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Odie
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« on: February 11, 2002, 01:50:25 AM » |
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Interested in a low end barebones?
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Odie
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« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2002, 01:50:25 AM » |
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Would anyone be interested in a very low end barebones with an integrated C3 733 processor, totally fanless, that sold for somewhere around $150 retail? It would be similar in concept to the SV24, but much quieter, cheaper, and lower end hardware.
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jakeg
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« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2002, 07:30:18 AM » |
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I think there would be more interest in making a successor to the SV24 with an external PSU and totally fanless, say with a C3 933MHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB Barracuda IV. With a price point of more like $500 rather than $150. It should be able to run DVDs but nothing more power intensive.
In general, if you can make the SV24 run silently then I'm sold ten times over.
I think $150 is perhaps too low for home users, who generally like the idea of being able to watch DVDs. It would be perfect however for office use.
Jake.
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ScutMonkey
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« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2002, 04:20:37 AM » |
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What would be nice to have on the SV24/FV24 is a more capable sound chip. The AC97 sound is just not going to cut it. There are integrated solutions out there that support 5.1 surround sound now. That would be my suggestion for a next step.
Next, I'd eliminate that Macrovision crap. I have an FV24 motherboard that I hook up to my TV. I have no end of problems running DVDs on it because of macrovision. I realize they want to combat piracy, but all I'm trying to do is watch a movie and macrovision stops that from happening if I don't go through a laborious process to get around it.
I don't like the idea of a lower end video product on it. I'm using the S-video outlet to run the DVD out on mine and right now I get this huge line that runs up the screen over and over. cheaper hardware is going to make this worse, not better.
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Odie
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« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2002, 01:43:15 PM » |
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All new Shuttle barebones, including this ultra-low end one, would have real hardware sound (CMedia 6 channel that everyone is using).
As for Macrovision, not all TV-encoder chips use it. Both the new barebones, and the newer one I'm referring to, have different TV-out chips, so its possible that Macrovision is gone. Actually, the low end one has a VIA one that I'm sure removes Macrovision.
You can also just use PowerDVD, as we discovered earlier. I've been doing so on my SV24 without issue.
Yes, DVD performance will be bad on a PLE133 chipset board, so that would be the major limitation. But still, half the size of the SV24, half the price, hardware sound, AND integrated 733MHz C3 seems like a good deal to me.
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jakeg
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« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2002, 07:06:45 PM » |
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You mention the integrated 733MHz C3: why this one not the 933MHz, for example? Am I not correct in saying that the 800MHz+ version are based on .13 rather than .15 die sizes, and hence run cooler? I'm presuming that the 733 choice is based upon lower heat dissipation, ensuring the system can indeed run fanlessly. If the choice is based upon something else, please elaborate. The price difference between 733 and 933 is $50 retail - increasing the price of the unit to $200 from $150 to accommodate would put very few of purchasing it.
> "half the size of the SV24, half the price, hardware sound, AND integrated 733MHz C3 seems like a good deal to me."
It does indeed. With DVD playback it would be perfect. Without it it would still be the best computer on the market for my needs/requirements/desires.
Let me know as soon as it's released/more news is available. The plan is to build several dozen PCs based on the SV24, its successor or Eden for fellow students on campus here in Nottingham, England.
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Odie
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« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2002, 09:45:44 PM » |
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I don't believe VIA is selling EBGA C3's above 733MHz, but I may be wrong. Basically, the choices for EBGA are:
Eden 400 (400MHz, 1.0V)
Eden 533 (533MHz, 1.2V)
Eden 600 (600MHz, 1.2V)
C3 667 (667MHz, 1.5V)
C3 733 (733MHz, 1.5V)
The Eden's would probably be able to run in a totally fanless case, but the C3's might require some sort of tiny active cooling, as NO airflow is pretty tough for any processor.
Unfortunetly, VIA does not yet manufacturer a .13micron EBGA processor, which limits the clock speed and heat disipation considerably.
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jakeg
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« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2002, 05:48:43 AM » |
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Being new to all this, I'm not aware of what EBGA is. I'll trust you on that one then.
> "The Eden's would probably be able to run in a totally fanless case, but the C3's might require some sort of tiny active cooling, as NO airflow is pretty tough for any processor."
Have you looked into making it use convection more efficiently? i.e. designing the whole box around total convection cooling, with simple inlet and outlet holes for the air to come in/out. This may also involve mounting the motherboard differently, mind.
Another thing I was thinking was why can't the case simply be littered by air holes all over? i.e. not just at the front and back? Although that might be a bit dodgy in terms of foreign objects. But if the worry is that holes will let noise out then that's not a concern if it's fanless with an near-silent drive such as the Barracuda IV.
I'm determined to get myself a silent system!
Jake.
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netpliance
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« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2002, 05:39:14 AM » |
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Yes,
However a caveat, it'd have to be powerful enough to handle dvd playback. If you had a quiet computer, which could manage to also play/record dvd, it'd be kinda nice.
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Rhino!!!
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« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2002, 11:59:26 PM » |
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Yeah that's a great deal. I'd snatch one up in a minute.
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Ultim8pc
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« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2002, 03:24:09 AM » |
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I'd go for one - looks like it could be a better alternative to the SV24 from a noise point of view!
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ScutMonkey
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« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2002, 10:05:16 PM » |
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Actually Odie, PowerDVD 4 doesn't work 100%. What I've found that I have to do is this. Unhook the TV, power up the system on a monitor, plug in the S-Video, configure the TV section and then I'm good. If I power the system down and unplug the monitor then the system thinks the TV is the primary display (which it is) and Macrovision goes into effect. I'm hesitant to pull that monitor off there will the computer is running, so there it stays in my living room.
What kills me is that it's illegal. Anything that blocks the legitimate use of my equiptment is defined as illegal. This is completely legit.
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Odie
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« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2002, 12:54:41 PM » |
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Thats strange, PowerDVD works fine for me on my SV24. Maybe try updating to the newest S3 drivers off www.s3graphics.com. The new barebones will have either a SiS or VIA TV-encoder, which wont support Macrovision =) |
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