Buy this for its economy and low power consumption. This is a 5 rating for my needs. wouldn't rate higher than a three for multimedia or games. There are better options (I wonder how much those options would get to cost).
Strengths: Low power. Using PicoPSU and Maxtor 160GB EIDE, LiteOn DVD writer the system runs 24-40Watts. The DVD kicks it up to 40. Idles at 24.
Weaknesses: Display sucks and no upgrade slot for AGP or PCIe.
Summary: Using a Dell 1905FP LCD display there are blurry areas splattered around the screen. Other MBs with better built in GPUs do not have this problem. The GeForce 6100M and AMD 690G work excellent. Using the same hardware on a GeForce 6100M the power usage is 30-55 Watts with a BE2300 CPU.
just found the board's support siteAre we talking about the same boards here ??
http://www.pcchips.com.tw/PCCWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?CategoryID=1&TypeID=19&DetailID=384&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=1&LanID=2 (http://www.pcchips.com.tw/PCCWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?CategoryID=1&TypeID=19&DetailID=384&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=1&LanID=2)
complete specs of the motherboard from via's website:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/empowered/pc2500_platform/index.jsp
ohhh we have one of those people that like to correct everyone else :P
After more digging I think I found out exactly what this mobo is and who made it. A company called "iDot" is VIA's motherboard arm and they make both the 2500E (the original reference model) and the 2500G, which is this board. Google search "iDot 2500G" and you'll find them.
(http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/85/30/31/00/0085303100194_215X215.jpg) | (http://pics.fiire.com/images/fiire_station_desktop_front_opened.jpg) |
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Please, if you see I'm missing something feel free to say so
First - useful direct comparison, and nice formatting :).
The main difference for $300 extra for Fiire is that LMCE is preinstalled and supported, including upgrades. But I'd like to see the specifics of the two different support models. Eg. Ubuntu support costs $275 for a year from Ubuntu.com . IDK whether Fiire's support includes any KDE Desktop support, or just what support it does offer - and they're supporting mostly appliance users.
if only:
The gPC would come in a smaller set top box
it would ship to Europe
As you can see in the picture below, the gPC mainboard is really small (Micro-ATX 225mm x 190mm), they put it in such a big case because people relate size with capabilities when buying it in Wal-Martbigger isn't always better
$200 Wal-mart's gPC vs $500 Fiire Station (set top box)[/b]
- Video: Via UniChrome Pro II PC graphics plus hardware-accelerated alpha blended open gl and MPEG 2 decoder using licensed drivers and codecs
$200 Wal-mart's gPC vs $500 Fiire Station (set top box)[/b]
- Video: Via UniChrome Pro II PC graphics plus hardware-accelerated alpha blended open gl and MPEG 2 decoder using licensed drivers and codecs
Makes the fire the clear winner with features vs cost for a full blown media director. Those drivers are not out in the wild and make a massive difference. Also it has gigabit ethernet which is a plus.
All I'm wanting to do with my gOS dev board is to run a touchscreen and bluetooth detection near my back door. So it will work perfect in UI1 as a minimal use md that at most may be asked to handle music duties in my living room.
**FIIRE'S RESPONSE**
All the FiireStations, 1" and 2.2" and STB, use the same graphics engine, based on an embedded Via solution. Neither the standard Via Linux drivers, nor the OpenChrome drivers support alpha-blending. Only nVidia does, but nVidia has problems with video tearing. So, special drivers were developed just for LinuxMCE for the Via engine. Fiire licenses those drivers.
These drivers do support alpha blending and high-quality video playback. The alpha blending is done in a non-standard way. It doesn't use Xorg's composite extensions, and the popup portions of the menu are not alpha blended. However the menu itself is. So is the media file browser screen.
The big problem with these licensed drivers is that MythTV doesn't work with it, nor does Kubuntu 0704 or 0710, or the KDE desktop. So, the FiireEngine ships with a special diskless image for the FiireStations based on Kubuntu 0610 without KDE. It works fine for media playback, and you can record Myth shows on the FiireEngine, but you cannot run Myth locally.
We're currently trying to get the OpenChrome and/or Via stock Linux drivers to work with the Fiire Stations and Kubuntu 0710. When we do, FiireStation users will have the choice of using those standard drivers with the latest LinuxMCE, Myth, and KDE, but without alpha blending, or continuing to use the proprietary drivers which we licensed which do alpha blending, but don't run Myth or KDE.
Since then I’ve reformatted and put the latest version of Ubuntu on it.
I've since installed the KDE based kubuntu-desktop (sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop) just to see how it works - works great
Don't kill me for saying this, bu I was just wondering if a KDE installation on gOS (gOS is a distro based on Ubuntu) would be enough for LinuxMCE installation instead of installing Kubuntu from scratch.QuoteI've since installed the KDE based kubuntu-desktop (sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop) just to see how it works - works great
That quote was about kubuntu-desktop installation on gOS from http://healthysystem.blogspot.com/2007/11/200-gos-gnulinux-photo-review.html
we are testing a number of fanless Via based clients using the C7/CN700 or CX700M chipsets at 1Ghz to 1.5Ghz. We just add a stick of memory, and optical drive if needed and thats it. Out of the box currently Kubuntu 7.04 and lmce-0704 do not have the Via driver support so you would need to build the Unichrome or Openchrome drivers to get the best graphics performance. These are low cost, energy efficient (as low as 9W) motherboards with excellent graphics.
