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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Bejusek - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
I admit that 1TB is scarce, but 18TB is a bit of overkill for me. Your words only confirm my opinion that 'server edition' is a joke.Metaluna - Friday, February 17, 2012 - link
Not just 1TB, but 1TB in Raid 0. As in, even less reliable than a single 1TB drive, just to gain a bit of performance that has questionable benefit in a small file server anyway. In other words, they don't get it.The name is probably just marketing, to align it with the Mac Mini Server, which also has two hard drives.
faizoff - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
The idle CPU temp seems a bit high though honestly I don't know the expected standard for HTPCs. My i5 2500k idles at 29-32 C, I'd always assumed HTPCs idle at around the same or less.Death666Angel - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Considering that this temp does not negatively affect anything (like performance, life span etc.) it is really not interesting. They probably made the decision to go with more lenient fan controls. Nothing wrong with that. :-)faizoff - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Well it was interesting to me since at idle in an HTPC there are a lot less resources running when compared to a desktop. Plus I always thought they would consume less power and generate less heat when compared to a desktop.Just some assumptions I formed I guess.
Death666Angel - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Less power and therefore less heat, sure. But also small enclosure, smaller heatsinks, smaller fans etc. Those things go together, so just less heat doesn't mean lower temps. Just look at small notebooks with 35W CPUs, they regularly have higher temps than 95W desktop CPUs. :-)duploxxx - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
From the first review it was already clear that the Intel onboard GPU is just not up to the task to fully utilize where a HTPC is build for, this update doesn't change anything, hence even don't understand why bother to review again, There are other platforms much better suited then this. On top of that why bother with those few benchmarks, the cpu is know for a long time, these benchmarks are no real added value.Scannall - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Without a way to put better graphics in it, I am wondering why they didn't go with a mobile Llano CPU instead.queequeg99 - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Maybe they're thinking that heavy duty transcoding is more important than casual gaming for the intended audience. I ran into the same choice a few months ago. Fortunately, all of my video files are in a single format and no transcoding is necessary with the software I use. However, I would like the ability to play the occasional game of Portal. The A8-3850 works perfectly for that purpose.capeconsultant - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
What is up with that?