Review: AMD's Star Would Shine Brighter With Better PC System Design

Athlon stack

The Technology
AMD's Athlon 64 family of processors brings several improvements to Media Center PCs that home users will appreciate. The technology is designed for tasks requiring rich performance and high processing power such as gaming and media-intensive applications. The PCs reviewed here all performed well in standard home multimedia tasks.

Media Center PCs, however, are easy targets for security attacks because they are designed to be left on continuously while connected to the Internet. AMD partnered with Microsoft to secure its solutions against buffer overflow viruses, one of the more common types of attacks. This protection, when combined with frequently updated virus, worm and spam protection, should help safeguard Media Center PCs.

Silence is a virtue in home PCs, and Media Center PCs must run as quietly as the silent CE devices they wish to augment or replace. AMD focused on this need with its Cool 'n Quiet Dashboard technology, which monitors the load placed on the processor 30 times per second and automatically adjusts the speed at which it is running. Lowering the processor speed reduces the heat the fans must expel. The technology helped to dampen fan noise in the systems reviewed. But components in two of the units were so loud they negated the reduced noise of the processor's fans. Cyberpower Media Center PC
The Media Center PC from Baldwin Park, Calif.-based Cyberpower is available with an AMD or Intel processor. Engineers reviewed a unit based on an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ processor, which was housed in a large SilverStone computer case. A variety of connectivity options are provided within easy reach—four USB 2.0 ports are positioned on the front of the case, while FireWire, microphone and headphone connections are on the left side near the front of the case. Another two USB ports and a FireWire port can be found in the rear. One CD/DVD ROM drive is situated up front. Surprisingly, the unit contains no media reader. A 6-in-1 reader was supposed to be included, but the vendor said there was no room once the unit was assembled.

The front of the unit includes a small display like many other Media Center PCs, but this has one big advantage. The screen uses Ahanix's iMon software to display a wide variety of information about the system, such as time, specs, hard-drive usage and buttons pressed on the remote control. The software also provides TV channel and show information, alerts the user to new e-mail, and downloads news headlines and weather updates from the Internet.

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Connectors on the back of the unit include VGA, DVI, SPDIF, audio, serial, parallel and Ethernet. The PC ships with an external wireless antenna that attaches to the back of the unit, but engineers would prefer to see the antenna placed inside the case to reduce clutter.

During initial testing, the Cyberpower Media Center PC produced excessive sound, scoring 65 dB on a sound meter (equivalent to the sound level of an average conversation). Engineers determined that the driver for the Cool 'n Quiet technology was not installed in the factory, so they downloaded it from the AMD Web site. But even after engineers installed the drive, the system noise hit 65 dB. (A knob on the back of the unit can be used to adjust fan speed, but even at its lowest setting the system still registered 65 dB.) A Cyberpower spokesperson attributed the loud noise to the two fans included in the unit to cool its dual video cards.

This finding illustrates a much-needed area of improvement. Despite AMD's work to improve its processors and make them quieter, its efforts are for naught if other system sounds cancel out the silence of the processor's fans. Improved communication and cooperation between AMD and its system builders is needed to avoid these types of issues.

The computer's silver color makes it resemble traditional A/V equipment, but its large, boxy size makes it look too much like a computer, which may hinder sales. The case's cover is secured by four Philips screws, and the inside of the case is spacious.

The computer includes Microsoft's well-designed wireless mouse and keyboard, along with a receiver that attaches to a USB or PS/2 port. Engineers were surprised that in such a large case Cyberpower did not include an internal receiver. A Media Center remote control was supposed to be included, but instead the unit included a remote control compatible with the iMon software, which is not designed as well as the Media Center remote but can still control the unit. A receiver for the remote control is built in.

The review PC shipped with Creative Labs' Inspire 7800 speakers, a manual, a Maxtor 200-Gbyte Serial ATA 150 7,200- rpm drive, 512 Mbytes of DDR memory and TurboCache EVGA 6200. Several of the included components differed from the invoice sent with the unit, so integrators should check received units carefully to verify their components. The unit costs $1,549. HP Media Center m1160n Photosmart PC
Digital Connect engineers were impressed with HP's other Media Center PC line, the Intel-based Digital Entertainment Center z545, so they had high expectations for the m1160n— and they weren't disappointed. Compared with the z545, which resembles a DVD player—making it a good fit in a family room or A/V cabinet—the m1160n's tower design and wired keyboard and mouse make it more appropriate for a bedroom or dorm room.

The PC includes Media Center 2005 and HP Image Zone Plus software, which provides advanced tools to manage, edit and share photos. Through Image Zone Plus, users can construct calendars, albums and other photo presentations. It also includes tools for exporting, backing up and restoring photos.

