Acer's AX3200 is the little Blu-ray PC that could, has a 1080p LCD friend

Acer believes you're seeking a PC with a Blu-ray drive and formidable storage space so you can watch hours and hours of high definition video. That's why it's introducing the AX3200 desktop (suggested retail: $679.99) to go with the P244W 24-inch 1080p LCD display ($399) -- to fill that consumer electronics-shaped hole that you didn't even know existed within you. The compact desktop sports an AMD Phenom X3 8450 triple-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, and NVIDIA's GeForce 8200 integrated graphics chip. The graphics solution won't rev up the frames in modern computer games -- especially not at the P244W's 1920 x 1080 resolution -- but it'll do fine for watching movies, and there are tons of great Blu-ray releases out there by now, right? Right?

[Colonel Panic @ Oct 13th 2008 12:33AM]

Even if this little PC doesn't have any expansion, it would make a nice HTPC as long as it is the size depicted in the picture and was quiet.

[d00b @ Oct 13th 2008 2:23AM]

The case is low-profile, so adding a good video card would be difficult, as most low-prof cards are low-end. For a $700 desktop box to sport only integrated gfx is rather pathetic. Understanding that it's meant to be a HTPC, the price would be more palatable if Acer had some amenities toward HTPC use, like integrated IR remote and perhaps ATSC tuner. Material cost wouldn't be that much more, but it would save a whole lot of headaches for users setting up their HTPCs.

All the same, I applaud Acer's makeover of the desktop PC, reservation about its build quality notwithstanding. The slim tower form-factor is functional, and can be fitted into more places. Hopefully, AMD & Nvidia will release more low-prof cards (like the recent 4670). But this is basically a plain vanilla box with a BD drive. Acer needs to add functions specific to its machines' intended role to make them stand out, which in this case is HTPC use.

[Colonel Panic @ Oct 13th 2008 12:33AM]

Even if this little PC doesn't have any expansion, it would make a nice HTPC as long as it is the size depicted in the picture and was quiet.

[Mike @ Oct 13th 2008 12:37AM]

If it has 4gb does that mean it's running 64bit Vista?

Can't say I'm current on OEM manufacturers, but I haven't seen any 64bit OS usage among mainstream PCs

[darkdude @ Oct 13th 2008 12:58AM]

There are quite a few off-the-shelf computers from Sony and Toshiba with Vista x64 preinstalled.

[DG @ Oct 13th 2008 1:05AM]

I have an HP HTPC running x64. It's good, I guess.

[gabe @ Oct 13th 2008 12:44AM]

meh - bluray is not worth upgrading the pc over

[Ridgecity @ Oct 13th 2008 3:44AM]

What?? you obviously haven't heard Sleeping Beauty just got re-released last week with a never before seen widescreen format as it was originally intended to be seen!!

[martin @ Oct 15th 2008 2:50PM]

maybe I haven't been in the market for a computer in awhile but this seems like a pretty good deal? I mean as far as off the shelf computing, hell put a better graphics card in there and you can do some very decent gaming.

[youngstunna @ Oct 13th 2008 12:50AM]

Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium, 64-bit version, AMD Phenom™ X3 Triple-Core Processor 8450 (3 x 512KB L2 cache, 2.1GHz), 4GB (2/2) DDR2 SDRAM, 500GB SATA hard drive, Super-Multi drive, multi-in-one card reader, NVIDIA® GeForce® 8200 graphics, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem, 22" LCD

[Connor @ Oct 13th 2008 1:00AM]

HD DVD FTW!

[wud_e @ Oct 13th 2008 10:06AM]

Dual Player for the Triple Score. ;)

[a ham sandwich @ Oct 13th 2008 1:09AM]

"and NVIDIA's GeForce 8200 integrated graphics chip"

wait...what? integrated?

[Centinall @ Oct 13th 2008 3:56AM]

Yes, integrated.

