Barebone with 2 PCI sockets? (1 Viewer)

[lubbe75]

I'm planning an HTPC here and it seems to me like the twinhan DVB-T card with CI card reader is a good choice (since I may very well want to watch subscription channels later on). However, that one requires two PCI sockets...

Is there a good barebone system out there that has 2 PCI sockets?

Most barebones have only one. I have found two exceptions so far: ASUS Pundit and ASUS Vintage. I read here and there that the pundit becomes rather noisy, and the vintage doesn't look all that fantastic But hey, if someone can tell me that the vintage is nice and good for MP I might change my opinion. Any other choices out here?

I don't know a whole lot about hardware so I'd rather base it on a barebone than an empty box.

Good to hear your thoughts on this...

/Lubbe

 

[simon169]

I use an original pundit not the pundit-r for my box and it works ok. although I have only just installed MP on it and am a bit concerned about performance mainly because of the poor quality graphics card in it. I was going to take a look at the R version see what graphics it was running. Mine has a 2ghz celeron in it and runs real quiet you can hear the clock on my mantle piece way louder than it.

although I have just found this thread with a few complaints about noise. I like my pundit and have had it for about 1 1/2 years.

http://nolanparty.com/mediaportal.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4152&highlight=pundit

 

[simon169]

Just had a scout about and the pundit-r uses an ati 9100 graphics card and everyone seems happy with it. Although it might be worth asking a question about performance with it and the vrm9 renderring with it ??

 

[lubbe75]

Ah, so the Pundit may not be as noisy as many claim. Still, one of the drawbacks is that it has no AGP slot in case one finds the built-in graphics to be less than enough. Hmm... Do you know of any good site where I can search for barebones on speciffic things such as "2 x PCI"?

 

[spo]

Take a look on the Antex Aria case. It can hold a Micro-ATX motherboard with up to 4 slots (AGP/PCI).

It's a little bigger than normal barebone systems, but looks pretty nice.

 

[lubbe75]

Hmm... I can't really find much information about the Antex Aria (google). Even so I think it is not being sold in Sweden. Now when I think about it there is always the same set of barebones being sold everywhere, and most of them are really the cube in one way or another.

 

[pipin77]

Here's a review of the antec: http://www.htpcnews.com/main.php?id=aria_1

I'm just thinking of combining it with a msi board http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=639 and an athlon 64 3000+.

 

[PLeblanc]

I just went out to microcenter today, and saw a barebones that I hadn't seen before. It's a condor, and here's a link to microcenter's website
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0174925

A sudhian review is here
http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=544

It is pretty nice. Small and attractive has 1 agp, and 2 pci slots. It does look like a little pc rather than looking like a home theatre piece, but it is a really really cute pc, so that makes up for a lot in my book.

I've also come across something that might look nice in the living room, and comes as a barebones. It's an nMediaPC. I think I came across a review somewhere that said the front door hinges don't feel as strong as they could, but overall it seems like people liked it.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-204-002&depa=1

And I've also come across this on newegg. It wasn't there a few weeks ago, and I don't know much about it, but it looks pretty small (and I don't know if it comes in a barebones, this is just a case)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-162-026&depa=1
If you marry it with this mobo (recommended in another thread here), you'll get 1 PCI-Express, and 3 PCI slots!
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-485&depa=1

Anyone else out there with something they like?