y de fuck yeah! xDD

:alone::fuckyea:

[Tassadar]

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Acabo de actualizar la review, incluyendo pruebas como HTPC, datos de consumo y benchs de rendimiento; intenté hacerlo anoche y esta mañana, pero no se porqué la página de hardlimit no cargaba bien.

Saludos

[Tecnho]

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Muchas gracias Tassadar, eso quería ver pues está muy bien y muy detallado, da gusto ahí te van unos puntos.

[Yorus]

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Ídem, te has currado mucho las diferentes situaciones de trabajo con su consumo y temperaturas.

Por consumos veo que es muy próximo al de mi ordenador de descargas, pero en cuanto a rendimiento… nada que ver, el mío hasta las pasa canutas para reproducir un DVD, aunque hace tiempo le puse una 8400GS PCI (no PCIe) y con aceleración se ventilaba MKVs a 1080p con total fluidez (que irónico reproducir Full HD y atascarse con los DVD ¬¬). Es lo que tienen los VIA, y que mi placa a parte de tener años iba destinada a temas industriales.

[deeiivid]

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Bienvenido de nuevo!
Muy buena review la verdad. Justo yo ahora estoy pensando en hacer algo por el estilo como tú. Pero mi presupuesto es basicamente entre 0 y 15€ :ugly: xD

Así que estoy barajando varias opciones, una de ellas jubilar mi HTPC/server Que a parte de consumir un poco mas de lo que me gustaría tiene menos potencia que un telefono movil… :wall:

Así que estoy todavía en proceso de ver que pillo, pero tengo partes de portatiles a aburrir, estoy intentando resucitar un Dell inspiron con un AMD a 1,8ghz doble nucleo, también tengo un aspire one sin pantalla que lleva un bonito atom, etc y para ellos lo unico que necesitaría conseguir sería la forma de ponerles un HDD de 3,5" que en principio si es SATA2 la conexión de la placa del portatil no tendría que tener mucha complicación si consigo alimentación externa de alguna caja HDD externa que tengo por ahí tirada, a parte que que no sea bonito no me importa, porque en mi caso solo se usará de Servidor, pues la tele ya tiene conexión en red y le puedo pasar las peliculas de la torre principal, del portatil o de un Pen USB.

Ya os lo pondré en algun post ahora que vuelvo a estar mas activo.