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Linux Mint and Compulab Take on Chromebox with FitPC3

btarunr

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The people behind the slick and popular Debian-derivative Linux Mint, and Compulab released sketches of their upcoming nettop, the FitPC3. The two have been working on the project since late 2011. FitPC3 is a desktop that's powerful enough for internet, email, and basic computing. Unlike the Google-Samsung Chromebox, which runs Intel Atom and Chrome OS, the FitPC3 runs AMD G-Series T40N and T56N APUs and a highly-optimized variant of Linux Mint 12, featuring MATE 1.2 and XBMC.

Illustrated below, are two models on the drawing boards at Compulab, the first one features on value, basic, LP variants, while the other, on the Pro variant. Connectivity is aplenty, with six USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, and two eSATA ports; HDMI and DisplayPort display outputs; stereo audio; gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 3.0 handling connectivity.



The G-Series T40N and T56N APUs are based on the 40 nm Brazos silicon, and will be backed by AMD A55 FCH and up to 8 GB of DDR3-1066 MHz memory. The APU embeds AMD Radeon HD 6250 graphics, which can handle resolutions up to 1920x1200 smoothly. Storage is care of a 2.5-inch SATA HDD. Although the FitPC3 only has stereo analog audio, the HDMI port gives out 7.1 channel digital audio. The FitPC3 will capture various value price-points, and looks to capture a big slice of the nettop market.



Find detailed specifications here (PDF).

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 
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Deleted member 67555

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Good choice on the OS... I think Mint is the best free media distro...
Oh yeah.....Codecs are just one click away...LOL
 
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Unlike the Google-Samsung Chromebox, which runs Intel Atom and Chrome OS

Chromebox has an Intel Celeron dual core (Sandy Bridge era). The HD 3000 graphics on board that are plenty sufficient for HD playback and anything on Chrome OS. The HD 6310 on the T56N APU tends to be on par with Intel HD 3000 graphics, and the HD 6250 is slower than that. The CPU part will eat any Brazos chip for breakfast. Don't get me wrong, the APU is a far better choice than the Intel Atom used in the 1st gen Chromebooks, but this better be well priced if they want to have any success.

Although, I do commend the use of Linux Mint and XBMC, and having a native HDMI port is a selling point against the chromebox (DVI + 2xDP), as well as USB 3.0 too.
 
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w3b

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All in the details

While not much of an issue for me; the 23.976Hz video playback issue is still a sore point with Intel atm (although apparently improved in the more recent HD4000 IGP), keeping this in check would be an extra edge for the AMD based device (again not much of an issue for me personally but it would be good for consumer confidence [the niggling 'what else is broke' thoughts] ). :confused:
 
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