But with Acer "support". I bought the Acer Aspire x1200, pretty much the same thing without blu-ray and a slower CPU. About a week after I bought it, Acer issued a BIOS update via email and notification software that killed HDMI sound. Their "support" didn't and couldn't do anything about this, even with dozens of people complaining. I've never been so regretful about buying a computer before in my life. It's seriously nice little computer perfect as a HTPC, but unfortunately comes from a company that has no idea how to serve their customers. BTW, about 3 months later someone figured out that they had reissued that BIOS update without the HDMI sound bug, but failed to let anyone know or announce it publicly. Buyer beware!

http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-109876-Acer-X1200-BIOS-update--Broken-HDMI-Audio.html

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1046863&page=2

[Morgan @ Oct 13th 2008 4:08AM]

It's not really a bad chip all things considered. I've got an 8100 onboard in the system I just built and it handles my modest gaming needs just fine. Granted, I don't play anything new but if I did want to, the onboard chip can run in SLI mode with any 8xxx series card that I throw in there. It's also more than enough for Compiz on Linux and Aero on Vista, which is all most people need these days. My only wish is that it had discrete memory since my board is limited to two DDR2 slots.

[KarlW @ Oct 13th 2008 1:10AM]

For that price, you could get a PS3 (regarded by many as the best BD player on the market) and a decent hard drive and have change.

There are some good Blu-Ray movies out there. The Godfather trilogy comes out in a week or two, Planet Earth is also pretty good, and actually delivers a better experience in HD.

If you're in the EU, you could also get PlayTV and be pretty much on-par feature-wise with Windows Media Centre (which I have to say is superb. One of my biggest regrets when I switched to OSX was the lack of WMC - Front Row doesn't cut it, but that's another story).

[marty k. @ Oct 13th 2008 1:14AM]

PS3 does great as Blu-Ray but what about divx/xvid/h264 etc?

[holycow @ Oct 13th 2008 2:25AM]

PS3 plays all that...

[marty k. @ Oct 13th 2008 2:28AM]

Thanks, I did not know that. Does it support subtitles (I watch some anime with English subbs)? If so, what formats are supported?

[ethana2 @ Oct 13th 2008 2:42AM]

You can dual boot it with an OS that can play whatever the heck you want, format wise, so don't sweat it if the XMB can't do something or other.

[marty k. @ Oct 13th 2008 2:46AM]

I assume that subtitles aren't supported via XMB? I would love to have it without keyboard/mouse. Otherwise I can continue to use my laptop ;/

[gonintendo @ Oct 13th 2008 8:33AM]

yes, captions are supported. and u can use the bluetooth remot, ps3 controller,or a keyboard and mouse.

[DirtyVegas @ Oct 13th 2008 1:16AM]

Oh come on, give Blu-ray some time. You're talking about a major format change here, it will take time to be as ubiquitous as DVDs are. I'm not sure who'll buy this particular rig, but if you're buying a new system, might as well get the latest in optical storage.

[kojo87 @ Oct 13th 2008 1:21AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/acer-introduces-24-inch-p244w-1080p-lcd-monitor/

wtf Engadget

[Samuel Axon @ Oct 13th 2008 3:29AM]

Thanks. Noted and corrected. I apologize.

[zfurie @ Oct 13th 2008 4:55AM]

Its not me, its the new guy!

[Jeremy K. @ Oct 13th 2008 1:46AM]

A computer and monitor capable of playing 1080p video for $1080. Who'd have thunk it?

[michas_pi @ Oct 13th 2008 2:09AM]

The speakers look like pedals.

Brum brum.

[wud_e @ Oct 13th 2008 10:09AM]

Not Bad. Would've like to see ATI IGC to go with the AMD proc though. :) I do like Nvidia also though.

[umm....hello??? @ Oct 13th 2008 11:52AM]

sure there's decent BluRay movies out there, but who wants to pay a premium price on them when they're not really worth $30 a pop? NetFlix rentals FTW at $20/month.

[pat @ Dec 16th 2008 7:13PM]

card reader does'nt work took back and got a new one it does'nt work do i really have to driver all the way across town and do this the threeed time