NVIDIA taking a jab at the media center PC market with an innovative designExclusive from WinHEC is some information (and pictures) about NVIDIA's reference design for the next-generation Media Center PC.
The design is quite innovative, and not like anything that we've ever seen before. NVIDIA has removed all legacy ports, and instead has opted to go with a rear panel that resembles a DVD player/PVR more than a PC. Logical groupings of inputs and outputs are something that we're used to seeing on TV/video appliances.
Under the hood of this sexy beast is a heatpiped Pentium 4 3.0 GHz Prescott, a passive GeForce 6600 or GeForce 6200 TurboCache video subsystem featuring NVIDIA PureVideo technology, NVIDIA NVTV single and dual tuner PCI cards, and Intel nForce-based chipset. The system is tuned/built specifically for low noise (it reportedly operates at 33 dBa), ease of use, and high throughput in streaming video/audio situations.
Some more details about the design read as follows:
The reference design created by NVIDIA reduces the size of the chassis for the entry model by incorporating integrated graphics on the motherboard and a low riser to hold an add-in card. For other models, chassis size was streamlined by using components that produce less heat and can be packed more densely, and by selecting a special, low profile chassis that accepts the standard micro ATX footprint. The reference design makes perhaps the biggest improvements over the first generation of living room PCs in the areas of heat, power consumption, and noise reduction.
It definitely looks like NVIDIA has put their brains to good use when designing this. There is nothing more important than good design, both in functional value as well as aesthetic value. A good design that is well-marketed and priced reasonably is an almost guaranteed method for success. With HTPCs gaining ground in recent months, NVIDIA could have another winner on their hands.
The official NVIDIA press release is here.
