Asus Pundit-R SFF: $159 shipped zipzoomfly

[SelArom]

I got one of these a while back and it makes a great htpc. It has two pci slots so you can put two tuners in there, also has optical output (though the jack is on the front, I don't know why they did this). You can put 1 HD and 1 optical drive or two hds if you have a 5.25 adapter. It's usually priced around $170 + shipping, so I thought I'd post it here since it's got free 2-day shipping.

it also has a card reader (sd, mmc, cf and sm only) and a pcmcia slot so you can add wireless without taking up a pci slot. and it's hella small, too.

link

doesn't have agp, but if you're just using it for watching movies and tv (I also use it to run emulators and some other games too, and web browsing), it's a great buy!

-SelArom

 

[mercanucaribe]

Pundit? Did they name it to appeal to Indians?

 

[SleepyB]

Hi SelArom,

I've been wanting for buy this, but I have a few questions for you. I know this has VGA, DVI, and TV-out, can you use dual display on it, like VGA + DVI, or VGA + S-Video? I want to use it as a HTPC, so want the main screen on VGA, and maybe display movie/videos on a 2nd display (DVI or S-Video).

Also what CPU are you running in it and is it quiet? I'm looking for a cheap Northwood P4 or Celeron D to match up with this.

 

[tallman45]

I used these for a few office machines and they are great. It comes with a custom cpu HS/Fan so you can get an OEM proc.

I would stay away from a Celeron D, it runs pretty hot and the ventilation is not that great inside the box (not much space)

For super quiet running get a 5400 RPM HDD

 

[imthebadguy]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Pundit? Did they name it to appeal to Indians?

hahahaha, i was thinking same thing

 

[SelArom]

Originally posted by: SleepyB
Hi SelArom,

I've been wanting for buy this, but I have a few questions for you. I know this has VGA, DVI, and TV-out, can you use dual display on it, like VGA + DVI, or VGA + S-Video? I want to use it as a HTPC, so want the main screen on VGA, and maybe display movie/videos on a 2nd display (DVI or S-Video).

Also what CPU are you running in it and is it quiet? I'm looking for a cheap Northwood P4 or Celeron D to match up with this.

well I'm not a big quiet freak, but it's not a big rumbling behemoth by any means. And I have been able to use the s-video and the dvi, as well as the vga+dvi, but I don't remember if I could use vga and dvi. but you definitely can use svideo with one or the other.

I'm running a northwood 2.4C i got at fs/ft, plus a gig of 2700 (though it does support 3200) ddr ram, and xp pro with meedio. I set up azureus with the rss import and I got instant tivo. it's pretty sweet, and i've never seen the price drop lower than this.

-SelArom

Edit: and as tallman said, it has a custom hsf, so you can save even more by buying an OEM cpu, or just the cpu at fs/ft!

 

[lostspyder]

The power supply looks realy realy weak. Its a 270w PSU but it only has 10A on the 12v rail :thumbsdown:

Can it run a HD, optical drive and a prescott stable?

other then that it looks relay friggin cool, I think I might have to snatch this one up.

 

[SelArom]

Originally posted by: lostspyder
The power supply looks realy realy weak. Its a 270w PSU but it only has 10A on the 12v rail :thumbsdown:

Can it run a HD, optical drive and a prescott stable?

other then that it looks relay friggin cool, I think I might have to snatch this one up.

i had a 250gb and a 200gb hd in there, plus the cpu, 1gig ram... but i wanted to watch dvds so I took out the 200gb and put in a dvdrom and got an external enclosure for the 200.

haven't had one problem with it, and I leave it running all day all night getting shows.

-SelArom

 

[uwannawhat]

Will this take full height PCI Cards?

Seems like a nice box with a great price! Even nicer if it takes full size cards.

 

[Netopia]

Originally posted by: imthebadguy

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Pundit? Did they name it to appeal to Indians?

hahahaha, i was thinking same thing

The word was long ago adopted from Hindi to English and generally has the meaning of someone who is well educated (especially in a specific field). I did not, however, realize until this thread that it was actually a Hindi word!

