Intel Mini ITX Motherboards all O.K?

[AlextheCamel]

Sorry guys I know I should be able to figure this from the Wiki but the newer board I am looking at is not listed. I am specifically looking at a  BOXDH57JG but if no one is familiar with that board it might help to know if all the Intel mini itx boards are generally O.K? My intended use is as a Media Director by the way.
Many Thanks in advance.

[nite_man]

As I know ASUS Eee Box B202 (Intel GMA 950 video) is used successfully as a media director with UI1 and UI2 (without transparency) support. Moreover, it can play 1080p video. So, I suspect that your MB should work fine. I see the only one problem. Possible that new hardware  won't be recognized by system 100% correctly. But as a way to solve that you can upgrade the kernel. For example, I did that under 0710 to use integrated Gigabit Ethernet on my core/hybrid.

[AlextheCamel]

Super! Thanks for that it sounds very encouraging. Updated kernel should not be a problem in this case as its all fresh new gear for my folks house. I have been testing their core for a few months while the house is being built.
Thanks again for your input, very helpful!

[posde]

As I know ASUS Eee Box B202 (Intel GMA 950 video) is used successfully as a media director with UI1 and UI2 (without transparency) support. Moreover, it can play 1080p video.

Are you sure about 1080p video and UI2 on the B202?

Out of the box I had success with UI1 and 720p but nothing more taxing.

[tkmedia]

You are much better off with ion based mini-itx. the intel gpu based units will rely on the cpu for graphics.

Where the ions have accelerated video drivers offloading the graphics to the CPU.


HTH

Tim

[nite_man]

Are you sure about 1080p video and UI2 on the B202?

Out of the box I had success with UI1 and 720p but nothing more taxing.

It'd be better to ask Andrew about that. Because he uses that box in his Cascade System. I'm not sure about UI2 but Intel graphical cards definitely should support 1080p playback.

[totallymaxed]

Are you sure about 1080p video and UI2 on the B202?

Out of the box I had success with UI1 and 720p but nothing more taxing.

It'd be better to ask Andrew about that. Because he uses that box in his Cascade System. I'm not sure about UI2 but Intel graphical cards definitely should support 1080p playback.

We have not sold the B202 for some time in fact but it will in fact do 1080p in UI1 or UI2 + Overlay (with 2Gig of RAM) & 512K allocated to video. However because of the GMA950 it will not handle h.264 encoded material at all well even at 720p (mpeg2 encoding works ok).

Unless you only plan to use the B202 mainly as an Orbiter to control other MD's (ie you wont be directly using it for video playback) then if your buying from new i would suggest going for one of the many Intel Atom/Ion units that are available as they just have much more graphics 'grunt' and overall performance is a lot better.

All the best


Andrew

[AlextheCamel]

Many thanks for that guys it has been super useful.
I have been pricing some options and am thinking that a pre-built ASUS Eee Box (like the other poster used) would be great form a price standpoint but given that this will be driving a 32" and used primarily as a director not orbiter perhaps I am better to spend a bit more and build my own with a better board.

I will give it some thought anyhow, given I will be needing a number of other media directors for the other rooms I supposed if the Eeee did not work out well I could demote it to an audio only zone.

Many thanks again for all your help.

[ste_b_79]

You can get a Zotac Zbox HD-ID11 ION2 for £189.95 from http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=46384&tid=frooct

You just need to add memory to it.

Dont worry about the hard drive as you dont need one for a Media Director.

This device has the NVIDIA ION chipset and will be able to play 1080p movies ok (if VDPAU is enabled).

[tkmedia]

The ION 330 work OOB with lmce 
The Z-box requires  manual intervention for unrecognized nic and for hdmi audio



HTH


Tim