mediapcs

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  • iBUYPOWER's Core i7-powered LAN Warrior makes other SFF rigs weep

    by 
    Darren Murph
    Darren Murph
    04.28.2009

    See that, Shuttle? Yeah, that's your worst nightmare. iBUYPOWER has just shocked the small form factor (SFF) world with a new rig that's potent enough to act as your standalone gaming machine. Equipped with a menacing look, a carry handle and room for two full-sized dual slot video cards, the aptly titled LAN Warrior caters to no one outside of the enthusiast niche. For the crowd willing to shell out for the latest and greatest, they'll find a Core i7 CPU (920, 940 and 965 Extreme available, up to five ventilation fans, an optional liquid cooling system, ASUS' Rampage II Gene X58 motherboard, up to 12GB of DDR3 memory, twin GeForce GTX 295 / Radeon 4870 x2 GPUs, four internal 3.5-inch bays, up to 6TB of HDD space, up to two Blu-ray writers, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi and a planet-killing 1000-watt power supply. Amazingly, the starting tag on this one is just $999, and it's available now from the outfit's website. Full release is after the break.

  • Acer AspireRevo review

    by 
    Paul Miller
    Paul Miller
    04.28.2009

    We've been thrilling to the ride of Acer's Ion-powered AspireRevo for a couple of weeks now, and despite its diminutive size and price tag, there's plenty to talk about. The model we tested included an Atom 230 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 250GB 2.5-inch HDD for what we've heard will carry a suggested retail price of $299. Check out our full impressions after the break.

  • Okoro debuts new rack-mountable RK Series media servers

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    04.20.2009

    Rack-mounted media servers aren't exactly for everybody, but those looking to really go all out with their home theater may want to consider one of Okoro's new RK Series models, which boast some base specs that are sure to make almost anyone a little envious. That includes an Intel Core i7 processor, an 80GB SSD OS drive, a minimum 2TB of additional storage, at least 6GB of RAM, a built-in Blu-ray drive, multiple CableCARD TV tuners, and full support for multi-zone audio controllable from a UMPC or MID, among other equally high-end specs. Naturally, pricing appears to be on a need to know basis, but Okoro will throw in a free Quantum of Solace Blu-ray with each system -- which we're sure will be just the thing to push folks over the edge.

  • AOpen rolls out XC Encore OE700 media PC

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    04.13.2009

    It's been a little while since AOpen last popped up on our radar, but the company certainly hasn't stopped cranking out tiny media PCs in the interim, and it looks like it might have a winner on its hands with its new XC Encore OE700 model. While the core specs of your choice of Core 2 Duo processor and up to 4GB RAM aren't exactly anything remarkable, the system does employ a number of measures to ensure it stays as quiet as possible, including a Smart Anti-Vibration System that dampens hard drive noise, and a new case design dubbed SNSS (or Smart Noise Suppression System) that promises to keep all the other noises in check. You'll even get a home theater-friendly VFD display and, of course, a Media Center compatible remote control -- assuming you live in Japan, that is, as there's still no indication of a release 'round these parts.[Via Electronista]

  • HP MediaSmart Server LX195 lights up in leaked images

    by 
    Ross Miller
    Ross Miller
    04.13.2009

    Not even two weeks have passed since we first spotted HP's 640GB MediaSmart Server LX195 in boxed form, care of Mr. Blurrycam, and now we've got what appears to be a couple of official press photos. Stylish aesthetics aside, it's sporting four USBs, an ethernet port, and DC input for a power brick. What we're not seeing is any way to swap out or add storage, so it looks like that "single drive server" speculation might be on the money. Speaking of which, the company still hasn't made this official, and as such, there's no word on pricing or availability.[Via MediaSmartServer.net]

