ASRock Core 100HT-BD : Bringing HTPCs to the Mainstream Market [UPDATED : Noise Issue]
by Ganesh T S on July 19, 2010 9:34 PM EST- Posted in
- Home Theater
- Arrandale
- ASRock
- Media Streamer
- Core i3
- HTPC
Our piece on media streamer platforms indicated that we were in the process of assembling a test suite of media files. With the help of feedback from readers and some members from AVSForums, we managed to assemble a set of 44 test files covering various HTPC scenarios for v1.0.0 of the AnandTech Media Streamer Test Suite. Weights have been assigned to each stream based on how frequently one might encounter them in a home theater setting. The table below indicates the various aspects tested by each file, the assigned weight for the stream, and the score obtained by the Core 100 HT-BD depending on the success it had with playback.
ASRock Core 100HT-BD AT Media Streamer Test Suite | |||||||
File Name | Aspects Tested | Max. Score | Core 100 Score | Notes | |||
64.AC3.m2ts | H.264, AC3, M2TS |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
002-480i30.MPEG.ASF.dvr-ms | ASF, DVR-MS |
2
|
2
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
003-1080p24.WMV9.WMAPro.6Ch.wmv | WMV9, WMAPro |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
004-1080p60.x264.8ref.mkv | 60 fps L5.1 H.264 |
8
|
7
|
MPC-HC | |||
005-1440x1080i30.SonyAVCHD.m2ts | HD Camcorder Clips |
10
|
10
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
006-1080p24.x264.16ref.mkv | L5.1 H.264 |
8
|
7
|
MPC-HC | |||
007-1080p.x264.DTS.6Ch.mkv | DTS |
10
|
10
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
008-DTS-HRA.8Ch.m2ts | DTS-HRA Bitstreaming |
8
|
8
|
MPC-HC | |||
009-TrueHD.6Ch..m2ts | TrueHD Bitstreaming |
8
|
8
|
MPC-HC | |||
010-1080p24.x264.AAC.mp4 | AAC, MP4 |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
011-FLAC.6Ch.ASS.Subs.mkv | FLAC, ASS Subs |
8
|
8
|
VLC | |||
012-1080p24.Vorbis.ogg | Vorbis, OGG |
4
|
4
|
VLC | |||
013-352p25RV40.RACook.rmvb | Real Media |
8
|
8
|
VLC | |||
014-1080i25.AVC.AC3..MPEG-TS.trp | TRP |
2
|
2
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
015-360p24.XVid.12LanguagesSRT.Subs.mkv | UTF Subs |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
016-1080i30.MPEG2.HeavilyInterlaced.ts | Deinterlacing for MPEG-2 |
8
|
7
|
VLC* | |||
017-1080p24.TrueHD.PGS.Subs.mkv | PGS Subs, TrueHD Bitstreaming from MKV |
12
|
12
|
MPC-HC | |||
018-480p.TVCapture.wtv | WTV |
4
|
4
|
Windows MC | |||
019-240p.H264.AAC.m4v | M4V |
8
|
8
|
MPC-HC | |||
020-1080p30.x264.AC3.m2ts | H.264, AC3, M2TS |
10
|
10
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
021-442p30.DivX.AAC.mkv | DivX in MKV Container |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
022-DVDISO.iso | DVD ISO |
10
|
10
|
VLC | |||
023-BluRayISO.iso | Blu Ray ISO |
10
|
10
|
Virtual Clone Drive + PDVD | |||
024-1080p24.x264.DTS-MA.7Ch.mkv | DTS-MA Bitstreaming from MKV |
4
|
4
|
MPC-HC | |||
025-720p24.x264.DTS-MA.6Ch.mkv | DTS-MA Bitstreaming from MKV |
4
|
4
|
MPC-HC | |||
026-1080p24.VC1.AC3.mkv | VC1 in MKV |
10
|
10
|
MPC-HC | |||
027-1440x576p25.WVC1.wmv | WVC1 |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
028-720p60.WVC1.WMA3.6Ch.wmv | 60fps WVC1 |
8
|
8
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
029-1080p60.AVC.AAC.MP4 | HD Camcorder Clips |
10
|
10
|
Windows MC | |||
030-272p.VP6.MP3.FLV | VP6 in FLV, MP3 |
10
|
10
|
VLC | |||
031-854x480p30.H264.AAC.flv | H.264 in FLV |
10
|
10
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
032-1080p.VP8.Vorbis.webm | VP8, WebM |
10
|
10
|
VLC | |||
033-480p24.MPEG1.mpg | MPEG-1 |
4
|
4
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
034-1080p24.xvid.avi | HD Xvid, AVI |
10
|
10
|
MPC-HC | |||
035-672p30.DIVX.MP3.divx | DivX |
10
|
10
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
036-720p60.MPEG2.m2v | MPEG-2, M2V |
2
|
2
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
037-1080p30.MPEG2TS.ts | TS |
2
|
2
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
038-1080p25.AVC.AAC.6Ch.MOV.mov | MOV |
10
|
10
|
PDVD10 Mark II | |||
039-1080p24.RV40.Cook.rmvb | HD Real Media |
8
|
6
|
VLC** | |||
040-Anamorphic.MultAud.MultSubs.mkv | Anamorphic, SSA Subs |
10
|
10
|
MPC-HC | |||
041-1080p24.VC1.DTSHD-MA.m2ts | VC1 in M2TS, DTS-HD Bitstreaming |
6
|
6
|
MPC-HC | |||
042-1080p24.VC1.TrueHD.AC3.m2ts | VC1 in M2TS, TrueHD Bitstreaming |
6
|
6
|
VLC | |||
043-1080i30.H264.HeavilyInterlaced.ts | Deinterlacing for H264 |
8
|
7
|
VLC* | |||
044-1080i30.VC1.HeavilyInterlaced.ts | Deinterlacing for VC1 |
8
|
6
|
MPC-HC | |||
Total |
328 out of 336
|
**: For perfect playback, the CPU was overclocked to 2.24 GHz (FSB at 140 MHz) using ASRock's OC Tuner program from within Windows
Programs such as PowerDVD 10 Mark II and VLC use their built in codecs. For files played back through MPC-HC, the order of preference for the decoding filters which had to be tried out for successful playback is given below:
