ASRock CoreHT Server Edition Review
by Vivek Gowri on February 16, 2012 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- Intel
- ASRock
- Media Streamer
- HTPC
Temperatures and Power
Heat characteristics under idle and load remain similar to the CoreHT 252B. We took temperatures after 10 minutes of idle after booting to the Windows desktop, as well as after 15 minutes of putting the system under intense loading with the Furmark and Prime 95 stress test benchmarks running simultaneously. The numbers were actually slightly lower than the 252B, though not significantly so. This could either be environmentally related or due to the slightly different CPU. The hard drive is not significantly stressed in either benchmark, so the change in hard drive configuration did not affect thermal load significantly.
There was about a 10% increase in power consumption in the Server versus the 252B, with idle consumption rising to 19.8W from 18W and consumption under load going to 65.6W (from 62). That’s about what would be expected from the addition of a second hard drive.
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legolasyiu - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Aopen has HTPC called Digital Engine 67 (DE67) that can have same performance with 24/7 up-time and industrial grade design. Mini PC 67 (MP67) is good comparison with this unit. I hope Anandtech can test it some day.ASRock has 2x500GB HDD which will be fast HDD performance.
ZRohlfs - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Since when is an HTPC server going to have all of 1 terrabyte?Secondly, why is there no SDD?
This is just an expensive poor excuse for an HTPC, especially since the CPU cannot properly perform the video tasks it needs too.
/sigh
cknobman - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Then no llano no bueno. HTPC needs to be able to handle media better than Intels pathetic integrated gpu.Waste of build materials and a waste of time reviewing it.
pirspilane - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
My Core 100HT is a nightmare. It has been defective since day one, and ASRock can't fix it. I am on my fourth RMA and they have just issued a fifth one. They've replaced the motherboard twice, and each time it would not boot straight out of the box. It will not boot even with nothing installed except the out of date drivers from their CD. It has blue-screened and hung on boot since I got it.Their technical support is incompetent (I'm being generous here). Once, they suggested the problem was caused by my TV. Then they said it was a problem with the video card even though it doesn't have one. Then they blamed it on Windows Update. Taking them at their word (which I don't recommend), you cannot update Windows 7 to SP1 or this will break the computer.
Don't even dream of installing an SSD unless you're eager to break the Guiness Book of BSOD Records.
faizoff - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
That does indeed sound like a nightmare. It's one of the reasons why I'm considering building my own HTPC. Not sure what to do yet.pirspilane - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
I just got off the phone with them and they are going to replace the entire unit and pay for shipping both ways. So while their tech guy is frustrating to deal with, the customer service people are more helpful.pirspilane - Friday, February 24, 2012 - link
I called them to find out the details about the replacement unit they promised to send, and they said they didn't have a replacement unit to send me.In other words, they were BSing me to get me sucked back into letting them try to fix it again.
Their technicians cannot fix their products. Twice, they have asked me what repairs I want them to make on the unit. I guess that's so they don't have to take responsibility for diagnosing and fixing it.
shiznit - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
raid 0 in a server?siniranji - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
if the cabinet has the heatsink kind of look and some nitrogen based cooling (like thin client) required. Moreover the look seems like amatureish./ needs amd / nividia graphics toogamoniac - Thursday, February 16, 2012 - link
Vivek, I skimmed over a few times but didn't notice any dimensions or measurements of the unit (I apologize if you did include it). It would also be nice if you can place another object (coin, ruler) in the picture to give us an idea of the actual size of the HTPC. Thanks.