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<blockquote data-quote="jdiffend" data-source="post: 11204" data-attributes="member: 10910"><p>I'm not asking for suggestions myself. Just suggesting a couple.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The first is a SOYO SY-P4RC350. (the RS350 version is even better)</p><p></p><p>I built my parents a new computer based on this board and it works great. Their computer desk is close enough to the TV to run cables so that's what I did. I set up an XP user account that launches MP at startup and they just click on it when XP starts if they want to use MP. They were totally blown away with Media Portal running on this box! I ripped all their CDs to their hard drive, set up playlists and brought an external USB 2.0 drive with over 30 movies and my entire CD collection for the fun of it. Their DVD player is now back in it's box. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>I'm using Renderless mode for video output thanks to ATi supporting DirectX 9 features in the drivers.</p><p></p><p>Problems? The bios seems to need a little work. Power on from the keyboard doesn't seem to work and dual display support doesn't seem to work yet. Neither are critical issues. I have it set so that ALT-F5 switches between the TV and the monitor so they can use it with MP or for their record keeping but it would be nice to use cloning so that isn't needed.</p><p></p><p>If those two things get fixed I'd say it's perfect for use with TV's using composite or S-Video inputs. And Media Portal works great on it.</p><p>I paid around $40 for it on sale at Newegg.com and for a while it was free after rebates so they are showing up on ebay cheap.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-139-147&depa=0" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-139-147&depa=0</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>And speaking of Newegg... I was searching there for a board for a friend and *finally* found a company shipping an end user board based on the new ATi Radeon Express 200 chipset... and I want one.</p><p></p><p>Here's the specs:</p><p></p><p>MSI RS480M2-IL</p><p></p><p>Socket 939 for AMD Athlon 64FX/Athlon 64</p><p>ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 + ATI SB400 Chipset. </p><p>(integrated DirectX 9 Graphics)</p><p>1GHz FSB</p><p>2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices</p><p>4x SATA150 with RAID 0/1</p><p>2x PS/2</p><p>1x LPT</p><p>1x VGA</p><p>1x S-Video</p><p>1x Composite TV-Out</p><p>1x IEEE1394</p><p>Coaxial S/PDIF in/out</p><p>8x USB2.0(Rear 4)</p><p>1x 10/100 LAN</p><p>Audio Ports (6 channel audio)</p><p>1x PCI-E x16</p><p>3x PCI</p><p>1x Floppy Connector</p><p></p><p>The only thing I'd rather have is Gigabit ethernet (10/100/1000) to</p><p>make it more futureproof... and possibly 1 PCI Express slot instead of</p><p>1 PCI slot. (The SOYO board actually has Gigabit ethernet... which is surprising since it's a low cost version of the board) Be aware there are no standard serial ports on the back and only 1 internal.</p><p></p><p>$97 with shipping.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-485&depa=1" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-485&depa=1</a></p><p></p><p></p><p>Manufacturer sites (specs, manuals, etc):</p><p><a href="http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=RS480M2-IL&class=mb" target="_blank">http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=RS480M2-IL&class=mb</a></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=639" target="_blank">http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=639</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jdiffend, post: 11204, member: 10910"] I'm not asking for suggestions myself. Just suggesting a couple. The first is a SOYO SY-P4RC350. (the RS350 version is even better) I built my parents a new computer based on this board and it works great. Their computer desk is close enough to the TV to run cables so that's what I did. I set up an XP user account that launches MP at startup and they just click on it when XP starts if they want to use MP. They were totally blown away with Media Portal running on this box! I ripped all their CDs to their hard drive, set up playlists and brought an external USB 2.0 drive with over 30 movies and my entire CD collection for the fun of it. Their DVD player is now back in it's box. ;) I'm using Renderless mode for video output thanks to ATi supporting DirectX 9 features in the drivers. Problems? The bios seems to need a little work. Power on from the keyboard doesn't seem to work and dual display support doesn't seem to work yet. Neither are critical issues. I have it set so that ALT-F5 switches between the TV and the monitor so they can use it with MP or for their record keeping but it would be nice to use cloning so that isn't needed. If those two things get fixed I'd say it's perfect for use with TV's using composite or S-Video inputs. And Media Portal works great on it. I paid around $40 for it on sale at Newegg.com and for a while it was free after rebates so they are showing up on ebay cheap. [url]http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-139-147&depa=0[/url] And speaking of Newegg... I was searching there for a board for a friend and *finally* found a company shipping an end user board based on the new ATi Radeon Express 200 chipset... and I want one. Here's the specs: MSI RS480M2-IL Socket 939 for AMD Athlon 64FX/Athlon 64 ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 + ATI SB400 Chipset. (integrated DirectX 9 Graphics) 1GHz FSB 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices 4x SATA150 with RAID 0/1 2x PS/2 1x LPT 1x VGA 1x S-Video 1x Composite TV-Out 1x IEEE1394 Coaxial S/PDIF in/out 8x USB2.0(Rear 4) 1x 10/100 LAN Audio Ports (6 channel audio) 1x PCI-E x16 3x PCI 1x Floppy Connector The only thing I'd rather have is Gigabit ethernet (10/100/1000) to make it more futureproof... and possibly 1 PCI Express slot instead of 1 PCI slot. (The SOYO board actually has Gigabit ethernet... which is surprising since it's a low cost version of the board) Be aware there are no standard serial ports on the back and only 1 internal. $97 with shipping. [url]http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-485&depa=1[/url] Manufacturer sites (specs, manuals, etc): [url]http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=RS480M2-IL&class=mb[/url] [url]http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=639[/url] [/QUOTE]
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