The state of Netflix HD on Atom/Ion and Fusion?

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  • June 30, 2011 at 1:20 pm #26109
    pittsoccer33

      I would like to build a second computer to hide in a closet to act as both a server and an htpc for the bedroom.  

      I am out of hard drive expansion space but I have a huge tower case with room for around 8-10 hard drives.  If I am going to have to spend money to allow the extra storage space, I might as well create a 2nd htpc out of it for the less used bedroom tv.  I currently use a 360 in there as an extender, but would really like to be able to watch bluray files and not have to use another device for Netflix (I will not pay for gaming service to use my Netflix subscription).  

      Will I be able to buy a cheaper Atom/Ion or Fusion board and get the experience I want out of it?  Or should I save myself headaches and just buy a i3 and motherboard?  I am still running a C2D and DDR2 ram in my living room. I’d like to stay with DDR2 ram since I have two 1GB sticks, but I realize this limits my options so I am open to whatever.

      Is there something else I am not considering here?  I really have a hard time with the different processor lines trying to figure out if something can play bluray, can play full bitrate mkv, can play Netflix HD, etc.  I am really unfamiliar with AMD processors but am not opposed to them, I just want to do this as inexpensively as possible but to still play the various high bitrate HD files.

      Power consumption is a consideration but is not a huge goal.  Since this will be in a closet (and I live in the city) I don’t care about noise at all.

      June 30, 2011 at 2:33 pm #30451
      swoon

        Can you elaborate a bit more on the server functionality you require? Is it just to store and serve video to serve to the living room client and bedroom client (which you also want to be the server)?

        Will the bedroom and living room clients both be accessing content simultaneously?

        You mention the C2D system that you have in your living room and wanting to stick with DDR2 RAM, are you considering upgrading your living room HTPC? Is the system satisfactory for your current requirements? 

        It sounds as though you might be using WMC considering you have an Xbox 360, is that correct?

        June 30, 2011 at 3:24 pm #30453
        pittsoccer33

          yea I run WMC.  I am just out of space in my smaller living room case for hard drives.  I am going to set up another computer in a tower that has room for about 10 drives in the full atx case.  I am not going to run any server software, just run W7 and allow the drives to be accessed on the network.  I am def not very network savy.

          I have an ATI DCT now, I’d like to upgrade to a Prime.  That way I have one tuner for the bedroom and two for the living room.  I rarely have conflicts now with only one, so I figure that setup will be enough.  My only Copy Once channel is HBO so I am lucky in that regard.

          I have thought of upgrading in my living room to newer hardware, but I would lose all of my HBO movies, and honestly, it runs pretty snappy, and it works, so why mess with it?

          So my idea was that since there is going to now be second computer tower involved running W7, why not plug it into my second tv?  That would allow me to do all the things the 360 will not, like play bluray, Netflix, Hulu, etc.

          June 30, 2011 at 3:59 pm #30454
          babgvant

            [quote=pittsoccer33]

            Will I be able to buy a cheaper Atom/Ion or Fusion board and get the experience I want out of it?  Or should I save myself headaches and just buy a i3 and motherboard?  I am still running a C2D and DDR2 ram in my living room. I’d like to stay with DDR2 ram since I have two 1GB sticks, but I realize this limits my options so I am open to whatever.

            [/quote]

            The Netflix HD experience will be very limited on these platforms until Silverlight supports GPU acceleration or Netflix transitions to a technology that does.

            June 30, 2011 at 5:16 pm #30455
            swoon

              Based on what you have said, I think your best value is to get a Core i3 with an Intel H67 Media Series motherboard (like the DH67BLB3 board that Andrew reviewed). The reason for this recommendation is that the i3 graphics will fulfill your requirements and an Intel Media Series board will have an Intel NIC.

              If you are happy with your C2D system, there is no reason why you can’t keep it.

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