I just got this back from VIA.
Dear Blair,
The source code to the CX700M/2 drivers for Linux can be downloaded here:
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=25&CatID=2580&SubCatID=184 (http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=25&CatID=2580&SubCatID=184)
Convergent Home Technologies - LinuxMCE Systems
...
Model: MM400
The MM400 is a totally fanless, silent design that is compact enough to be located almost anywhere. Its discreet black finish, range of features and affordable price make it a very popular choice for many of our customers.
Price
£225.00 (Excluding 17.5% VAT & Shipping)
* Includes Installer CD with Via Unichrome Pro Video drivers for LinuxMCE-0704 / LinuxMCE-0710
Features
* Software: LinuxMCE 0704 or 0710
* User Interface: UI1
* Processor: Via C7 1Ghz Fanless. Low power under 25W
* RAM: 512MB
* Internal Optical drive: None
* Network: 10/100 Ethernet
* Video: Embedded Via CN700 - External via VGA port ; 85Hz Refresh Rate:1600x1200 pixels, up to 32bit Colors
* IO: 1 x keyboard - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x mouse - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), 1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A ( 2 in front ), 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 2 x audio - line-out - mini-phone 3.5mm ( 1 in front ), 1 x audio - line-In - mini-phone 3.5mm, 2 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ( 1 in front )
* Power: External 65W power supply
* Dimensions: 234 (h) x 64 (w) x 213 (d) (all dimensions in mm)
* Weight: 1300g
Product Details
The MM400's compact, low energy fanless design coupled with its affordable price make it perfect for many situations where cost or low-noise solutions are essential. While not as sleek or stylish as some other Media Directors in our range the MM400 is still compact and discreet and due to its silent operation can be located in locations like bedrooms where its silent operation is ideal.(http://wiki.linuxmce.com/images/thumb/1/1c/Convergent-mm400-front.jpg/180px-Convergent-mm400-front.jpg)
From my research this is info I think may be useful for the topic:we are testing a number of fanless Via based clients using the C7/CN700 or CX700M chipsets at 1Ghz to 1.5Ghz. We just add a stick of memory, and optical drive if needed and thats it. Out of the box currently Kubuntu 7.04 and lmce-0704 do not have the Via driver support so you would need to build the Unichrome or Openchrome drivers to get the best graphics performance. These are low cost, energy efficient (as low as 9W) motherboards with excellent graphics.I just got this back from VIA.
Dear Blair,
The source code to the CX700M/2 drivers for Linux can be downloaded here:
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=25&CatID=2580&SubCatID=184 (http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=25&CatID=2580&SubCatID=184)
Those are useful with the CN700 UniChrome Pro integrated graphics too (that's wath says in the page).
From the linuxMCE Wiki I got the info below: (http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Convergenthome#Model:_MM400)Quote
Convergent Home Technologies - LinuxMCE Systems
...
Model: MM400
The MM400 is a totally fanless, silent design that is compact enough to be located almost anywhere. Its discreet black finish, range of features and affordable price make it a very popular choice for many of our customers.
Price
£225.00 (Excluding 17.5% VAT & Shipping)
* Includes Installer CD with Via Unichrome Pro Video drivers for LinuxMCE-0704 / LinuxMCE-0710
Features
* Software: LinuxMCE 0704 or 0710
* User Interface: UI1
* Processor: Via C7 1Ghz Fanless. Low power under 25W
* RAM: 512MB
* Internal Optical drive: None
* Network: 10/100 Ethernet
* Video: Embedded Via CN700 - External via VGA port ; 85Hz Refresh Rate:1600x1200 pixels, up to 32bit Colors
* IO: 1 x keyboard - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x mouse - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), 1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A ( 2 in front ), 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 2 x audio - line-out - mini-phone 3.5mm ( 1 in front ), 1 x audio - line-In - mini-phone 3.5mm, 2 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ( 1 in front )
* Power: External 65W power supply
* Dimensions: 234 (h) x 64 (w) x 213 (d) (all dimensions in mm)
* Weight: 1300g
Product Details
The MM400's compact, low energy fanless design coupled with its affordable price make it perfect for many situations where cost or low-noise solutions are essential. While not as sleek or stylish as some other Media Directors in our range the MM400 is still compact and discreet and due to its silent operation can be located in locations like bedrooms where its silent operation is ideal.(http://wiki.linuxmce.com/images/thumb/1/1c/Convergent-mm400-front.jpg/180px-Convergent-mm400-front.jpg)
This system kind of looks like gPC, and it says its video drivers are for LinuxMCE-0704 / LinuxMCE-0710
We have built the standard Via Unichrome Pro drivers using the standard sources available from the Viaarena site (search this forum for my numerous other posts about this and how to build the sources ;-) )
So, I found some other Unichrome Pro drivers available at http://www.openchrome.org (http://www.openchrome.org), they include CN700 (VIA PC2500 chipset) among their supported chipsetsDon't expect anything beyond UI1.
I would like to know if anybody has heard of those before, and how good are they compared to Viaarena's drivers (http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=25&CatID=2580&SubCatID=184), I'm talking about LinuxMCE here, I would really appreciate your opinion
Thank you :)