  • Niveus goes consumer-level with tantalizing Zone HTPC

    by 
    Darren Murph
    Darren Murph
    04.01.2009

    Each year at CEDIA, we've been downright floored with Niveus' lineup. Unfortunately, it's out of reach for the vast majority of "mainstreet" dwellers. At long (long!) last, the company has decided to expand its reach and offer a product for the blue collars in America, and on paper, the Zone looks like a real champ in the flagging HTPC arena. Measuring in at 6.5- x 6.5- x 1.97-inches, this 3.2 pound box packs an awful lot of media playing oomph into a ridiculously small enclosure. Specs wise, we're looking at a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5750 CPU, 2GB of RAM, gigabit Ethernet, a 160GB SATA drive, slot-loading Blu-ray optical drive, front-mounted IR receiver, bundled media remote, Intel's GMA X4500 HD graphics, HDMI 1.3 / eSATA ports and support for 7.1-channel surround sound. Over on the software front, you'll see Windows Vista Home Premium along with Niveus' own suite of apps (Movie Library, Studio, Media Server Companion and Weather). Unlike any other Niveus system, consumers can purchase the Zone for $1,499 directly from the outfit's website, and there's also a unique Zone Community down in the read link; check out a promotional vid after the break if you wish.

  • New HP MediaSmart Server LX195 caught out there by Mr. Blurrycam

    by 
    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    03.31.2009

    HP MediaSmart Server enthusiast skeeter has uncovered what looks like the latest addition to the line, the LX195. Sporting a mere 640GB, MediaSmartServer.net speculates this edition could be a single drive model, slotting in below the EX475 and EX485 with additional hard drive space added via USB. That's all there is to know, at least until someone gets a peek at one outside the box.

  • Shuttle's Mini H7 4500H media PC joins Blu-ray, DVB-S tuner in matrimony

    by 
    Ross Miller
    Ross Miller
    03.31.2009

    Shuttle's back with another mini HTPC, the H7 4500H, only this time you can swap out that DVB-T tuner with a DVB-S for satellite TV. The cost of going for the latter means you have to settle onboard graphics only, but either way you're still getting DVR capabilities and Windows Media Center. Max configuration for the Vista-based machine includes 2.83GHz Intel Core 2 Quad, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285, 1TB SATA HDD, 4GB DDR2 RAM, and a Blu-ray writer. It's also got HDMI, SPDIF, eSATA, FireWire and six USB ports. Starting price is around €775 ($1,020), but if you're planning to get the whole kit and kaboodle, the price jumps to about €1858 ($2,450). [Via I4U]

  • Digital foundry's HDScope is the capture device for gamers who serve gamers videos about gaming

    by 
    Tim Stevens
    Tim Stevens
    03.24.2009

    If you wanted to launch a videogame site in the old days all you needed was high school grammar and a bunch of grainy, 300 x 200 screencaps of Mario 64. Today's readers are a more fickle bunch, wanting monitor-busting screenshots and CPU-taxing HD videos of the latest Xbox 360 and PS3 titles. To cater to the sites who will cater to those gamers, Digital Foundry is launching the HDScope, a pixel-crunching, semi-portable PC designed explicitly for recording content in 480i, 576i, 480p, 720p, or 1080i via component or HDMI inputs. It sports a 7-inch touchscreen, meaning you can just plug this into the wall and start gathering footage from that exclusive (and oddly dusty) beta copy of Duke Nukem: Forever you scored. No word on price or availability, but launch a site full of random videos captured on one of these and you'll surely be swimming in ad revenue -- and outrageous hosting fees.[Thanks, Dirk]

  • MSI rolls out R4600 HDMI GPU series for HTPC builders

    by 
    Darren Murph
    Darren Murph
    03.21.2009

    We won't say the homegrown HTPC is making a comeback or anything, but shortly after Lian-Li laid out a new pair of cases, in flies MSI with a new duo of media PC-centric video cards. The R4600 series is comprised of the R4650 and R4670 (ATI), both of which are available in 512MB of 1GB flavors. Aside from boasting an all-too-useful HDMI port, these cards also support 7.1-channel audio output for use with internal Blu-ray drives, and the design is such that they won't infringe on any other nearby PCIe cards. Per usual, MSI left us hanging with respect to pricing and availability, but we're going out on a limb and expecting these to be totally reasonable.

  • HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof

    by 
    Ross Miller
    Ross Miller
    03.21.2009

    Following up on its impressive debut earlier this month, HABEY's unveiled the BIS-6540HD mini HTPC that, like its 6550 counterpart, is capable of running an impressive 1080p signal with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor -- special thanks go to its HD hardware decoder for that feat. The fanless unit also features up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, eight USB ports, a built-in CF socket, two SATA II ports with SSD support, DVI and VGA outputs, ethernet, and options for wireless and HD TV tuner. No word on pricing or availability, but it looks like it's being marketed as an OEM product and we suspect it'll cost more than a pretty penny. Check out the video after the break to see it rocking Planet Earth on Blu-ray.

  • Cyberpower Gamer Dragon 9500 desktop gets reviewed

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    03.20.2009

    It's not the first Dragon-based gaming rig out there but, according to ComputerShopper, Cyberpower's new Gamer Dragon 9500 may just be one of the best bargains around, with it even able to do double duty as a media PC if you're looking to keep your number of boxes to a minimum. That latter attribute comes larger from its addition of a Blu-ray drive, but the system expectedly really delivers the goods when it comes to gaming, with the ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics (with 2GB of DDR5 memory) helping to pump out some respectable frame rates at even ridiculous resolutions. The $1,499 base price will also get you a generous 1TB hard drive, 4GB of RAM and, of course, the 3.6GHz AMD Phenom II X4 940 processor at the heart of the rig. Hit up the link below for the full rundown, and a few benchmark numbers.

  • ASUS EeeBox PC B208 with dual-core Atom and HD 4350 graphics un-announced

    by 
    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    03.17.2009

    Funny. After making a brief appearance on ASUS' website, its top-end EeeBox PC B208 disappeared. Fortunately, there's Google cache. The B208 trumps ASUS' B206 by slapping a dual-core, 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor into the slim, monitor-riding slab as well as 256MB of ATI Radeon Hd 4350 graphics. That should help make the most of the built-in HDMI port and 320GB hard disk (plus 4x USB 2.0) should you like to use the little guy as a make-shift 802.11n / gigabit Ethernet media server (buzzing along at 26dB) on your home network. No price given but we expect it to pop for less than 500 bucks, eventually.[Thanks, Brad]

  • Dell lets Adamo 9 and Studio One 22 slip

    by 
    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    03.17.2009

    In another of those extra-special slip-ups peculiar to Dell, we get the unofficial announcement of a pair of new computers courtesy of Dell's own support documents. This time, it's the Dell Adamo 9 and Studio One 22. From that bit of info we can deduce a 9-inch, ultra-glam, ultra-portable laptop carrying Dell's luxury Adamo brand as well as a 22-inch version of Dell's sexy Studio One all-in-one PC. Pretty sweet by comparison to the relative heft of the just announced 13-inch Adamo laptop and the tiny display on Dell's 19-inch Studio One. Good times.Update: Blogeee.net spotted the Adamo 9 on the compatibility list for the Dell Wireless 5530 card. In other words, the Adamo 9 will offer both internal HSPA data and GPS lock as an optional update.[Thanks, Steve S.]

  • Kinetic HD:Hub HTPC gets hip with Core i7, square with HD DVD

    by 
    Darren Murph
    Darren Murph
    03.15.2009

    We know, vendors have to get rid of these leftover HD DVD drives somehow, but it's still a tad comical to see brand new systems shipping with support for a format that perished over a year ago. Nevertheless, we're still pretty jazzed about Kinetic's HD:Hub, as the built-in HD DVD drive is actually a dual-format player that handles the very much alive Blu-ray format as well. Furthermore, this one comes with a potent Core i7 processor, up to four TV tuners, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, a Creative X-Fi Titanium sound card and Windows Vista runnin' the show. There's no mention of a price, but we get the feeling that these are mostly reserved for those across the pond.[Thanks, Anonymous]

