I'm using the previous version (ASRock 330 ION) as an HTPC (Mythbuntu = Mythtv on Ubuntu). It can record 3 simultaneous session and playback one at the same time without the CPU load going over the 10% (PAL resolution). The Linux VDPAU support (hardware acceleration for the ION chipset) is just great and build in to Mythbuntu 9.10.
I've had the DVD version of this for about 4 months and the Flash playback was the biggest disappointment, followed by the fan noise; but that is better after a BIOS upgrade. I had overclocked to get HD Youtube vids playing smooth, but when that new Flash is officially out I'll be able to drop back to stock speeds and enjoy near silence.
Games-wise it's a mixed bag. It doesn't like Source engine games and the Unreal series gets progressively slower. Unreal is unplayable at any resolution/detail level. But other games run superbly, such as Far Cry on low /mid details and Shadowgrounds on Steam.
In summary, now that the Flash side of things is sorted, there's no need to spend megabucks on a PC if you don't have a really specific use for it.
Originally Posted by Shagbag That's strange. I've not had any probs with Flash on Karmic. I take it you installed Ubuntu yourself and it didn't come factory pre-configured. Are you using the Medibuntu repos?
if your using Boxee then (as its developed from XBMC) you should be able to use the iplayer script. It does wonders. I have a single core atom with ION (totally passive) and i can use the BBC HD streams.
I had problems playing flash initially in 9.04, it was because there were other flash players installed and I think it cause I conflict, I removed gnash and one of the others then flash ran fine.
In addition to this I had to run a beta driver on a beta kernel to get better performance out of the graphics, can't remember what it was now but there is a thread on ubuntu forums.
I've since wiped for Win7 but I'm not that impressed to be honest, I even popped another Gb in to try and make things better but reckon I'll moved back to Linux.
although, I must admit, I'm not keen on installing libs outside of a package manager. I'd recommend trying to fix flash on 9.04 or waiting for the 9.10 build of boxee. Boxee is alpha software, after all.
Hummm... What is the limit of it's gaming capabilities? Will it be able to play, say, Warcraft 3 over lan or older RPGs like Neverwinter Nights and Boulder's Gate 2?
Am thinking of getting the Asus 1201N when it comes out and it is essentially the same (Atom 330 + Ion). If it can play those games, I might be sold.
Originally Posted by DarkBanana Hummm... What is the limit of it's gaming capabilities? Will it be able to play, say, Warcraft 3 over lan or older RPGs like Neverwinter Nights and Boulder's Gate 2?
Am thinking of getting the Asus 1201N when it comes out and it is essentially the same (Atom 330 + Ion). If it can play those games, I might be sold.
Should do WC3 easily. No idea about NWN, what's its requirements?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shagbag Googled and found this thread for installing Boxee on Karmic:
although, I must admit, I'm not keen on installing libs outside of a package manager. I'd recommend trying to fix flash on 9.04 or waiting for the 9.10 build of boxee. Boxee is alpha software, after all.
Cant get proper flash playback on Boxee w/ 9.04. No acceleration that's needed from the Adobe 10.1 beta in Windows.
Originally Posted by DarkBanana NWN system req are:
Pentium® III 800 MHz or AthlonTM 800 MHz
RAM (Windows 2000/XP) 256 MB
Video Card NVIDIA GeForce 2/ATI Radeon
Just slightly higher than WC3? So I suppose it would play as well :)
I can't say for this model per say.. but Nvidia ION with the Atom N330 (1.6GHz 64-bit and dual core), running Win7 64-bit:
It will play Call of Duty 4 at minimum settings almost at 30fps. I also tried X-Plane at medium settings perfectly smoothly ~60fps, TF2 at low (not minimum) settings at about 30fps. In other words, because of the Geforce 9400M, it makes it a great casual gaming system... where the game just wants to have fun on occasion.
Thanks! Would it make a whole lot of difference if it was an Atom N270? There is a HP 311 available now which has the Ion + N270 combination. I'm agonizing over whether it's worth waiting for the Asus 1201N or get the HP 311 now...
