Considering a NetTop style device for HTPC but need Dual NIC

RangeR · 20-10-2009 04:25PM #1

Hi guys,

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I'm looking to build the smallest, quietest, CHEAPEST box I can. The only absolute requirements that I have are Dual NIC LAN and WLAN. IT will also have to run linux, maybe Myth Ubuntu but I'm pretty sure linux supports a lot of hardware out there.

The other hardware specs are optional as far as RAM qty, HDD size etc are concerned.

So I was thinking something along the lines of the MSI Wind devices. However, they don't do dual NIC. Otherwise would be ideal.

Wcool · 21-10-2009 01:24AM

Hi RangeR

The link that your provide won't play any newer 264 codecs, the graphics chipset just isn't powerful enough.

I have promoted the box that I bought a couple of times here on Boards but honestly it is an incredibly good box for people who know what they are doing:

Asus Aspire Revo Linux edition (Don't buy Windows Vista edition, waste of money)

Acer Aspire Revo

It doesn't do tv recordings but has wireless and plays everything smoothly. It runs boxee, xmbc and any Linux + Nvidia driver

However, it has only 1 LAN port and 1 Wireless. But it has a lot of USB ports, so the only thing you have to do is to buy a USB -> ethernet port

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2797
or if you really need gigabit: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15366

I have yet to come across anything cheaper with the same power.

RangeR · 22-10-2009 09:32AM

Cheers. Thanks for that. I'll look at the revo. However, I REALLY need two nics. That's a firm requirement.

Agreed on not getting the windows edition.

RangeR · 23-10-2009 09:18AM

Hmmm, I've found an ATOM motherboard with dual NIC here. Now just need to find a computer that uses it. Can build from scratch if needed, but I'd rather not.

Wcool · 26-10-2009 11:45AM

If you stick with the Intel graphics shipset that comes with the Atom motherboards, I don't think you will be able to play x264, mkv or any HD stuff.
Also, that board does not have a HDMI connector, suggesting that it is not suitable as a media centre.

The cheapest option for true HD capable boxes is ION but it is not looking good:
Googling around I found this thread:
nvidia-ion-dual-lan

It looks as if there are not ION based Dual LAN boards capable of HDMI unless you insert a 2nd NIC later through PCI or USB (not a biggie?)

Or you could buy a dual LAN mini-itx boards for a different CPU like AMD or dual Core, shifting the processing to the CPU from the GPU. Or find a cheap board that excepts PCI-Express and you could buy a cheap passively cooled GPU that does the decoding. Seems to me it will be more expensive though.

If you need more processing power than usual, look for Zotac or Jetway motherboards, they sell dual NIC mini-itx for different platforms. You will still have to build it yourself though.

FrankGrimes · 26-10-2009 11:09PM

Just posting a link to an ASRock Nettop that I saw on a blog today - haven't read much into it so no idea if it's relevant for your case but it doesn't look a million miles off (though Dual NIC is probably unlikely): http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/blogs/stuart/archive/2009/10/16/asrock-nettop-packs-a-punch.aspx

Considering a NetTop style device for HTPC but need Dual NIC

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