New Eee Box :O

[progbuddy]

This thing is sweet. I can't believe they fit the HD3450 in here. Hell, it's hard to believe that this thing actually exists.

Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220011)

[crenn]

Only needs windows 7 and I'd consider it. I think the Acer Revo is better though.

[Drum Thumper]

That has got to be one of the most asinine things I have ever seen. Why put a (current) high end card like that in a budget box such as a EEE?

Furthermore, recent studies of the "netbook" market have shown return rates as high as 30% (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10239390-64.html?tag=rtcol;relnews). Clearly, this is a fad, nothing more, nothing less. $300 paperweights if nothing else.

Seriously, what current games can you run on an Atom? Peggle? Last I saw, that particular game doesn't require DirectX10.

[mtekk]

That has got to be one of the most asinine things I have ever seen. Why put a (current) high end card like that in a budget box such as a EEE?

Furthermore, recent studies of the "netbook" market have shown return rates as high as 30% (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10239390-64.html?tag=rtcol;relnews). Clearly, this is a fad, nothing more, nothing less. $300 paperweights if nothing else.

Seriously, what current games can you run on an Atom? Peggle? Last I saw, that particular game doesn't require DirectX10.

I wouldn't call the Radeon 3450 current or high end, it's probably comparable to the Geforce 9400 in the ion platform. It helps with HD content, and that's about it, you're not going to be playing anything serious on it (WoW may work, the Sims 2 will as well, but something like CoD or Crysis will bring it to its knees).

I fully agree with the netbook thing being a fad. Though, you must consider the actual market. It's mainly for the people that just browse the internet and they are good for that, anything much more and the poor atom falls flat on its face (the Intel GMA that is bundled with most of them is almost 6 years old now).

[Drum Thumper]

I wouldn't call the Radeon 3450 current or high end, it's probably comparable to the Geforce 9400 in the ion platform.

My mistake. I saw Radeon followed by 4 numbers and thought that the card in question was the 4850 (bear with me, I'm running on no sleep to speak of). But still, even with that card being the equivalent of a 9400 series...that's like putting nitrous on a rotary engine powered Volkswagon Beetle. Yes, it can be done, but why would you?!?

I'd have to do some research, but I am betting that the video card is pulling more watts than the rest of the system, and at a very insane ratio.

As for the market for the netbooks....lets just say that iHate this trend...

[Collinstheclown]

Lets just say I owe my sanity to my EeePC... They stuck me on third shift here at work and if it wasn't for this little guy I would have gone nuts. I don't need/want a high end laptop for work. I have a high end PC, so it would be overkill to have 2 high end computers.

The Eee play Starcraft, Doom, Wolfenstien 3D, and every emulator I have. For $400, thats all I ask of it.




-CollinstheClown

[d_stilgar]

Small doesn't mean crappy. I know a lot of people with netbooks and they love them. I wish I had one. The purpose of many small PCs are as net access devices and media players. That box will do HD video no problem. Most people don't play high end games or care about it looking amazing. That's a good PC for the money.

Speaking of small and Crysis. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Obx7ZYTTU) Yeah it won't run it all maxed out or anything, but it's playable and looks alright. On a smaller screen this would be ideal.

[mtekk]

My mistake. I saw Radeon followed by 4 numbers and thought that the card in question was the 4850 (bear with me, I'm running on no sleep to speak of). But still, even with that card being the equivalent of a 9400 series...that's like putting nitrous on a rotary engine powered Volkswagon Beetle. Yes, it can be done, but why would you?!?

I'd have to do some research, but I am betting that the video card is pulling more watts than the rest of the system, and at a very insane ratio.

As for the market for the netbooks....lets just say that iHate this trend...

Like I said before, it's basically there for Full HD support (1080p), the poor intel GMA can't handle (except for the GMA X4500HD and possibly the GMA 500). Power wise, its not going to be much different from the intel northbridge that consumes at least four times the power of the CPU in the atom setup.


Speaking of small and Crysis. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Obx7ZYTTU) Yeah it won't run it all maxed out or anything, but it's playable and looks alright. On a smaller screen this would be ideal.

Saw that a while back, but remember the Nano is a much faster CPU than the Atom, plus we're comparing a 8600GT to a 3450 which are in two different classes (mid end vs low end).

If you want small and fast, get that new Zotac motherboard with the PCIe x16 slot and put a C2Q 9550s (65w TDP version) and strap in your choice of graphics card. I'm sure it'd play Crysis just fine :).

[x88x]

If the 3450 let's it play 1080p video without slowing down or hanging, this might make a nice HTPC. Small, inconspicuous, cheap...*glares at Mac Mini...stop looking at me with those sad eyes!*.. If it can't, then yeah, I don't see the point of the 3450 being there at all. IIRC that is the reason it's there though, I just haven't seen any reviews evaluating that aspect yet.

[progbuddy]

Like I said before, it's basically there for Full HD support (1080p), the poor intel GMA can't handle (except for the GMA X4500HD and possibly the GMA 500). Power wise, its not going to be much different from the intel northbridge that consumes at least four times the power of the CPU in the atom setup.



Saw that a while back, but remember the Nano is a much faster CPU than the Atom, plus we're comparing a 8600GT to a 3450 which are in two different classes (mid end vs low end).

If you want small and fast, get that new Zotac motherboard with the PCIe x16 slot and put a C2Q 9550s (65w TDP version) and strap in your choice of graphics card. I'm sure it'd play Crysis just fine :).

The thing is, Via UniChrome sucks. They need to pair up with ATI or something and come out with something kickass. But yeah, the 3450 was meant to be for video and such. Also, I don't really like people bashing netbooks. I've had my EeePC 701 since Christmas of 2007, and I'm still loving it and its underclocked-to-630-Mhz Dothan-M glory.