john

On Nov 21, 5:15 pm, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> john wrote:
> > All:
>
> > I am building a prototype for a home computing appliance. This
> > appliance in essence will be a computer under-the-covers, so will need
> > a configuration that contains:
>
> > * Low cost 32-bit processor and standard DRAM (say 256MB)
> > * Sound card - nothing fancy - enough to play back recorded voice
> > clearly
> > * Support for 2 USB ports
> > * A low-end video card (600x800 would be fine/1024x768 good, too)
> > * A way to hook in an 802.11x-based network card (or, better yet, one
> > that has one built in)
>
> > I am a 20-year veteran in software, but only know hardware from the
> > perspective of code. Any help appreciated.
>
> > Thank you,
> > John
> >jpuopolo
>
> Via.com.tw has been making a variety of computing products,
> which are small (mini-itx, nano-itx) and have a lot of the
> normal features of other computers. What they don't have,
> is a very powerful processor. Think "1 GHz" in terms of
> performance.
>
> Intel has become interested, in "eating some of Via's dinner",
> and has introduced this. At the moment, this appears to be
> an OEM item, and the only examples I can find, are in
> finished computer boxes. I think the Celeron 215 is soldered
> to the board.
>
> http://www.intel.com/products/mother...em.cfm?ID=2170
>
> An example of a VIA offering, is the computer that Walmart is
> selling.
>
> http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=7754614
>
> For bare motherboards, this site has lots of examples. None
> of the processors here goes really fast, and 1.5Ghz may be the
> peak for these. The slower ones run cooler, which is important
> for some applications. To power these, some use the equivalent
> of a laptop adapter, and a power conversion module that can
> drive the ATX 20 pin connector. Power consumption can be in
> the 60W range, for a complete system.
>
> http://www.mini-itx.com/http://www.mini-itx.com/store/
>
> This is another place that sells the small stuff.
>
> http://www.logicsupply.com/
>
> I'm not a big fan of Jetway, but they're also making
> products like that. With a PCI slot on the thing, you
> would have room for a wireless card. For a compact solution,
> it would be better if there was a mini-PCI slot or something
> planar to the motherboard, but that would take some more
> searching, to find a good example.
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...NE&DEPA=0&Desc...
>
> So there is stuff out there.
>
> With all of these products, the tendency is to have the
> CPU soldered to the motherboard. So, unlike desktop computers,
> you cannot upgrade the processor if it turns out to be too slow.
> Soldering the CPU, is more in line with an "appliance" concept.
>
> For movie playback, these boxes are pretty close to the edge.
> It isn't like having a 3GHz P4, and horsepower to spare. If
> you're doing movie playback, you'll have some sweating to do.
>
> Paul

Paul,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with me.
This will be immensely helpful!
I will post my final configuration to this forum.

Best,
John