Improved ION IGP w/better VDPAU support? - Page 2

jalyst · 12-05-09, 11:01 AM

Hmm you don't sound too sure, I'll investigate further myself, thanks!

**sorry for multiple posts, t'was something wrong with forum.**

Ubuntaqua · 12-05-09, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

Some great points thanks!
Actually I just realised that the Essence ST + H6 I bought would have to go into my Media Front-End, so a pre-built system won't do!

I'm guessing most content will be streamed from my Myth Backend /NAS so heaps of storage isn't a big deal.
1x 3.5" 1TB should be plenty, maybe even just an cheap-arse SSD?!

I seem to hear Zotac mentioned a lot so I'll have a closer look at their mobo's.
Thanks also for the case selections!

I'm not going to be picky, I've been far too anal w/other systems I've been designing lately and time is now of the essence!

You WILL have a problem finding a motherboard with a ION chipset with the correct number of PCI / PCI-express slots. Most of them (all of those I looked into anyway) are mini-ITX. Wich means ONE slot : 1 PCI or 1 PCI express 1X or 1PCI express 16x. I was predjudiced against sound cards, and had already purchased an external DAC, so that wasn't an issue for me but you should be carefull about that.
The only one (that I know of, there could be others) with a PCI slot for your sound card is the Asus AT3N7AI featured here. I almost bought this one because it was cheaper than the zotac. Beware though, some people say it's small fan makes a lot of noise. I currently don't use the fan included in my zotac so maybe you can remove this one (at your own risk

).
With a PCI card your choice of computer case is also slightly more limited. Some small cases (mine, for exemple) do not allow a PCI card.

Good luck for your search

jalyst · 12-05-09, 11:15 AM

oh bummer, i really need 1x PCI and 1x PCI-e so I can add a GT2xxx series car later if needs be...

And this sound-card has a daughter board which also needs a spare PCI slot (doesn't actually plug into the port) so the extra 5.1 analogue-out ports (2.0 already on the main card) can poke through the PCI brackets.

So I may have to mod a case so that the daughter-board doesnt take up any PCI/e space...
Even then I still really need two PCI/e slots.... sigh

Ubuntaqua · 12-05-09, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

Hmm you don't sound too sure, I'll investigate further myself, thanks!

**sorry for multiple posts, t'was something wrong with forum.**

No I'm not

but then I'm not so much interrested in the question

You can built something equally good for video using a 9400 or 9300 chipset and a Core2. Uses more power, faster CPU... it's up to you. There are also more computer cases to chose from.

What is the "H6" you were reffering to ?

jalyst · 12-05-09, 11:22 AM

daughterboard for the Essence ST
http://www.guru3d.com/imageview.php?image=16874

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubuntaqua

What is the "H6" you were reffering to ?

Ubuntaqua · 12-05-09, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

And this sound-card has a daughter board which also needs a spare PCI slot (doesn't actually plug into the port) so the extra 5.1 analogue-out ports (2.0 already on the main card) can poke through the PCI brackets.

So I may have to mod a case so that the daughter-board doesnt take up any PCI/e space...
Even I still really need two PCI/e slots.... sigh

For you sound card, it's ok. Just use a normal micro-ATX case, you can plug your card to the PCI slot, and attach your daugther card below on the chassis, can you not ?

The extra PCE-e 16x for the GT240 is a bigger problem. The Zotac IONITX-F has a PCi-e 16x but no PCI slots.

For your needs, maybe a normal micro-ATX or ATX motherboard with a Core 2 or Celeron is the best solution. This way you have a PCI-e 16x, 2 or 3 PCI slots ...
It will be bigger... I took the smallest solution I could find, but any case fitting a micro-ATX board will be bigger than a case specifically built for mini-ITX.

jalyst · 12-05-09, 11:30 AM

You mean at the edge of the board where the last last PCI slot is plug the main card; then just screw the H6 into the PCI bracket alongside the bracket used by the ST & forget about not being able slot the H6 into a PCI/e slot? (its designed to do that but doesnt actually have any lanes)

You sure there's no ION-based board with more than one slot? I guess if you go more than one it's no longer an Mini-ITX board.
Hmm, maybe there's ION boards that are Micro-ATX? worth checking you reckon?

If not I'll just have to get a pricier/hotter/electricity guzzling core2 based system... sigh... 330am, night.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubuntaqua

For you sound card, it's ok. Just use a normal micro-ATX case, you can plug your card to the PCI slot, and attach your daugther card below on the chassis, can you not ?

