ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH

***Zardon*** · Jul 10, 2009, 11:56 AM

Read The Review here
________________
Manufacturers have been hard at work creating products based on the ION and today we have two different approaches on our test bench. The first is from ASRock and is a full prebuilt system and the second, from Zotac, is a motherboard/CPU combination which allows the end user to build a machine to their specifications. Today we will be looking at the pros and cons of both to find out which is best.

BlueMak · Jul 10, 2009, 02:34 PM

For the price, not bad.

Mac Daddy · Jul 10, 2009, 07:47 PM

Both look decent for the target market but amazing how the ASRock shines

Tipstaff · Jul 11, 2009, 06:08 AM

Was that Zotac board a review one sent to you guys by them? The reason I ask is that of the 3 boards I've sold, none came with a fan.

***Veridian3*** · Jul 11, 2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

Was that Zotac board a review one sent to you guys by them? The reason I ask is that of the 3 boards I've sold, none came with a fan.

I think they have 2 or three models that are very similar. Maybe one of them comes without a fan. We actually had 3 different samples at one point and all had it. (1 was from a reseller and the other 2 from Zotac direct).

hohum · Jul 11, 2009, 08:59 PM

The Asrock system looks pretty good, but I'd personally want the following changes:

Blu-ray drive (this is available on the more expensive variant though)
4GB by default
DVI port instead of a VGA port - Personally I think a HDMI to DVI adapter is liable to damage the HDMI port due to the size/weight of the adapter and cable... it would be better to have DVI instead of VGA, and then provide a DVI to VGA adapter for those who need it
Front memory card slots/USB ports - You really don't want to be messing about with USB ports at the back if you have the unit under a TV

Just my thoughts.

Cow_160483 · Jul 14, 2009, 07:40 AM

good point especially about the USB's being in the front

, just an interesting concept coz its my first time to come across the system

Jul 10, 2009, 11:56 AM	#1
*Zardon* enchanted Join Date: May 2002 Location: Driverheaven Posts: 32,233 Rep Power: 3150	ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH Read The Review here ________________ Manufacturers have been hard at work creating products based on the ION and today we have two different approaches on our test bench. The first is from ASRock and is a full prebuilt system and the second, from Zotac, is a motherboard/CPU combination which allows the end user to build a machine to their specifications. Today we will be looking at the pros and cons of both to find out which is best.

Jul 10, 2009, 02:34 PM	#2
BlueMak DH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 8,221 Rep Power: 117 System Specs	Re: ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH For the price, not bad. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Jul 10, 2009, 07:47 PM	#3
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 64 System Specs	Re: ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH Both look decent for the target market but amazing how the ASRock shines __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 11, 2009, 06:08 AM	#4
Tipstaff DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Toronto Posts: 5,524 Rep Power: 94 System Specs	Re: ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH Was that Zotac board a review one sent to you guys by them? The reason I ask is that of the 3 boards I've sold, none came with a fan. __________________ >><<

Jul 11, 2009, 08:59 PM	#6
hohum DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 296 Rep Power: 41	Re: ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH The Asrock system looks pretty good, but I'd personally want the following changes: Blu-ray drive (this is available on the more expensive variant though) 4GB by default DVI port instead of a VGA port - Personally I think a HDMI to DVI adapter is liable to damage the HDMI port due to the size/weight of the adapter and cable... it would be better to have DVI instead of VGA, and then provide a DVI to VGA adapter for those who need it Front memory card slots/USB ports - You really don't want to be messing about with USB ports at the back if you have the unit under a TV Just my thoughts.

Jul 14, 2009, 07:40 AM	#7
Cow_160483 DH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 3,819 Rep Power: 96 System Specs	Re: ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac Review @ DH good point especially about the USB's being in the front , just an interesting concept coz its my first time to come across the system __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.driverheaven.net/dh-reviews/186686-ion-comparison-asrock-zotac-review-dh.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
ASRock NetTop ION 330 AMCP7A-ION HTPC - Motherboards and Memory	This thread	Refback	Jul 17, 2009 02:15 PM
ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac - Introduction - Consumer Electronics Show, Motherboards and Memory	This thread	Refback	Jul 16, 2009 09:28 PM
ION Comparison - ASRock and Zotac - Introduction - Consumer Electronics Show, Motherboards and Memory	This thread	Refback	Jul 12, 2009 01:42 PM