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
It should come as no surprise that the iGPU in the Arrandales is not great for gaming purposes. It comes close to, but doesn't surpass, the Ion in gaming performance. However, some HTPC enthusiasts do want to play the occassional game, and the Arrandale in the Core 100 HT-BD obliges. The actual performance in various games at various settings has already been covered in numerous other reviews, so we will not go into those details here. To sweeten the deal for these gamers, ASRock has a pretty nifty feature called as the AiWi enabled on the unit.
This feature enables the usage of the iPhone or iPod (any model with an accelerometer) as a motion controller. The implementation of this feature is quite interesting. The player starts out by creating an ad-hoc wireless network on the Core 100 system. The iPhone or the iPod is then made to connect to this network. It is also required that the AIWI Lite app be installed from the Apple App Store. This app can be started after connecting to the ad-hoc network. After connection, the iPhone or iPad can be used as a keyboard or mouse, but the more interesting aspect is the usage of the accelerometer (G-Sensor) for gaming purposes.
We tested out this feature with SEGA's Virtua Tennis 2009. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise when we discovered how responsive the whole system was. A downside is that there aren't many games which are enabled for this interaction methodology. For those non-gaming enthusiasts enamoured by the motion controller trend that Nintendo started, this is a nice system to check out instead of going in for a dedicated gaming console.
A concern we raised with ASRock was the fact that the AiWi system was available only for Apple's platforms. With the rising popularity of Android devices with similar hardware capabilities, they have told us that the AiWi app would soon be ported to Android within the next few months. Customers who don't prefer Apple products will hopefully be able to enjoy this feature soon.
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ck_mb - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - link
Does the video card pass WMC cablecard test? I have a AMD 780G that doesn't, since this motherboard doesn't have any expanision slot it would be worthless as a dvr using cablecards.ganeshts - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
Yes, the system passes the Digital Cable Advisor test without any issues.schoenbe - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
An HTPC without a TV tuner is not an HTPC. It is a media player.In the case of the Core-100HT-BD reviewed here, a powerful media player. But you still can't watch TV with it. You cannot record TV with it. Not even a single channel, let alone several channels simultaneously. Anandtech should not recommend this unit as an HTPC. Besides, $700 for a media player? For playing back BD discs and media files? Not sure who wants to pay this much for an incomplete feature set.
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
If you don't like it, don't buy it. Is someone standing there with a gun to your head?EnzoFX - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
In my experience, USB tuners are the easiest for people to work with. This unit is targeted at people who probably wouldn't be willing to open up a computer case and install an internal tuner IMO. Personally, I think the best tuner is the HDHomeRun, which is a network based tuner, so this ASRock unit definitely delivers in every regard.schoenbe - Thursday, July 22, 2010 - link
"... this ASRock unit definitely delivers in every regard." Really? Even if you have to go out and buy a TV Tuner and make it work? This product definitely doesn't deliver the complete package.Ipatinga - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link
In the article, there is a part where it says "... One must also take into consideration the cost of the Atheros AR9287, which can be bought for around US $15 online..."Where can I find Mini PCI Express 1x Wireless Adapters (Half Height or not) like this Atheros AR9287 this cheap ($15)?
Thanks :)
ganeshts - Thursday, July 22, 2010 - link
This is the listing I was referring to:http://cgi.ebay.com/Atheros-Dual-Band-AR9287-Wirel...
cjs150 - Thursday, July 22, 2010 - link
Ganeshts: I think you and I have different definitions of noisy. Lets take a simple and real life example.I am listening to classical music - obviously a quiet section, the 1812 overture can be heard over a jet engine!
At same time I have firefox up and running (couple of tabs one of which is of course Anandtech but the other is a chess site I use)
I am also running a chess analysis program, fritz, which will take whatever CPU capacity you through at it
Pretty obviously under this scenario the IGP is not fully loaded but the CPU could be running close to capacity.
My Sofa is 6ft away.
If I can hear the ASRock then it is too loud. By comparison my main work rig (admittedly water cooled), I cannot hear other than possible a very slight noise of air movement.
We all know that manufacturer claims of noise levels are typically overstated (expecially by fan manufacturers) but to be suitable for me the noise (close to the machine) has to be sub 30db or even sub 25db. It is not difficult but does limit the cooling to a slow running 140+mm fan.
Mind you the loudest thing in the living room (apart from my daughter) has to be the cable set up box - but only when it starts up from sleep, some really bad design I think there
ganeshts - Thursday, July 22, 2010 - link
cjs150,Noise is a very subjective issue. What might be noisy to me might be OK to you, or vice versa. It is really hard to say what the "ideal" dB would be (aside from silent of course). Some people seem to have the hearing of a bat, while others are more tolerant.
For the correct judgement, you will have to experience it yourself, unfortunately.
The hobbyist sound meter we used could barely register anything unless it was very close to the unit (as you can see from the photo). At 2 ft away, manufacturer shows proof of 34.5 dB (Please check UPDATE section on Page 11).
I am not even sure there are professional sound meters to measure sub 30 and sub 25 dB unless you have an anechoic room.
The figures are presented, and in our opinion, at this cost and for this form factor, ASRock appears to have done the best it could do. Whether the figures are acceptable to you or not, I can't judge from here :)
Our review of this product was from the perspective of the average HTPC user ( not people with 7 TV tuners, for instance ;) )