[mythtv-users] Best front-end machine?

[Michael T. Dean]

On 09/04/2011 02:11 PM, jedi wrote:
> On Sat, Sep 03, 2011 at 01:11:36PM -0400, Michael T. Dean wrote:
>> On 09/03/2011 11:02 AM, jedi wrote:
>>> On Fri, Sep 02, 2011 at 02:49:48AM -0400, Raymond Wagner wrote:
>>>> On 9/2/2011 02:16, john.baab wrote:
>>>>> There are some pre-built ion boxes too, which generally have smaller
>>>>> cases but don't give you the flexibility of building your own.
>>>> Pre-built or not, Atom-based systems have zero flexibility.  The CPU
>>>       That's pretty much true of any low profile machine. It's not just
>>> limited to Atom based machines. Lack of flexibility is a trade off for
>>> greatly reduced size.
>> Losing flexibility in adding more hardware is a trade off of choosing a
>> small case.  Using a processor that can't process the data it's given in
>> any case--large or small--is just choosing to limit yourself for no good
>> reason, IMHO.
>      Cutting the cost in half or by two thirds is actually a great reason.
>
> [deletia]
>
>      When compared to a Mini (or better hardware), an ION is cheap enough
> just to try out as an experiment even if you aren't expecting it to work.

Which is why I don't do off-the-shelf boxes like the Mac Mini or ASRock 
Vision 3D.  You can get a real computer for the cost of an Atom+ION box 
and that runs at nearly the same power usage.

They were only shown as proof that small form factor can be done with a 
real processor in such a way that I didn't become the tech support for 
random people who read my post--instead, ASRock can handle tech 
support.  Or the reader can actually read some of the articles about how 
to build their own small-form-factor PC with Core 2/Core i/Athlon II 
processor and that idles at low power usage and save themselves money 
(and be their own tech support :).  Below are a few old articles I've 
linked before:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/25w-performance-pc,2551.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-e7200-g31,2039.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-atom-efficiency,2069.html

>      If you are really worried about the future, then there is no substitute
> for building/buying something that can be upgraded when your requirements
> change. Otherwise you are bound to have more expensive doorstops versus
> cheaper doorstops.

Agreed.  I'd build.  I wouldn't get a mobile processor (because those 
are extremely expensive--which is why Mac Mini and ASRock Vision 3D are 
expensive).  And, I'd get a system for equal or lower price than an 
Atom+ION--but that still idles at nearly the same power usage as the 
Atom system.

Mike