Decent mini-ITX offering for your HTPC build. With the Intel Z68 chipset launch well under way, ZOTAC sent us their take on the Intel Z68 in mini-ITX format, the Z68-ITX WiFi, one of two Z68-based mini-ITX motherboards from ZOTAC that will hit store shelves very soon. The two are differentiated by expansion possibilities, with the “Supreme” version using laptop-part expansion […]
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Not that long ago it was a significant challenge to build a small and quiet home theater PC (HTPC). Mini-ITX was an option, but case selection was limited and more importantly the form factor was held back by the lack of decent integrated video performance and the power/heat dissipation requirements of the processor (CPU) and graphics (GPU). With both of […]
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When selecting the perfect chassis to serve content to the audio/video stack a different set of attributes is required than what is typically demanded from a home theater PC (HTPC) enclosure. The ideal server must be able to scale to support multiple hard drives, keep everything cool and not sound like a shop-vac in the process. With eight 3.5” hard […]
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The quest for the perfect home theater PC (HTPC) case is always a challenge even in today’s world where there is a healthy amount of chassis to choose from in all shapes and sizes. While some people prefer an HTPC chassis which stands out in their A/V stack there are plenty of people that want something quiet, subtle and most […]
Read moreThermaltake has been making cases for a while, but usually they’re on the flashier, gamer side of things. This offering has a nice look. Notice the red on the front, which I actually don’t mind all that much, but it might not fit in with your specific environment. The Thermaltake Element Q mini-ITX case was made for space-limited conditions, such […]
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Over the last several weeks we had the pleasure of testing the new Intel Mini-ITX Media Series Motherboard, dubbed the DH61AG. This is what I consider to be the first truly HTPC-centric motherboard. Since the first integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) with HDMI output was introduced we have heard boards coined as the “the perfect HTPC board” or “HTPC nirvana.” […]
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Historically one of the hardest parts about going DYI (do it yourself) with a small form factor (SFF) home theater PC (HTPC) has been finding a nice mini-ITX case that actually looks like it belongs in the A/V stack. Until recently enthusiasts have had to choose between “the cube” and killing the pig for a benchmark chassis like the OrigenAE […]
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In our launch coverage of Intel’s Sandy Bridge we took an in-depth tour of the platform’s capabilities. But our previous coverage was limited to a higher end member of the CPU lineup with a 95 watt TDP, that made is less ideal for dedicated home theater PC (HTPC) use–especially considering its tantalizing siblings scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter. Fortunately we […]
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In the past few years, Intel has really taken some steps in dominating the low power, small form factor board market. Today we have the Intel D525MW mini-ITX motherboard in our labs for review. The board is small, low powered and does not have a single fan on it. Don’t confuse this for a Clarkdale or Sandy Bridge system however, […]
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Intel DH57JG and Core i3-530 Review With more mini-ITX options than ever it’s a great time for small form factor (SFF) PCs. Enthusiasts are finding more ways to get the most out of these tiny boxes both in the A/V stack and backing it. Take a look with us at the soon to be released Intel DH57JG motherboard paired […]
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