  • HABEY intros Atom N270-powered mini HTPC, makes it crunch 1080p

    by 
    Darren Murph
    Darren Murph
    03.11.2009

    An Atom N270-powered rig that can handle 1080p content? Say it ain't so! The relatively unknown HABEY has stepped forward with a minuscule media PC that includes a fairly weak CPU and a potent hardware decoder that can supposedly handle 1080p content and even Blu-ray flicks. The BIS-6550HD is meant to be one of the most energy efficient machines on the planet to adequately play back 1080p material, with the entire system sucking down under 13 watts. Complementing the 1.6GHz processor is a single SODIMM slot for carrying up to 2GB of RAM, wireless / HDTV tuner options, a slew of video outputs, multicard reader, gigabit Ethernet and four USB 2.0 sockets. Unfortunately, pricing and availability both remain undisclosed, but we get the feeling you'll be paying dearly for the chance to see 1080p sans stutter on a machine this tiny.

  • New CableCARD diagnostic tool for Windows Media Center makes installation slightly less frustrating

    by 
    Ross Miller
    Ross Miller
    03.07.2009

    Let's be honest, getting a CableCARD to work with Windows Media Center is far, far, far from a smooth process. Thankfully, the Media Center Integrator Alliance -- this sort of the things is its bag, naturally -- are set to show off a Digital Cable Tuner Diagnostics tool at next week's Electronic House Expo. It'll provide all kinds of information on your tuner and CableCARD, including modulation type, format, frequency, carrier, PCR Lock, encoding level, and authorization -- and if all that goes way over your head, there's an option to export the data to XML and send it to someone who can help. No word on when we'll see an official release, but no matter what, it won't be soon enough.

  • Onkyo rolls out Sotec-branded E702A9 media PC

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    03.07.2009

    Looking for something a bit more all-in-one than Onkyo's HDC-1L nettop / HTPC? Then you may want to consider the company's new Sotec-branded E702A9 media PC, which keeps things relatively inconspicuous while packing some decent specs all around. That includes a 1080p 21.5-inch display, a Core 2 Duo E7400 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, a 4x Blu-ray drive, a built-in TV tuner, an included iPod dock, and some seemingly slightly better than usual 8W speakers. No word on a release 'round here just yet, but folks in Japan can apparently pick one up now for ¥179,000, or just over $1,800.[Via Newlaunches.com]

  • S1Digital intros P500 Media Center, updates ProLine Series of HTPCs

    by 
    Darren Murph
    Darren Murph
    02.05.2009

    It's been a hot minute since S1Digital tickled our attention with a new media center, but the outfit is hitting back this year with a new machine along with updates to a number of its ProLine Series rigs. The new kid on the block is the P500 Media Center, which is available with up to four CableCARD tuners (plus a QAM / ATSC tuner), support for internal RAID5 storage, HDMI / DVI, 7.1-channel audio output and Intel's latest Core 2 Duo processors. As for the refreshed bunch, you can catch the S800 and P600 with Blu-ray drives as standard, quad CableCARD tuners and support for home automation integration with Crestron, AMX, RTI, HAI and PC based-touchscreens over IP or RS-232. Every machine mentioned here can be ordered up now, with the new P500 starting at a staggering $5,999 sans tuners.

  • Silicon Mountain debuts Atom-based Allio Lite LCD TV-PC

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    02.02.2009

    It's just been a few months since Silicon Mountain rolled out its first Allio LCD TV-PCs, but it looks like the company has already found some room for expansion courtesy of everyone's favorite cost-reducing processor. While the TV portion of the 1080p 42-inch model and 720p 32-inch model each remain identical to their predecessors, the innards have taken on more of a netbook/nettop flavor, with each packing a dual-core Atom 330 processor, along with a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and a DVD drive (no Blu-ray option, it seems), plus Windows Vista Home Premium for an OS. That, as you might expect, lowers the cost of entry a tad, with the 42-inch model now demanding $1,599 (the same as the full-featured 32-inch model), while the Atom-based 32-incher will run you $1,299.