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<blockquote data-quote="ziphnor" data-source="post: 341888" data-attributes="member: 14215"><img src="http://global.aopen.com/AOEB-GPS/PIC/26612_MP45%20Series%20+%20Controller%20(Vista)_Right_3_220x220.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />I recently purchased an Aopen MP45-DR barebone PC to use as my HTPC client (the server being placed in another room). I thought people might find a mini-review interesting, as actual details about this barebone are pretty scarce. So here it is:Barebone: Aopen MP45-DRCPU:&nbsp; Intel Core 2 Extreme Mobile X9100 3.0Ghz (ES)RAM: 4GB DDR2 (SODIMM)HDD: Mtron Mobi MSD302 2.5” 16GB SLC SSDVideocard (integrated): X4500MHDGood:-&nbsp; &nbsp; Build-in IR receiver for MCE remote (ships with an MCE compatible remote, but the real one is better and can be used instead). -&nbsp; &nbsp; HDMI output WITH audio output using the Intel chipset (with the included DVI-HDMI adapter). The motherboard also has a Realtek build-in audio chip which can be used for analogue and SPDIF audio (but I don’t see any reason to use it when you can get HDMI video+audio in a single cable).-&nbsp; &nbsp; Low power use ( about 20W in idle with the above CPU, and &lt;1W when turned off (can still turn on from remote))-&nbsp; &nbsp; Build-in display adapter capable of HD decoding&nbsp; (X4500MHD)-&nbsp; &nbsp; Size: REALLY small-&nbsp; &nbsp; Slim slot loading DVD drive (included): looks and feels cool-&nbsp; &nbsp; Silent when idle and under low CPU loadBad:-&nbsp; &nbsp; Uses mobile parts(SO-DIMM ram and Socket P CPU), which are more expensive (especially CPU)-&nbsp; &nbsp; Supports one slim IDE slot-loading optical drive and one 2.5” SATA hard-drive only. This makes it damn expensive to replace the DVD drive with a Blu ray drive if required.-&nbsp; &nbsp; A bit noisy when under high CPU loadI am very pleased with the configuration as listed above. It is capable of software decoding h264 1080p movies without issue, enabling the display of MKV subtitles for example and the playback of all h264 movies instead of only those compatible with hw decoding. I have not really used the GPU decoding yet, but it is pretty obvious that the driver support from Intel is not as good as from ATI or nVidia, and I had a little bit of trouble getting hardware MPEG2 decoding working correctly (issues with deinterlacing).Links:<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14591747" target="_blank">GMA X4500-based AOPEN MP45-DR Mini-HTPC - AVS Forum</a><a href="http://global.aopen.com/products_detail.aspx?ctgr=74&amp;Auno=2661&amp;mdstl=309" target="_blank">http://global.aopen.com/products_detail.aspx?ctgr=74&amp;Auno=2661&amp;mdstl=309</a></blockquote>

[QUOTE="ziphnor, post: 341888, member: 14215"] [IMG]http://global.aopen.com/AOEB-GPS/PIC/26612_MP45%20Series%20+%20Controller%20(Vista)_Right_3_220x220.jpg[/IMG] I recently purchased an Aopen MP45-DR barebone PC to use as my HTPC client (the server being placed in another room). I thought people might find a mini-review interesting, as actual details about this barebone are pretty scarce. So here it is: [B]Barebone: [/B]Aopen MP45-DR [B]CPU:[/B] Intel Core 2 Extreme Mobile X9100 3.0Ghz (ES) [B]RAM:[/B] 4GB DDR2 (SODIMM) [B]HDD:[/B] Mtron Mobi MSD302 2.5” 16GB SLC SSD Videocard (integrated): X4500MHD [B]Good:[/B] - Build-in IR receiver for MCE remote (ships with an MCE compatible remote, but the real one is better and can be used instead). - HDMI output WITH audio output using the Intel chipset (with the included DVI-HDMI adapter). The motherboard also has a Realtek build-in audio chip which can be used for analogue and SPDIF audio (but I don’t see any reason to use it when you can get HDMI video+audio in a single cable). - Low power use ( about 20W in idle with the above CPU, and <1W when turned off (can still turn on from remote)) - Build-in display adapter capable of HD decoding (X4500MHD) - Size: REALLY small - Slim slot loading DVD drive (included): looks and feels cool - Silent when idle and under low CPU load [B]Bad:[/B] - Uses mobile parts(SO-DIMM ram and Socket P CPU), which are more expensive (especially CPU) - Supports one slim IDE slot-loading optical drive and one 2.5” SATA hard-drive only. This makes it damn expensive to replace the DVD drive with a Blu ray drive if required. - A bit noisy when under high CPU load I am very pleased with the configuration as listed above. It is capable of software decoding h264 1080p movies without issue, enabling the display of MKV subtitles for example and the playback of all h264 movies instead of only those compatible with hw decoding. I have not really used the GPU decoding yet, but it is pretty obvious that the driver support from Intel is not as good as from ATI or nVidia, and I had a little bit of trouble getting hardware MPEG2 decoding working correctly (issues with deinterlacing). [B]Links:[/B] [url=http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14591747]GMA X4500-based AOPEN MP45-DR Mini-HTPC - AVS Forum[/url] [url]http://global.aopen.com/products_detail.aspx?ctgr=74&Auno=2661&mdstl=309[/url] [/QUOTE]

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