Apex/VIA game machine PERFECT FOR CAB COMP!

[Trenchbroom]

Check this baby out--anyone see any faults with using this as a cab computer if you use a TV for your display?  Very cool--too bad it's not out for awhile (if ever):

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTcz

[paigeoliver]

Well, it looks to me like a PC from 2 years ago with limited functionality. Using it for a cabinet would be much like using an X-Box. (Paying extra for less functionality).

The looks don't matter one bit, since it would be hidden in the cabinet anyway.

[visciouslymamed]

An Eden based system would not work well for emulation.

If you are still interested in a mini-itx board, try this link.
http://www.mini-itx.com/hardware/intro.asp

For about the same amount of money, pick up an AMD system and get a lot more performance.  

[isugoat]

i run mame32 on an AMD 800 mhz tbird and that can handle about 95% + of all games out.  this eden is rated at 1.4 ghz which i'm guessing is the equivalent of at least a 1-1.1 ghz intel or amd chip so it could probably handle most games easily.

edit: but yeah you're right, you could make something better for cheaper...but if you're like me and just made a control panel that plugs into your HTPC then this thing would look pretty with all your other components and consoles.

[Lilwolf]

Where they shine is that they don't require a fan (800 or less... the faster ones do... but small ones I believe... if you had a honker of a heatsink you would probably do fine)... and their multimedia is AMAZING!  They out perform in MM apps about the same as a 3 ghz intel!

But they don't have good int math... and for emulation they are slower then (by a distance) then intel or amd per clock cycle.

but remember.  95% of the games run fine in it.  Do you care about area51?  

[Trenchbroom]

No, I don't.  And you get a Divx movie player setup right out of the box with composite output for $299 as well.  No muss, no fuss--just plug in and go.

[ashardin]

The outputs are the part I like about the system.  Hell, by the time you get a card that gives you a QUALITY TV-out you are shooting up the price of building a great deal.

You can always build something cheaper but that looks like a pretty good out of the box solution.  Lets you spend more time in quality cabinet construction than being an IT hardware expert.

[HeadRusch]

Yeah but why pair a great output to a crappy 1Ghz processor.......you can get a ATI radeon 8500 with the component breakout box and build a better system than this thing for $400 bones.

Plus, I wonder how tuned-in Mediacenter actually is.  Will it be able to adjust to the correct frequences required by many modern day bigscreen digital tv's???

Anyone whos ever worked with PowerStrip knows its an exercise in frustration getting software to behave correctly when you pump it out, especially to a widescreen tv that supports High Def resolutions.  

As forthe "DIVX Jukebox" stuff, I guess thats cool for your 27"......and I've watched a Divx rip of SHREK fullscreen on my 32" tv from my laptop, and it was perfectly watchable....but I tried watching my own homebrewed divx of Men In Black II on my 65" Widescreen and it was pretty painfull.  It was basically like watching a really good cable channel......the image was soft..the colors....ok, and the sound? 2 channel mp3

DIVX was amazing a year and a half ago.  And its still amazing for laptop useres who like movies.  But with DVD burners so cheap tehse days....its a no brainer.