Microsoft Studio got me wanting a nice AIO PC....

[IamDavid]

I was extremely impressed with the demo model at the Microsoft store and left thinking I was going to buy one once the i7 versions were released but now I'm thinking otherwise. The main reason for my change of heart is the lack of HDMI out, or any other digital audio out.. This PC HAS to double as a media player. I couldn't care less about the inflated price but the lack of audio out is a killer.

I found a few interesting alternatives.

Aura from Digital Storm? http://www.digitalstorm.com/aura.asp

• Killer specs.
• 34" screen. ~4K? I can't wrap my head around what's actually 4K anymore.
• No touchscreen!
• No Microsoft Window's Hello webcam.

How about the HP 34" Envy? http://store.hp.com/us/en/cv/envyaio-34c

• Specs are mid level at best
• Didn't know this could even run the display..NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960A (2 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
• No touchscreen..

All other AIO's I could find are all clones of each other. ~24" Displays, basic specs.

Any suggestions?

 

[sdifox]

So, get a usb 3.0 hdmi dongle?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Both those systems are that weird ultra-widescreen resolution. - 3440x1440

Traditional 16:9 resolutions go:

1080p - 1920x1080
1440p - 2560x1440
4k - 3840x2160

I question the sense of using a PC with a built-in display as a media player. Then again, I'm not a huge Home Theater addict, and I can afford to get a dedicated set-top PC if I want. (I don't bother, I just have a FireTV instead.)

Finding a fancy monitor and bolting a NUC to the back of it is probably a more responsible move.

 

[Murloc]

Both those systems are that weird ultra-widescreen resolution. - 3440x1440

Traditional 16:9 resolutions go:

1080p - 1920x1080
1440p - 2560x1440
4k - 3840x2160

I question the sense of using a PC with a built-in display as a media player. Then again, I'm not a huge Home Theater addict, and I can afford to get a dedicated set-top PC if I want. (I don't bother, I just have a FireTV instead.)

Finding a fancy monitor and bolting a NUC to the back of it is probably a more responsible move.

a PC with a built-in display would be just weird for that purpose but maybe he just needs to drive an AVR for his speakers.

I second the idea of NUC + monitor, MUCH more flexible, customizable and upgradeable (PC hardware gets old much faster than monitors) and it feels the same as an AIO.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

a PC with a built-in display would be just weird for that purpose but maybe he just needs to drive an AVR for his speakers.

Ah! Yeah, that makes more sense. I was thinking maybe running the computer in one room, and running a long HDMI cable to the living room for movies and gaming. But I've never liked those setups - even with a KB/M you end up having to get up and walk to the other room for something - press a reset button, pop in a thumb drive, etc.

 

[IamDavid]

So, get a usb 3.0 hdmi dongle?

never seen one. Any suggestions?

 

[sdifox]

never seen one. Any suggestions?

Search on amazon. Also does the computer you want have a displayport out? If soyou you can use a displayport to hdmi, which should be a bit cheaper.

 

[IamDavid]

Search on amazon. Also does the computer you want have a displayport out? If soyou you can use a displayport to hdmi, which should be a bit cheaper.

Yes it has a display port but no audio signal is transferred thru this type of cable from what I understand.
Amazon USB-HDMI adapters are only Stereo.

 

[sdifox]

Diamond BVU5500H claims audio passthrough to hdmi. I don't see format mentioned.