With ATI’s Radeon HD 5000-series GPUs and Intel’s Clarkdale-based processors coming loaded with multi-media functionality, it’s a great time to build an HTPC. We compare three enclosures from Moneual, Thermaltake, and Zalman, all priced very differently.
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Touch-Screen HTPC: Three Premium Cases Compared
Gateway computer introduced some new models into three of its desktop computer lines. The upgraded machines feature more power, capacity, and performance while maintaining Gateway’s trademark low price tag.
In the FX line, revamped machines sport Intel Core i7 processors, Radeon HD5850, at least 8GB of DDR3 memory and Blu-ray/DVD or DVD-RW drive and numerous improvements to its chassis design. The highest priced FX unit runs at $1699.99. The DX line runs Intel Core i5 processors and various nVidia graphics and Blu-ray options depending on your configuration maintaining a midline pricing of about $849.99 (Nvidia GT220, 4x Blu-Ray). Lastly, the SX series of small-form-factor desktops gets Core i3 processors, GMA X4500HD graphics, 6GB DDR3 memory retailing at $599.99 and handles HDMI out of the box for HTPC builders.
You can check out Gateway’s latest improvements at the Gateway store.
There aren't many power users in the PC (as in, Window's based PCs) community who will admit to wanting a Mac, but there are those who secretly love the look of Apple's Mac Mini. If this sounds like you, then you might be a prime candidate for Ripple Look's new HTPC, which looks a lot like that other kind of personal computer.
From what we can gather, the Ripple Look boasts an Intel Atom 230 processor, a 2.5-inch 160GB hard drive, integrated Intel GMA X4500 graphics with HD video support and DX10, four USB 2.0 ports, a LAN port, audio inputs, printer port, serial port, and VGA port. Missing, however, is HDMI and Wi-Fi connectivity.
There are a couple of different ways you can situate the Ripple Look in your living room. Rubber pads on the bottom prevent vibration if you opt to toss the unit into your home theater rack, or you can remove the bottom plate to reveal VESA mount holes for attaching it to the back of your LCD TV or monitor.
No word yet on price or availability, but you can check out a video demo here.
Image Credit: Ripple Look via Gizmodo
The chaps at PiixL, a London-based startup, announced on Saturday a crazy thin home theater PC (HTPC) called the EdgeCenter 3770. But unlike other space-saving HTPC setups, this one's designed to be mounted directly behind any flat screen TV with a VESA mounting interface and a screen size between 37 to 70 inches.
That means you can hide your HTPC out of sight rather than taking up a shelf in your home theater's rack. And though it measures just 30mm thick, the base model EdgeCenter 3770 supports up to two TV tuners, an Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processor, integrated Nvidia 9300 graphics, up to 4GB of ultra low profile DDR2 RAM, up to 2TB of hard drive space, optional 7.1 audio, an optional Blu-ray reader/writer, and Windows 7 Ultimate in either 32-bit or 64-bit form.
There's also a couple of higher-end configurations, like the EdgeCenter 3770 Maxxed Up Edition. This one boasts two Intel Xeon processors, up to a staggering 24GB of DDR3 memory, and videocard options ranging from the ATI HD 4670 on up to the HD 5850 (the 5850 negates the ability to mount the EdgeCenter on a 500x400 VESA pattern).
PiixL's new EdgeCenter models are available now starting at about $3,650 on the low end, and about $8,050 for the dual-Xeon configuration.
Image Credit: PiixL via Engadget
The folks over at Boxee released some great information and pictures about the "soon to be released" Boxee box. Boxee has partnered with networking giant D-Link to build and develop the new set-top box.
On the Boxee blog, Andrew Kippen posted some nice pictures of the new hardware. Astro Studios created the design of the box, the same folks who worked on the Xbox 360. They hope to keep the cost of the box sub-$200 and it features a slew of ports (HDMI, SPDIF, USB, 802.11n/Ethernet, to name the biggies). It also seems to be quite petite (see pictures below using soda can for scale).
They expect the box to be released in quarter two of 2010. They also plan to announce more details at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
Now available from USB Geek is the aptly named USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad. The marketing gurus have pegged the device as a simple wireless input device, but this could be the perfect stocking stuffer for HTPC enthusiasts.
You won't find a multitouch interface nor is there an LCD. But it does come with a trackpad, wireless USB dongle, and a QWERTY keyboard in a form factor that will have all those hours honing your text messaging skills paying off.
It works from up to 30 feet away, and a bright backlight ensures you'll have little trouble manipulating your DVR in the dark. It also comes with a built-in rechargeable battery and supports Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000. And at $62, it's not going to break the bank either.
Check out a video of the remote USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad in action here, then hit up the product page for more info.
Image Credit: USB Geek
If the Mac Mini and a bag of Skittles were to share a night of unbridled love, we're pretty the love child of such an affair would look identical to the Zino HD, Dell's new line of colorful low-power home theater PCs.
Dell kicks off the HTPC line with several base configurations, each one built around an AMD processor. The least expensive Zino HD starts at just $230 and includes an AMD Athlon 2560e processor (1.6GHz, 512KB L2 cache), 2GB of DDR2-800 memory, 250GB hard drive spinning at 7200RPM, integrated ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics, 2.1 audio, an 8X DVD burner, and Windows Vista Home Basic. The OS is a bit of a surprise, considering each of the three other configurations come with Windows 7 Home Premium in 64-bit trim.
The highest priced model checks in at $650 and kicks the processor up to an AMD Athlon 2850e (1.8GHz, 512KB L2 cache), doubles up on memory (4GB), adds twice as much storage (500GB), tosses in an ATI Radeon HD 4330 videocard with a 512MB frame buffer, and includes a 20-inch Dell ST2010 widescreen monitor.
All of the models come with 4 USB ports (2 each on the front and back) and 2 eSATA ports.
The Zino HD is available now through Dell.com.
Image Credit: Dell via Gizmodo
Dell has officially launched the its Inspiron Zino HD, an ultra-compact desktop that also doubles as an HTPC.
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Dell Launches Tiny, Little Inspiron Zino HD