Originally Posted by DarkBanana Thanks! Would it make a whole lot of difference if it was an Atom N270? There is a HP 311 available now which has the Ion + N270 combination. I'm agonizing over whether it's worth waiting for the Asus 1201N or get the HP 311 now...
I can't say for gaming.. but in my opinion... the Atom is a very slow CPU.. maybe equivalent to the early generation 1.8-2GHz P4. Having it in dual core and 64-bit, I believe helps a lot, especially if you do some little multitasking. I think it is best if it has everything on it's own side to take full advantage (dual core and 64-bit). Also, you must remember that the the Geforce 9400M, despite being a slow (low-end) GPU, the Atom N330 still limits it, so having it slower.. doesn't help at all.
It plays Prey superbly well. Just gave it a blast for the first time after buying it on Steam ages ago. It auto detected high quality settings at first but I thought it would be having a laugh, so I changed it to low and upped the res slightly from 1024x768 to 1280x720 to match my widescreen ratio. It ran so well in low settings that I put it back on high and it was still playable, only slightly less fps.
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ReplyThe small CPU fan was not very quiet at first (definitely not a hairdryer but not is quiet as I hoped for) but after modifying the connection between the fan and heatsink it was very quiet. I have some pictures on my WIKI
http://asrockion.wiki.zoho.com/silencing-the-ASRock-ION330.html
http://asrockion.wiki.zoho.com/mythbuntu-910-asrock-ion-330.html
Games-wise it's a mixed bag. It doesn't like Source engine games and the Unreal series gets progressively slower. Unreal is unplayable at any resolution/detail level. But other games run superbly, such as Far Cry on low /mid details and Shadowgrounds on Steam.
In summary, now that the Flash side of things is sorted, there's no need to spend megabucks on a PC if you don't have a really specific use for it.
Nope. Ubuntu 9.04 and the latest Boxee Alpha.
iPlayer and anything flash just falls over.
if your using Boxee then (as its developed from XBMC) you should be able to use the iplayer script. It does wonders. I have a single core atom with ION (totally passive) and i can use the BBC HD streams.
http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-iplayer/
no channel 4 script yet but im still hunting.
EDIT::
Here we go...
http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=289
In addition to this I had to run a beta driver on a beta kernel to get better performance out of the graphics, can't remember what it was now but there is a thread on ubuntu forums.
I've since wiped for Win7 but I'm not that impressed to be honest, I even popped another Gb in to try and make things better but reckon I'll moved back to Linux.
http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=11043
although, I must admit, I'm not keen on installing libs outside of a package manager. I'd recommend trying to fix flash on 9.04 or waiting for the 9.10 build of boxee. Boxee is alpha software, after all.
Am thinking of getting the Asus 1201N when it comes out and it is essentially the same (Atom 330 + Ion). If it can play those games, I might be sold.
Should do WC3 easily. No idea about NWN, what's its requirements?
Cant get proper flash playback on Boxee w/ 9.04. No acceleration that's needed from the Adobe 10.1 beta in Windows.
Pentium® III 800 MHz or AthlonTM 800 MHz
RAM (Windows 2000/XP) 256 MB
Video Card NVIDIA GeForce 2/ATI Radeon
Just slightly higher than WC3? So I suppose it would play as well :)
Yea it'll do it fine then.
It will play Call of Duty 4 at minimum settings almost at 30fps. I also tried X-Plane at medium settings perfectly smoothly ~60fps, TF2 at low (not minimum) settings at about 30fps. In other words, because of the Geforce 9400M, it makes it a great casual gaming system... where the game just wants to have fun on occasion.
I can't say for gaming.. but in my opinion... the Atom is a very slow CPU.. maybe equivalent to the early generation 1.8-2GHz P4. Having it in dual core and 64-bit, I believe helps a lot, especially if you do some little multitasking. I think it is best if it has everything on it's own side to take full advantage (dual core and 64-bit). Also, you must remember that the the Geforce 9400M, despite being a slow (low-end) GPU, the Atom N330 still limits it, so having it slower.. doesn't help at all.
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