The m1160n includes a variety of other useful software, including InterVideo DVD Creator and a tool that eases the creation of home movies. AMD's Cool 'n Quiet Dashboard was also included. The machine's sound output rated 54 dB, making it one of the quieter machines tested.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP clearly took time to understand customer needs when developing its Media Center PCs. The fronts of the m1160n and z545 each include a drive bay for HP's Personal Media Drive, a 160-Gbyte drive that can be used to transport photos, recorded TV shows or other media from the computer. (The Personal Media Drive is available separately for $199.99 and can be used in HP's PCs or as a stand-alone unit via a USB cable and power pack.) The PC also includes two optical drives—a CD-ROM drive and CD/DVD writer drive—which makes it easy to copy CDs or DVD and access material on two discs at once.

The front of the unit includes a 9-in-1 memory card reader, and a sliding door reveals two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port, inputs for S-video, composite video and audio, along with microphone and headphone connections. The back of the unit includes four USB ports and one FireWire port, serial and parallel connection, PS/2 ports, Ethernet, modem, TV and AM/FM inputs, composite video, S-video inputs and outputs and audio output. A VGA connector is also included, though the unit lacks a DVI connector.

The computer, based on an AMD Athlon 64 3400+ processor, performed well in all tasks. Other components include 512 Mbytes of PC3200 DDR SDRAM, 200-Gbyte 7,200-rpm hard drive, and a GeForce FX5200XT AGP 8X graphics card with 128 Mbytes of DDR memory. The case's side cover is secured by two thumbscrews and removes easily, though getting it back on is a little tricky.

HP provided excellent documentation covering the use of the computer and Media Center. The m1160n's keyboard is well-designed and includes volume controls and buttons for launching applications and controlling the play of DVDs or TV programs. An external USB receiver is included for the unit's remote control.

The PhotoSmart PC is priced at $1,049.99.The review unit shipped with a 23-inch HP f2304 LCD display, which includes a variety of connections and produced sharp images and crisp sounds through its included speakers. The display costs $2,199.99. ZT Media Center PC A7014
This is the second Media Center PC from Secaucus, N.J.-based ZT Group that engineers reviewed, having tested the company's Intel-based Pro Home Theatre PC X6459 computer last year. The A7014, based on the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor, performed as well as the Intel unit and has a similar feature set.

Both units are housed in large black cases, which are getting smaller over time, a trend engineers hope continues. The current case, a Cooler Master Cavelier, however, is a bit large. The front includes an analog sound level meter, whose needle jumps to the beat of music. The meter also gives the PC the look of an old-fashioned radio but serves no other practical purpose. Average sound output was 60 dB, one of the louder units tested. The previous ZT Group PC reviewed scored 64 dB.

A door on the case's front hides its 7-in-1 media reader, two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire port, microphone and headphone connection, a useful manual volume control and even an archaic 3.5-inch floppy drive. Although the last ZT Group Media Center had two optical drives, this PC only has one—a writable CD/DVD drive—but there is room for an additional one. The back of the unit includes six USB 2.0 ports, one full-size and one mini FireWire port, Ethernet, DVI, SGA, S-video, audio, SPDIF, PS/2, serial and parallel connections. The unit's case is secured by three Philips-head screws and removes easily. There is plenty of room inside to maneuver.

The computer includes the RealTek AV Rack for playing and recording digital music, along with Nero StartSmart, which eases the creation of data, music or video CDs.

The PC ships with a Microsoft Media Center remote control and the well-made Logitech MX Duo wireless keyboard and mouse set. The keyboard includes an array of media controls including volume, Web page call-ups, scroll wheel and playback controls. Two external USB receivers are provided for the remote control and mouse/keyboard combo.

The A7014 is the only PC in this review to include HDTV support, via its Nvidia 6600GT 128-Mbyte PCX card, and also includes a dual TV tuner. Other features include an Nvidia nForce4 chipset mainboard, 512 Gbytes of PC3200 DDR400 and a Seagate 160-Gbyte Serial ATA/150 7,200-rpm hard drive, which is small for multimedia tasks. The unit includes a 17-inch Philips LCD and Logitech 5.1 speakers. It costs $1,359. Parting Thoughts
AMD clearly displays a strong understanding of the needs of next-generation Media Center PCs and their users. The AMD systems reviewed here rated as well or better than Intel-based systems engineers have seen, and AMD and its partners should be able to put up a good fight for market share.

AMD, however, needs to engage better with system builders to enable them to take full advantage of its processors. Intel has worked closely with builders to develop home systems, and its recent Entertainment PC platform offers new opportunities for builders to push into the market.

AMD has started moving in this direction, but more collaboration is needed. If AMD wants to gain a strong footing in the developing Media Center space, it needs both good products and excellent partnerships.