Re: XP vs MCE2005

["Keith Finnett" <keith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "gigtekmediacomputers" > >
>
> > http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/postp1126.html#1126
>
> Don't know of anyone that has built a Pentium-M Media Center yet.
> Have been thinking about it though and in principle this should be
> fine if at the lower end of performance range. Would have concerns
> over its ability to do 720p or 1080i
>

I also agree on the 720p/1080i point. My consideration for this was
that I don't need it today, and in theory it should work with a mid-
to high-spec M. This could be added later (when prices have dropped
on the high-end Ms) as and when the high-def formats appear for
broadcast. I would not be using the media centre as my source for
DVD material, as I have a decent AV setup for this already - in
terms of pure AV the media centre for me is for TV, PVR, audio,
pictures, and some stored video.

>
> Coolermaster seems to be a normal upright case and suspect most
> would prefer a horizontal case for living room/hi-fi look.
>

Hope not!! No, it's definitely a horizontal case, that looks like an
AV unit rather than a PC - that's essential to me. Here's a link to
it on Coolermaster's site:

http://www.coolermaster-
europe.com/eng/products/chassis/cavalier_desktop/cav-t04.asp

>
> Have heard that Samsung keep changing components on Spinpoint and
> some are noisier than others, can't really comment as we use
Seagate.
>

Interesting, hadn't heard that. I've got a Spinpoint 160 (though not
the SATA version) and it's the dogs danglies. Just going with what I
know but i'll have a look at this.

>
> Other specs look ok, don't forget to add a MPEG Decoder as well
and
> not sure if the Pentium-M comes with a quiet cooler.
>

Because of the unusual nature of the M in desktop form, the
motherboards manufacturers are shipping a heatsink and cooler in the
box. The heatsink is tiny, topped with a minute fan. My plan was to
extend the heatsink and make it a little bigger and to ditch the fan
if it was remotely noisy. This would be the only fan in this overall
design, unlike the previous one I put together that was fan-tastic.
That put me right off, so decided to put the money into the M-
approach.


Hope that answers those points!

Cheers,

Keith