- #ASUS ASROCK ION 330 1080P#
- #ASUS ASROCK ION 330 UPGRADE#
- #ASUS ASROCK ION 330 SOFTWARE#
- #ASUS ASROCK ION 330 PC#
- #ASUS ASROCK ION 330 SERIES#
If you are planning on a hideaway HTPC or a carpc, this is the perfect way to go. It comes in Linux and Windows versions and there’s one where you can put in your own HDD. You can get one for between $250 and just over $400, depending on the configuration.
#ASUS ASROCK ION 330 SERIES#
If you want something that is smaller than a CD and runs in absolute silence, the FitPC2 models are varied but they use the Z series Atom processors and the Poulsbo chipset to decode HD video at, what they claim, has only 20% CPU usage. Pssst – just saw one going for $273 at compclasse. But with HDDs prices going so low these days, you can buy a large HDD for the Mac Mini and still stay around $350. To further project it as a home theater product, its makers have decided to carve out two more variants: the ION 330HT, and ION 330HT-BD. It already has a Blu-ray drive equipped model, the ION 330-BD to its credit.
#ASUS ASROCK ION 330 PC#
The only problem is that these older models ship with smaller HDDs. ASRocks ION NetTop series, thanks to its specifications, apparently has what it takes to be a home theater PC in itself. You can get Core 2 Duo machines with 1 to 2GB of RAM for under $300 if you look around. If you want the goodness of Apple’s OS X and want something more powerful than your average Atom-based nettop, this is a really great thing to have. It accepts DDR2 533 RAM, 2.5†HDD and has a volume of only 3liters. You can easily get the barebone model for about $190 and build it up with components of your choice.
#ASUS ASROCK ION 330 SOFTWARE#
It comes with Windows 7 and Blu-ray playback software plus it's far faster in applications – head over to Mesh's website for more details.Selling for about $390, this nettop has won a lot of accolades from all quarters including an editor’s choice award from CNET in April this year. If size isn't a big issue, however, then Mesh's Cute Inspire, plus its optional Blu-ray drive, is a better bet at £380. Then again there aren't any other Blu-ray equipped nettops on the market and you'd be hard pushed to build your own at this price. We really like the 330HT-BD from a hardware perspective, but the lack of Windows and Blu-ray playback software makes it more expensive than it first appears. The Atom 330 processor is fine for day-to-day web browsing and office tasks, but isn't up to tougher tests like video editing. The small fan is a touch whiny, but you won't notice if it's tucked under your TV on the opposite side of the living room. The laptop-style pop out Blu-ray drive doesn’t feel very sturdy or look very classy – a slot loading drive would have been a far better choice. It's not quite as compact as our favourite nettop, the EB1012, but then that doesn't have a built-in optical drive. VGA and HDMI ports complete the set, and there's a bundled DVI adaptor too. There are six USB ports, eSATA, minijacks supporting 5.1 surround sound audio and an optical S/PDIF. On the back is the usual wide range of ports we'd come to expect from an Ion-based device. The included Media Center remote control has the standard button layout and the same gloss finish as the nettop. There's built-in wireless 802.11n, with no unsightly antennas to be seen, plus a built-in IR receiver, so you don't have to use a USB one. The case is compact and the shiny black finish is unlikely to upset anyone. So while it is quiet, this whine becomes really bothersome rather. Due to the tiny fans inside the unit, there is a subtle high pitch whine. While that is certainly a positive aspect, the type of noise the unit emits is much worse. Much so in comparison with the Zotac MAG Ion. On the plus side, it's a smartly designed device. The ASRock ION 330HT-BD is extremely quiet during normal operations. If you don't have either of these available to you then you'll have to pay out around £180 before you can even watch a Blu-ray movie.
#ASUS ASROCK ION 330 UPGRADE#
If you have a spare retail copy of XP, then you'll only have to pay the £65 upgrade price for Windows 7.īlu-ray playback software isn't free either, though, with most packages (like PowerDVD 9 Ultra) costing around £50. How much it costs to get the 330HT-BD up and running largely depends on what software you've got to hand. In fact, it goes a little further than that, as there's no operating system supplied either – with its sizable 320GB hard disk being supplied blank.
#ASUS ASROCK ION 330 1080P#
The Ion chipset is capable of smoothly playback of 1080p video, and there's a HDMI output for connection to an HD TV, but there's no software provided for Blu-ray playback. The Ion 330HT-BD is the first nettop we've seen that can play Blu-ray movies.
Asrock's new nettop has the same core hardware, but it’s the inclusion of a Blu-ray drive that really had us excited. Nvidia's Ion chipset and a dual core Intel Atom 330 processor has proved a winning combination in recent months, a good example being Asus's Eee Box EB1012.
0 kommentar(er)