Ubuntaqua · 12-05-09, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

You mean at the edge of the board where the last last PCI slot is plug the main card; then just screw the H6 into the PCI bracket alongside the bracket used by the ST & forget about not being able slot the H6 into a PCI/e slot? (its designed to do that but doesnt actually have any lanes)

yep I meant exactly that

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

You sure there's no ION-based board with more than one slot? I guess if you go more than one it's no longer an Mini-ITX board.
Hmm, maybe there's ION boards that are Micro-ATX? worth checking you reckon?

Not that I know of

but yes it's worth checking ! I believe a 9400 chipset is essentially the same thing, but I don't know if you can find a Atom based microATX motherboard. Look at how small a mini ITX board is... 1 slot is probably the maximum you can afford on these.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

If not I'll just have to get a pricier/hotter/electricity guzzling core2 based system... sigh... 330am, night.

7 pm here

, readying for a drink (or 2) !

jalyst · 12-06-09, 07:54 AM

I need one PCI-e 16x (or whatever the min is for a GT220) and one PCI...

So far the best ITX board I've found has one mini-PCIE and one 16x PCI-e.
So it's looking very unlikely I'll find an ITX board with any-more than that.

I guess I could get some kind of riser card that splits the 16x into one 8x & two 4x OR two 8x?
Then I could find some kind of converter that turns one of these slots into PCI 2.2?
I believe they do exist, but they may only work with 1x or 4x PCIe, not 100% sure.
Or maybe even something that converts the mini-PCIe into PCI?

But it just get too complicated I think, sigh...

I have found one mATX board that uses dual core Atom, but it uses Intel IGP.
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pro...ID=129&LanID=0
So I may as well just get a mATX mobo with geforce 9400 + core2duo don't you reckon?

Ubuntaqua · 12-07-09, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

So I may as well just get a mATX mobo with geforce 9400 + core2duo don't you reckon?

Yep. a 9400 or some fanless GT220/240 . Either way

jalyst · 12-07-09, 11:12 AM

Yeah it's a Geforce 9x00 mATX OR
a Intel IGP mATX (e.g. G4x which apparently are much cheaper) + a GT2xx.

I think...

jalyst · 12-09-09, 12:07 AM

Part of the good thing of the ION is it's ITX form factor...
There's no point in me moving up to mATX and staying with Atom.

Particularly considering that a core2 system w/ G4x/P4x + GT2xx or Geforce 9400
will be very similar power draw when being used as a media player only.

So that mATX board with Atom CPU and Intel IGP is out!

12-05-09, 11:01 AM	#13
jalyst Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	Re: Improved ION IGP w/better VDPAU support? Hmm you don't sound too sure, I'll investigate further myself, thanks! sorry for multiple posts, t'was something wrong with forum.

12-05-09, 11:15 AM	#15
jalyst Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	Re: Improved ION IGP w/better VDPAU support? oh bummer, i really need 1x PCI and 1x PCI-e so I can add a GT2xxx series car later if needs be... And this sound-card has a daughter board which also needs a spare PCI slot (doesn't actually plug into the port) so the extra 5.1 analogue-out ports (2.0 already on the main card) can poke through the PCI brackets. So I may have to mod a case so that the daughter-board doesnt take up any PCI/e space... Even then I still really need two PCI/e slots.... sigh

12-06-09, 07:54 AM	#21
jalyst Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	Re: Improved ION IGP w/better VDPAU support? I need one PCI-e 16x (or whatever the min is for a GT220) and one PCI... So far the best ITX board I've found has one mini-PCIE and one 16x PCI-e. So it's looking very unlikely I'll find an ITX board with any-more than that. I guess I could get some kind of riser card that splits the 16x into one 8x & two 4x OR two 8x? Then I could find some kind of converter that turns one of these slots into PCI 2.2? I believe they do exist, but they may only work with 1x or 4x PCIe, not 100% sure. Or maybe even something that converts the mini-PCIe into PCI? But it just get too complicated I think, sigh... I have found one mATX board that uses dual core Atom, but it uses Intel IGP. http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pro...ID=129&LanID=0 So I may as well just get a mATX mobo with geforce 9400 + core2duo don't you reckon?

12-07-09, 11:12 AM	#23
jalyst Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	Re: Improved ION IGP w/better VDPAU support? Yeah it's a Geforce 9x00 mATX OR a Intel IGP mATX (e.g. G4x which apparently are much cheaper) + a GT2xx. I think...

12-09-09, 12:07 AM	#24
jalyst Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	Re: Improved ION IGP w/better VDPAU support? Part of the good thing of the ION is it's ITX form factor... There's no point in me moving up to mATX and staying with Atom. Particularly considering that a core2 system w/ G4x/P4x + GT2xx or Geforce 9400 will be very similar power draw when being used as a media player only. So that mATX board with Atom CPU and Intel IGP is out!