SPCR

here's the link!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6856167011

I can't tell much from the pictures - and there's no dimensions listed, but here's a short list

-probably mini-itx or similar MB
-Socket M for mobile chips (yonah + Merom)
-looks like only space for 1x.35 and 1x5.25 (or 2x3.5)
-Dual LAN!
-d-sub and DVI
looks great - has 200 watt PS

very very thin, but not super long, could make a fantastic HTPC

what do you guys think?

It does look promising functionally, but the main issue will be whether that CPU heatsink/fan can be quiet -- and if not, how can you make it quieter in such a narrow case? Ditto the power supply.

That looks really sweet, and its pretty cheap, but otherwise as Mike says.


Andy

Pretty interesting system. Looks like they also have a C7 1GHz based Axis for <$200 shipped. For another ~$100 you could get a bit of RAM, decent sized HDD, and ODD. Complete SFF for ~$300 isn't bad at all.

So who wants to be the guinea pig and try one of these out?

The quoted 28.5dB at idle doesn't sound quiet although as an HTPC, you don't have the same stringent noise level requirements.

No mention of HDCP and with only a PCI slot available, HD-DVD and Blu-ray seem to be out of the question unless you forgo DVI/HDMI

Higher noise is almost always a compromise with SFF systems, though. As long as it is not too loud at that price I don't think you can really go wrong. Would be nice to see the thing opened up and see what size fans it uses, though.

ultrachrome wrote:The quoted 28.5dB at idle doesn't sound quiet although as an HTPC, you don't have the same stringent noise level requirements.

It's rather impressive to see a dB number that acctually can be 100% correct unless I've missed something that has to be the first time ever

McBanjo wrote:

ultrachrome wrote:The quoted 28.5dB at idle doesn't sound quiet although as an HTPC, you don't have the same stringent noise level requirements.

It's rather impressive to see a dB number that acctually can be 100% correct unless I've missed something that has to be the first time ever

I think we all expect it will be higher in real life.

ultrachrome wrote:

McBanjo wrote:

ultrachrome wrote:The quoted 28.5dB at idle doesn't sound quiet although as an HTPC, you don't have the same stringent noise level requirements.

It's rather impressive to see a dB number that acctually can be 100% correct unless I've missed something that has to be the first time ever

I think we all expect it will be higher in real life.

It's a bit high to be the usual polished no-way number that usual posts, 28.5dB isn't good for a...any computer at all but it CAN be correct and wouldn't suprise me if it is. It's a valid number

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looking at the specs.........the motherboard inside is a mini-itx - and $200 for the case+PS+MB is a great deal even considering you just take the MB out and chuck the rest - $200 for a Socket M mini-itx MB is still about $20 less than if you buy the motherboard by itself from Logic supply

here's the MB http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info ... cts_id/734

the MSI 945GT Speedster is probably a better board if you want to go MOTD but if you want a mini-itx board, this setup sure it priced nice.

I think you could probably ditch the included PS and replace it with a PICO or other small board DC-DC and power brick setup and have a very quiet system

nightmorph wrote:Ugly little sucker. Even the utilitarian Dells at every desk at work are prettier than this thing.

Ha! A pretty Dell, no such thing has ever existed (except when Dell licensed the Samsung Q30 aka X1 notebook) Ontop of that, the smallest Dell still displace over 4 times the volume of this little guy.

The problem I have found with small machines is that not only are they more difficult to silence, but that silence standards are higher. Small units like this AOpen tend to find themselves on top of desks and thus any noise is much more prominent.

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De gustibus non est disputandum. Personally I like the design.

Especially when the miniITX board is considered with the case & PSU.... I have to admit it looks like a good deal.

I have to agree, qviri. I think it looks nicer than any Dell I've seen, save possibly for the original blue Dimension XPS.

Chris Chan wrote:I have to agree, qviri. I think it looks nicer than any Dell I've seen, save possibly for the original blue Dimension XPS.

check out the msi "media live" htpc, it is rather attractive for a barebone

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_sp ... &class=npc