[OrvillePhudpuck]

I am so glad to see a small PCB with the possibility of providing what I need for a HD HTPC computer finally show up. It remains to be seen if Intel's DG45FC mini-ITX board will really be up to all the tasks required of a real HD HTPC, but I can always hope and wait for the results to dribble in from all of the game box new product test sites. The first thing I will look for is smooth and high picture quality decoding of Blu-ray files at a maximum system power of 50 watts or less. That way a hurricane won't be necessary to cool the box. Next, I will want to hear what the sound quality is like. Can you really build a decent HD HTPC without having a Sound Blaster in it? I don't care to have a TV tuner in my unit, so hopefully the only card slot I will need will be for 802.11n.

I know that Intel has never before offered a northbridge with anything close to what they are claiming
for the video decoding performance of the G45. Here's hoping they are up to the task and that their claims are not just more mega-company bull ****. I think it's worth mentioning that Intel's 45nm E8200 could play the pivotal roll in holding down system power to a level so that the TV stand won't get scorched.

It's sad to observe that even though AMD has just introduced their new 780G northbridge - which looks like a real nice candidate for an HS HTPS - you don't see them out pushing one of their motherboard partners to bring out a PCB smaller than an elmonzo grande micro ATX. What happened to the mini-DTX guys at AMD? Maybe they left with Henri Richard or Dave Orton?

Just one more thing in passing. If Intel really intends to sell a mini-ITX board in the developed world, I wonder if they have the moxie to comprehend just how absolutely ****ty one of those little mini-ITX boxes look with a humongous power blister hanging out of its ass.

Hexus, thanks so much for your coverage of CeBIT 2008 on Hexus.tv.