Audio
1. ffdshow Audio Decoder (Passthrough enabled for all formats in the Mixer section). [ Refer to Damian's excellent guide on how to achieve bitstreaming using ffdshow ]
Video
1. MPC-HC's internal splitters
2. H.264 Decoder :
2.1. Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder
2.2. MPC-HC's internal MPCVideoDec
3. VC-1 Decoder :
2.1. Andy's Modified Clarkdale VC-1 Decoder
2.2. WMVVideoDecoder DMO [ Doesn't use hardware acceleration ]
Fortunately, the Core i3-330M is more than powerful enough for HD VC-1 decoding. The ArcSoft TMT VC-1 decoder also works quite well (inferred from the very low CPU usage observed while playing back VC-1 Blu-Rays), but it is not straightforward to use the decoder in MPC-HC.
Ideally, we expect HTPCs to score a perfect 100 in the media streamer test suite. However, Intel's stubbornness in opening up some key driver APIs and some sloppy drivers have resulted in a slight slip up. The ASRock Core 100HT-BD scores 97.62%, which is much higher than what many other media streamers can claim. We will use this score as a reference while evaluating media streamers and HTPCs in the future.
107 Comments
View All Comments
tmservo - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
This is a good point regarding tuners. I also wish there was an internal. But I can deal without. Right now, I have 4 tuners: a SiliconDust dual tuner QAM (connects over ethernet) a 2250 and a ATI650. But I almost never watch that many programs at once, and with the cable companies limiting, they are on my elimination list. This fall SiliconDust is supposed to have their 3 tuner CableCard solution out. At the moment they have that, my need of any cards in my PC completely go away. Completely goes away. I'll have better TV input.Now, I wish there was a single PCI-E x1 slot so I could consider the Ceton, but I could deal.
jnmfox - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
Surprised Silicon Dust's HDHomeRun hasn't been mentioned:http://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/atsc...
One of the best tuners around and will work on any networked PC. Plus you don't have to add bulk to your HTPC by making it bigger to fit a tuner inside. One of the best HTPC purchases I've made.
Braumin - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
Everyone needs a different tuner. Including any tuner would just be a waste of money since it would not be guaranteed to work on the owner's system. USB and Network tuners are available and make this a complete DVR.CharonPDX - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
I already use an HD HomeRun as my tuner, so no internal tuner isn't a deal killer at all for me. (And I may get a second HD HomeRun.)jrwalte - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
Did you ever consider using a USB tuner?EnzoFX - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
There are probably more USB based tuners these days than internal tuners being made. Secondly, I strongly recommend the network based HDHomeRun tuner. Lastly, this is probably targeted at people who wouldn't want to install an internal tuner.RamIt - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
Give me an expansion slot and I'll buy one. until then no thx.ganeshts - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
RamIt,Most of what can be achieved through an expansion slot is possible using external USB devices. The Core 100 unit is quite liberal in that respect, providing 6 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports.
Also, note that the chipset used is the HM55. Compare this with a similarly spec-ed notebook computer. It is difficult for manufacturers to provide expansion slots, and even if they do, the costs of the devices fitting those slots are much higher than their external USB counterparts.
Stokestack - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
Unfortunately, the only USB 3 ports are on the front. This is a mistake. People setting up a nice home-theater system don't want ugly wires hanging out of their components full-time.Receiver makers are making the same baffling mistake with USB ports for iPods. Why on earth would I want this wire dangling off the front of the unit all the time? A port on the back allows you to plug a dock, an external drive, or tuner in and keep it out of sight.
GeorgeH - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
At $700 this will be competing with the Mac Mini. It has superior hardware specs, but if I were looking for something small, quiet, and attractive to put in my living room the Mini would win easily. This box is just to close to a basic mini-ITX box that any troglodyte could throw together - ASRock really needs to leverage their ability to make completely custom parts before they have a truly compelling product.It's cool to see more high-powered boxes in this form factor, I just wish it had been executed better.