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2partsfusion DMS-701 Media Server HTPC Review

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by Tom Andry — last modified March 27, 2006 19:00
2partsfusion DMS-701 Media Server HTPC Review

Summary

  • Product Name: DMS-701 Media Server HTPC
  • Manufacturer: 2partsfusion
  • Performance Rating: StarStarStarhalf-star
  • Value Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Review Date: March 27, 2006
  • MSRP: $2199.99 - $4894.99 (as tested $2840.99)
Specifications

Processor AMD Athlon 64 3500+, Socket 939, 90nm process, "Cool 'n' Quiet" enabled
Processor Cooling Zalman CNPS-7000B-AlCu
Memory 1GB Dual Channel DDR PC-3200 at 400MHz (2x512MB)
Motherboard NVIDIA nForce 4
Graphics Card Silently cooled Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB DDR, PCI-Express x16
Hard Drive 1 80GB Serial ATA 7200 RPM w/8MB Cache
Hard Drive 2 250GB Serial ATA 7200 RPM w/8MB Cache
DVD Drive Dual-layer DVD-/+RW (16x max single-layer, 4x dual-layer)
Personal Video Recorder Card Hauppauge PVR-500MCE PCI TV/FM Dual-Tuner with hardware MPEG-2 encoder

High Definition Card Single ATSC over-the-air high definition TV tuner
Sound 7.1 channel analog audio and digital S/PDIF output
Case OrigenAE X11
Case Cooling 2x 80mm fan, rear
Front I/O Ports (2) USB 2.0, (1) IEEE 1394a
Power Supply SilverStone 400 watt
Keyboard and Mouse Gyration Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Remote Microsoft MCE Remote kit
Networking On-board NVIDIA 10/100/1000 LAN with Firewall
Rear I/O Ports (1) PS/2 Keyboard, (1) PS/2 Mouse, (1) Parallel Port, (1) Serial Port, (1) RJ45 LAN, (5) 3.5mm analog audio jacks, (1) coaxial S/PDIF output, (4) USB 2.0, (1) DVI-I, (1) VGA, (1) S-video output, (1) composite video output, (1) component (Y/Pb/Pr) video output, (1) TV coax in (internally split to two), (1) FM coax in, (2) S-video input, (2) composite video input, (2) sets of R/L stereo audio inputs
Internal I/O Ports (1) PCI Express x16, (1) PCI Express x1, (3) PCI slots, (2) ATA133 with NVRAID, (4) SATA with NVRAID
Dimensions 17.1 inch (W) x 6.3 inch (H) x 16.5 inch (D)


Pros

  • Fully customizable and upgradeable
  • Can do almost anything you need and many things you don't
  • Fantastic customer service
  • Extremely quiet operation

Cons

  • Acts like a PC
  • New technology + unanticipated conflicts = random odd behaviors
  • Graininess and ghosting on Standard Definition content
  • DVD player a bit loud

Introduction

I'm not going to lie to you; the thing that excited me most about the reviewing the 2partsfusion DMS-701 was the ability to record TV. I know, I know, lots of stuff can do that for a lot less money but ever since I moved out of LA, I've been without the ability and I've missed it terribly. Plus, with a pregnant wife that is chronically tired and about to pop, I needed some way to reliably record 24 and Scrubs. Hey, you've got to have your priorities. 2partsfusion is really marketing their products to the more "hands on" and computer literate among us. While the Escient Fireball DVDM-300 retails for more than you can get a fully loaded DMS-701 with a 3-year warranty, 2partsfusion are really targeting different consumers. 2partsfusion is looking to help someone take the hassle out of building their own HTPC from scratch. And to that end, they are a great success.
  1. DMS-701 Media Server First Impressions
  2. DMS-701 Media Server Setup and Interface
  3. Setup and Performance Music, TV, Radio, and Games
  4. DMS-701 Remotes, Issues, and Conclusion
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