2012-11-08, 13:41
First of all, I'm in group #7. I want to play files from my existing file server and I want to use windows with XBMC on my HTPC. I do not plan to run anything else on the HTPC. I am a somewhat advanced user and I am planning to use network boot with the OS image stored on a SSD drive. The network is gigabit, of course.
After some research, I've come to a choice between Zotac ZBOX ID 82 (i3 2330M with HD Graphics 3000) and Zotac ZBOX ID 84 (Atom D2550 with GT 520M). The first is roughly 100 EUR more expensive than the second.
In addition to the HTPC above, I want to get a 2nd device for my parents in law which are pretty much in group #4. The setup on that side is going to be using a wireless connection for the HTPC to a 802.11N router that is connected to a WAN with a 100 MBit link to my home network; the HTPC will connect via VPN to my network and will play content from my file server. Just for the sake of having a similar setup, I plan to buy the same device as I buy for myself.
I'm posting here because I have a few questions:
After some research, I've come to a choice between Zotac ZBOX ID 82 (i3 2330M with HD Graphics 3000) and Zotac ZBOX ID 84 (Atom D2550 with GT 520M). The first is roughly 100 EUR more expensive than the second.
In addition to the HTPC above, I want to get a 2nd device for my parents in law which are pretty much in group #4. The setup on that side is going to be using a wireless connection for the HTPC to a 802.11N router that is connected to a WAN with a 100 MBit link to my home network; the HTPC will connect via VPN to my network and will play content from my file server. Just for the sake of having a similar setup, I plan to buy the same device as I buy for myself.
I'm posting here because I have a few questions:
- Does anyone have experience with a network boot setup like the one I mentioned (gigabit network with fileserver hosting the image on a SSD)? Is it good enough or should I expect poor interface responsiveness issues?
- The i3 CPU is roughly 3-4 times more powerful than the Atom CPU. If I got things right, since the GPU is doing most of the work the CPU is not going to have much to do other than the indexing so having a better CPU will not have a major positive impact on my setup. Granted, it's my first HTPC and my experience to XBMC is extremely limited so I might be totally wrong, which is why I figure I would ask here: is there any significant benefit of having the i3 CPU instead of the Atom CPU, keeping in mind that the GT520M GPU is (I believe) somewhat better than the HD Graphics 3000?
- In light of the previous question, is it worth spending some additional 100+ EUR (times 2 devices) on the i3 Zotac?
- Could perhaps anyone with some experience with the Zotac boxes elaborate on the wireless performance, specifically: should I expect 1080p "action" content to stutter with a good 802.11N connection?