View Full Version : ASrock Ionstar 330 vs. ASUS P4-P5N9300 for HTPC?
I finally decided to replace one of my old Xboxes with Linux running machine.
I narrowed down my choice to ASROCK IONSTAR 330
http://www.asrock.com/nettop/spec/ION%20330.asp
and ASUS P4-P5N9300 barebone with E5200 processor and 2gb of RAM, 500gb HDD and DVD-RW.
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=fEMLgh6B4GRRCGDK
ASROCK IONSTAR looks ideal but I am worried that even though it has a dual core atom processor it might strugle with some more demanding XBMC skins. On the other hand E5200 should have no preformance problems but I am worried that it will produce much more noise and heat.
I would appreciate any thoughts
AshsToAshs
2009-05-30, 07:05
That ASrock one looks AWESOME!
I hope its $300 or under, and is super quiet!
-Ash-
That ASrock one looks AWESOME!
I hope its $300 or under, and is super quiet!
-Ash-
UK price is 300 pounds
http://www.zonetronics.com/products/IONSTAR_330_SFF_PC_WHITE_DC_ATOM_330_ION_DX10_GFX_ 2GB_320GB_DVDRW_NO_O_S-36849-47.html
http://www.shinyhardware.co.uk/prods/showprod.asp?pid=12168
Both of these systems (ASROCK and ASUS) would cost me about the same amount
UK price is 300 pounds
http://www.zonetronics.com/products/IONSTAR_330_SFF_PC_WHITE_DC_ATOM_330_ION_DX10_GFX_ 2GB_320GB_DVDRW_NO_O_S-36849-47.html
http://www.shinyhardware.co.uk/prods/showprod.asp?pid=12168
Both of these systems (ASROCK and ASUS) would cost me about the same amount
I'd choose the ASUS myself, it gives a lot more potential CPU headroom.
I finally decided to replace one of my old Xboxes with Linux running machine.
I narrowed down my choice to ASROCK IONSTAR 330
http://www.asrock.com/nettop/spec/ION%20330.asp
and ASUS P4-P5N9300 barebone with E5200 processor and 2gb of RAM, 500gb HDD and DVD-RW.
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=fEMLgh6B4GRRCGDK
ASROCK IONSTAR looks ideal but I am worried that even though it has a dual core atom processor it might strugle with some more demanding XBMC skins. On the other hand E5200 should have no preformance problems but I am worried that it will produce much more noise and heat.
I would appreciate any thoughts
I have build for myself asus system with pc power 420 silencer PSU and Artic Cool Alpine Pro 7 fan (which is sub $15 and extremely quite) and with BIOS settings for the fan on QUIET this system is virtually noiseless
I have build for myself asus system with pc power 420 silencer PSU and Artic Cool Alpine Pro 7 fan (which is sub $15 and extremely quite) and with BIOS settings for the fan on QUIET this system is virtually noiseless
In the end I got ASUS P4-P5n9300
e5200 with a stock cooler
4gb of RAM
and 1.5 TB hard drive
It is very quiet (more quiet than my old xbox) and it does the job. The configuration is probably an overkill but I did not want to take any chances. The only problem so far is that I wasnt I able to use the inbuilt IR receiver but to be honest I didn't really try and started to use my xboxes IR reciver from the begining
Scruffie
2009-06-22, 19:18
Thant ASUS barebones looks interesting! Can you tell me if the pci-e expanasion slot will take a fullsize card or just a half height one? Also if any ventilation holes would be blocked if it was laid on its side?
Cant find much info on it so fi you have any link please post them!
got the manual off the ASUS site. Its a pity the S/PDIF-out takes up one of the pci expansion slots...
Thant ASUS barebones looks interesting! Can you tell me if the pci-e expanasion slot will take a fullsize card or just a half height one? Also if any ventilation holes would be blocked if it was laid on its side?
Cant find much info on it so fi you have any link please post them!
got the manual off the ASUS site. Its a pity the S/PDIF-out takes up one of the pci expansion slots...
Expansion port will only take half hight cards and you can lay it on its side without any problems ( ventilation holes will be on top of the case) but then you will have a plain metal side to the case
Expansion port will only take half hight cards and you can lay it on its side without any problems ( ventilation holes will be on top of the case) but then you will have a plain metal side to the case
How about HDMI audio, does it work?
I am running XBMC on two of the Zotac IONITX-A-U boards (Same guts as the ASrock) and I don't have any problems running Aeon Auriga. The new background loading feature of XBMC seems to level the playing field.
How about HDMI audio, does it work?
yep, it works
alanwww1
2009-07-09, 12:49
My oppinon is that a htpc should be completely silent.
I would rather build a custom htpc with a hfx passive htpc case.
http://www.hfx.at/
Put un a Zotac or other mATX nv9300 integrated board and it is perfect. Of course it is more expensive, bot you can well change any part later.
Methanoid
2009-08-20, 01:27
Expansion port will only take half hight cards and you can lay it on its side without any problems ( ventilation holes will be on top of the case) but then you will have a plain metal side to the case
Are you sure?
http://www.hkgolden.com/ArticleBase/big/3038/15009.jpg
Seems to be full height but perhaps not full length and of course only PCI-E 1x
Methanoid
2009-08-20, 02:00
Could you measure the height of EACH slot from centre of the slot to the bottom of the PCI-E risers connectors? I think you can get a single 16X riser instead. Likewise can you confirm the card length you can fit?
I assume there is now PCI-E power connector so we're limited to Radeon 4650 or Green 9600GT models? Big improvement tho....
Please do reply and take measurements.. make a big difference to my decision to buy or not!!! :D
Methanoid
2009-08-28, 00:32
I bought the Asus. Yes, takes FULL SIZE PCI-E cards (1x) (not quite, if the size is bigger than the bracket they struggle but otherwise fine) - I did squeeze a big one in but I think it would ideally require some modding. Can replace the riser with a PCI-E x16 one if U can find one to match - Asus wont supply.
One problem is the manual shows voltage and FSb adjustments but the BIOS doesnt (edit Ctrl-F9 IIRC activates). If you view the BIOS in Awd BIOS Editor the options are all there and supposedly enabled but they are not working or visible in the actual machine.
I also own the Asrock. Asrock for HTPC with XBMC, Asus for general PC and server side ;)
is it true when buying the asrock you should choose your ram wisely as their is only 1 board for the ram, if you choose 2GB and later want to upgrade to 4GB you can't just buy another 1x2gb stick, instead you have to take out that one and put in a 1x4gb stick?
LastMile
2009-09-17, 09:30
is it true when buying the asrock you should choose your ram wisely as their is only 1 board for the ram, if you choose 2GB and later want to upgrade to 4GB you can't just buy another 1x2gb stick, instead you have to take out that one and put in a 1x4gb stick?
No, the ASRock has two memory slots, although both need to be filled if you want dual-channel access.
Most 2Gb ASRocks come with 2x1Gb, meaning if you want to upgrade to 4gb you will have to replace both of them with 2x2gb.