Joe

 

[SelArom]

Originally posted by: uwannawhat
Will this take full height PCI Cards?

Seems like a nice box with a great price! Even nicer if it takes full size cards.

yep it sure does, it has a riser so the pci cards lay on the side so the case can stay small. i put the leadtek wintv xp deluxe tuner and while it was a tight fit, it did fit nicely!

i'll put up some pics tonight

-SelArom

 

[Melchior]

No AGP cards? This won't do for HDTV...

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Melchior
No AGP cards? This won't do for HDTV...

The integrated 9100 has DVI built in onboard. Shouldn't have any problems with HDTV.

Also, Newegg carries this for $159+shipping as well, but is currently OOS.

 

[SelArom]

PICS

as promised. not much but you can see the pci and stuff like that. I really like this htpc

-SelArom

 

[DesiDivo]

Two questions for those who already own this.

1) Do they USB ports support wake on USB (Used to wake up the system with a remote)

2) Has anyone install MCE 2005? If so were then any driver problems (I think ATI does not make drivers for MCE for 9100)

Thanks

 

[sniggle]

i have one of these babies in my trunk serving up mp3s. works great! it was in there all winter (northern NY) and still worked. it's a champ.

 

[SelArom]

Originally posted by: DesiDivo
Two questions for those who already own this.

1) Do they USB ports support wake on USB (Used to wake up the system with a remote)

2) Has anyone install MCE 2005? If so were then any driver problems (I think ATI does not make drivers for MCE for 9100)

Thanks

I tried installing MCE (borrowed a copy just to try it out) but it said I didn't have the appropriate hardware. but I reinstalled windows xp pro and I guess you could use 3rd party stuff. I'm using meedio for watching my tv torrent downloads. but if you must have mce, I don't think this will work.

I have been able to wake the computer remotely, but only by using the keyboard. but it DOES allow you to wake on mouse, so if you have that logitech mouse from amazon, it should work like you're trying, but I hvean't tried this.

and sniggle, how did you set it up? how do you control it from the front seat if it's in the trunk? this sounds like a killer idea!

-SelArom

 

[jammur21]

more pics


car installs

 

[digger44]

Question for SelArom:

Do you use the optical digital output? If so:

1. How does it look with with audio connection sticking out the front? (This box is not the only one to do that, and for the life of me, I do not understand the reasoning for this!! Input....sure, but output...just not smart)

2. Does the digital audio work OK with Meedio?

Thanks,
John

 

[xyyz]

pundit also means a critic. with an implication that the person is an expert of sorts. you often hear the phrase "political pundits" on the news.

anyways, any ideas how much it'd cost to get this system up to something that can run MCE 2005? nothing too beefy, just something that can be used to record and play HD feeds and regular TV?

 

[SelArom]

Originally posted by: digger44
Question for SelArom:

Do you use the optical digital output? If so:

1. How does it look with with audio connection sticking out the front? (This box is not the only one to do that, and for the life of me, I do not understand the reasoning for this!! Input....sure, but output...just not smart)

2. Does the digital audio work OK with Meedio?

Thanks,
John

I really hate that they put it on the front too. It has a flip cover, which I took off so it wouldn't look so bad. I wrapped the optical cable around tight so it really wasn't that bad. I would take a pic and show you but I disconnected all my equipment recently so I only have the tv connected with analog out for now.

but all you have to do is enable spdif in the sound settings and you're good to go. it worked fine with meedio (although when I watched divx rips I made that have AC3 audio, the volume was WAY low, but from what I've read this is common).

as far as upgrading for mce, I think you'd have to put in a pci vid card or something. honestly I don't know.

-SelArom

 

[imthebadguy]

http://www2.newegg.com/product/Product....C+DVI-HDTV200+DVI+to+Component+Adapter

would that work to hook up to my hdtv, does the card support the HD res?

 

[DesiDivo]

SelArom,

Did you try the MCE drivers from ATI website. Even though they say they will not work, I have found gotton the hardware to work with 8500 video cards from ATI.

As far as I can see from the specs, it should work.

Is the mouse connect via USB or the mouse port? (If it is a USB mouse then it would be perfect).