MSI RS482M4-ILD mATX mobo with DVI - good choice?

[Fat Tone]

Hi

This mATX motherboard look pretty fully featured for an HTPC - what do you guys think?

I have the chance to swap to this with my Asus a7n8x-vm/400 (in my HTPC) if I act quickly. The downside is the S939 cpus are a lot more money than S754's and Socket A's and I'll have to change a few other bits, but it could be worth it for the integrated DVI and HDTV outputs.

Opinions/experiences welcome.

TIA,

T.

[uberlad]

I knew it! less than six months after building any kind of PC someone releases exactly the motherboard I wanted!

I have no experience with it but for a HTPC with limited expansion it has to be a winner.

Uberlad

[Fat Tone]

Always the way! There is also the AOPEN model with DVI, but it is very expensive.

I've just ordered my 32" LCD TV (an ACER AT3201W) so this will make a good accompaniment.

[uberlad]

Don't get me started on how much LCD TVs have dropped in price since I splashed out....

Since the move we have been using the HTPC as the only working machine in the house and it has behaved admirably. even manages to play the new X-men game in LCD TV-native resolution.

Of course now I have the complete network back up none of the machines can see eachother. I blame Windows and its deciding to store networking settings somewhere that isn't fully updated. All machines are now on a new workgroup with file sharing turned on as before and both of them claim not to have access to the workgroup machines.

I'm just getting to the point when a second DVB-T tuner would be nice.....I bet those haven't dropped in price at all

Uberlad

[Jammrock]

IMO, I would wait for the nVidia nForce 430 w/ GeForce 6150 HD integrated to reach the mATX format:

http://www.nvidia.com/page/gpu_mobo.html

The first mobo chipset combo specifically designed for HTPC use. The new nForce line has been getting pretty good reviews.

http://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_motherboard_2.cfm?pName=6150K8MA-8EKRS

http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=183&page=1

http://www.pcstats.com/artvnl.cfm?articleID=1865

Jammrock

[Fat Tone]

Thanks Jamm. But if I'm going to do this it will be ordered in the next 24 hours! Of course, I could always sell on again the next time I get a commission