Mini ITX build - XBMC?

[KH85]

Hi,

I am currently looking into building a new HTPC for XBMC.... I was looking at the ATOM 330 (the dual core) but I am not convinced that it will run 1080p .MKV's without an issue???

So below is the set-up I am considering! Please let me know what you think!

Motherboard - Jetway JNC81 Socket AM2/AM2+ Mini-ITX Motherboard with integrated ATI HD 3200 - http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=34#jnc81

CPU - AMD Athlon II X2 250 Socket AM3 Dual Core Processor - http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=CPA-AD2250-B

RAM - 4Gig DDR2 800

Case - MI-100 Mirror Mini ITX Black Case With 250W SFX PSU - http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=CA-IMI100

HDD - 1TB WD Green (maybe x2 if I can fit a 2nd one)

CPU cooling - A low profile cooler not decided yet

Is this OVERKILL? I do not want any problems with playback!!! It will also be used as a download machine (maybe while playing back aswell)

Thanks for any help...

KHGamez

 

[alyarb]

oh i see. you made two threads in SFF and home theater. confusing.

 

[Zap]

I'm not familiar with XBMC... does the source computer just act as a file server or does it stream as actual video?

If it has to do the video decoding, then I'd say skip on the Atom. The reason is that an Atom is not powerful enough to do the decoding in the CPU, and will have to rely on GPU or external decoder support to do the heavy lifting.

EDIT: If the OP really did create two threads on this same subject, SHAME on him! No crossposting!

 

[Emulex]

i got an old q6600 to do that - threw 4 jbod drives 1TB in it - does security (10 streaming cams), nas, vista media center to hdhomerum, transcode 360, air video, torr, etc. tmpgenc. hide it under the floor or something. in the end it was the right choice as i gave it more tasks it sees up to 50% utilization in the day (surveillance transcoding) and can sling media to iphone/etc in whatever format is necessary on the fly. when it chills out - clock the cpu down to 200mhz and sleep the drives .

so yeah go overkill because you can always use it for something else - or if you change your mind and go WHS.

delloutlet ftw

 

[MJinZ]

Hi,

I am currently looking into building a new HTPC for XBMC.... I was looking at the ATOM 330 (the dual core) but I am not convinced that it will run 1080p .MKV's without an issue???

So below is the set-up I am considering! Please let me know what you think!

Motherboard - Jetway JNC81 Socket AM2/AM2+ Mini-ITX Motherboard with integrated ATI HD 3200 - http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=34#jnc81

CPU - AMD Athlon II X2 250 Socket AM3 Dual Core Processor - http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=CPA-AD2250-B

RAM - 4Gig DDR2 800

Case - MI-100 Mirror Mini ITX Black Case With 250W SFX PSU - http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=CA-IMI100

HDD - 1TB WD Green (maybe x2 if I can fit a 2nd one)

CPU cooling - A low profile cooler not decided yet

Is this OVERKILL? I do not want any problems with playback!!! It will also be used as a download machine (maybe while playing back aswell)

Thanks for any help...

KHGamez

Atom for low power, there is no need for using an Atom unless you are mobile IMO.

 

[assassin24]

Any reason why you want to use XBMC? I use media browser and prefer it over XBMC.

I built a dual core intel HTPC with 2 GB RAM and a WD Green HD. This machine plays absolutely everything that I throw at it.

I can list the specs if you are interested.

 

[wiretap]

7MC + MediaBrowser + CUDA > XBMC

But go with a Zotac GF-9300 ITX and a Intel E3200 instead. That way you'll be able to run 3D coverflow smoothly when your media library gets large. Otherwise with the Atom, it chokes when it tries to cache all the high-res images.