ASRock CoreHT Server Edition Review
by Vivek Gowri on February 16, 2012 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- Intel
- ASRock
- Media Streamer
- HTPC
Closing Thoughts
The CoreHT Server is quite simply just a different version of the CoreHT series HTPC, and quite a good one. We really liked the CoreHT when we reviewed it last year, and the Server edition solves our major functional complaint with increased storage capacity and hard drive performance. Another way to go about improving disk-related performance would be to have a smaller solid state boot drive with a secondary 1TB hard drive for media storage, but this solution would potentially increase the cost (depending on the choice of SSD).
In terms of media handling, we didn't notice any changes with the CoreHT Server Edition. That's not necessarily a bad thing, considering the CoreHT ranked pretty high among HTPCs. However, the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics are not at the same level in terms of media support as, for instance, the newly released HD 7750. What's more, as with the CoreHT, there's no option to upgrade the graphics to something more potent. While we understand the attraction of a small and sleek HTPC, there are reasons to go with a larger HTPC chassis.
Other than that, our conclusions remain similar to the ones we had with the CoreHT 252B. We’d like to see more premium industrial design and build quality from ASRock, with a more elegant design along with higher end touches like a slot-loading drive and a more aesthetically pleasing remote design. Otherwise, the CoreHT and CoreHT Server offer a solid and unobtrusive HTPC for a decent value, and for that we commend ASRock.
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Death666Angel - Friday, February 17, 2012 - link
So, everyone has to have the same taste in your world? :-)zyrmpg - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
your link is 404'd and now I'm curious what this case is. Reup or model #?Raider1284 - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
hi Zyrmpg. This is the enclosure DeathAngel was trying to link to: http://www.jcp-tech.de/fileadmin/images/Products/M...Raider1284 - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
and the link to the product page: http://www.jcp-tech.de/en/produkte/mini_itx/jcp_mi...Is there not a way to edit your own posts?!
Death666Angel - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Sorry about the broken link, the parenthesis at the end messed up the link. Thanks for posting the right one, Raider.Unfortunately, I think they are only selling in Europe.
Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de are selling them and the process of buying Amazon from abroad is pretty painless in my experience (I'm in Germany and regularly buy from UK and USA).
The German Amazon website has some more pictures of my mod:
http://www.amazon.de/JCP-Mini-ITX-Geh%C3%A4use-ext...
:-)
Bejusek - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Server edition and only one RJ-45?! I would buy it if it had two.JKoltner - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
I'm curious... what do you want the two Ethernet ports for? So that the PC can also serve as a router/firewall?(I'm just thinking... I have a a small file server machine like this I built a couple of years ago, and while it does have tow Ethernet ports, I've only ever used one...)
Bejusek - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Yes, I would use is as a combined router / media center / home file server, low power machine.I'm currently about to build something for this purpose. It either will be based on intel g620 or amd a6-3500 with some mini-itx mainboard.
However a pre-built pc like this one could be an interesting option, if only it had two ethernet interfaces; I'm not going to use a usb network card etc. 'Server edition' caught my eye and my first thought was finally something with dual network cards, thus my disappointment and comment.
mcnabney - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
You would use a box with a net storage capacity of 1TB as a storage server?I guess my 18TB server makes everything look puny...
Death666Angel - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
He could add several large HDDs via eSata (RAID) enclosures. :-)