Ripwave

NoogMan

Just received my Xbox 360

....

Video quality is better than the DMA's, and is a good bit faster.  Definitely the right way to go for an extender IMO. 

Do you have a kill-a-watt handy?

 

Is it true that the XBox draws more power than your HTPC?

 

 

I have a kill--a-watt and use the xbox360 in extender mode. I will see what it draws. I have the newer chipset so it will draw less power than the older ones. Will let you know later today.

New hope for a small, quiet extender?

 http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/xbox-360-valhalla-motherboard-leaked-on-chinese-forum/

 

az_r2d1

Ripwave

NoogMan

Just received my Xbox 360

....

Video quality is better than the DMA's, and is a good bit faster.  Definitely the right way to go for an extender IMO. 

Do you have a kill-a-watt handy?

 

Is it true that the XBox draws more power than your HTPC?

 

 

I have a kill--a-watt and use the xbox360 in extender mode. I will see what it draws. I have the newer chipset so it will draw less power than the older ones. Will let you know later today.

It draws about 90 watts in MC mode, which is about 20 watts less than the older 360s.

Ripwave

NoogMan

Just received my Xbox 360

....

Video quality is better than the DMA's, and is a good bit faster.  Definitely the right way to go for an extender IMO. 

Do you have a kill-a-watt handy?

 

Is it true that the XBox draws more power than your HTPC?

If your HTPC is Atom based, then this is quite possible.
If your HTPC is a typical PC with a Core2, i7, P4, or X2/X4 I highly doubt it.

The new Jasper XBOX comes with a 125W PSU. That means it is using less than that, even during gaming. And it runs a lot cooler when used as an extender than during games.

I would still turn it off when not using it - the boot time is also much quicker than the Linksys boxes (with current firmware on the XBOX), contrary to the old reviews that were comparing Linksys vs. the old XBOX.

The DMA2100 consumes about 15 watts.  I currently power two of them via a PoE switch and a D-Link PoE extraction device (provides 5 or 12 volts).

Since the DMA2100's are always on for WAF, low wattage is of paramount importance.  Imagine two Xboxes @ 100 watts each on 24 hours a day.

cbdudek

The xbox is beating them all in price and features.  Think about it.  Right now, I can buy a used DMA2100 for $120-$130 off of ebay.  Well, for $30 more I can get a brand new Xbox 360 arcade from Dell with a coupon and bargain shopping.  Its really hard to beat that price point

 

I'd put a slightly different spin on that - people are prepared to spend almost as much on a discontinued piece of electronics with no warranty, rather than buy a brand-new, noisy, power guzzling device that doesn't do HDMI for just $30 more.

The hardware costs for a small dedicated extender would be almost trivial these days (think a $30 DVD player without a DVD drive) - it's the software development costs that would be an issue, and unfortunately that a black box that nobody seems to want to open.

@RIPWAVE XBOX 360's have HDMI

MNSearcher

@RIPWAVE XBOX 360's have HDMI

Sorry - a quick google search suggested that it didn't, but that must have been earlier versions. I've edited the original post.

 The newer ones (Jasper) have HDMI.  I have two of them. One of them has component via the XBOX proprietary connector and the newer one has HDMI. 

 You're welcome Nathan

glugglug

If your HTPC is Atom based, then this is quite possible.

If your HTPC is a typical PC with a Core2, i7, P4, or X2/X4 I highly doubt it.

 

My main HTPC (i5-661 w/ 2xPCIe ATSC tuner, 1TB WD Black, 2TB Segeate LP, 2x80mm fan, 380W PSU) uses 60-61W idle/83-85W during 1080i ATSC MPEG playback.

Just tested a i3-530 that only pulled 22W idle (72W transcoding w/ Handbrake) with a picoPSU.

My Media PC is a Core i5 650 with 4GB of ram, 2 1TB SATA drives, and a Hauppauge 2250 tuner. It pulls between 65-68W when on and watching TV. My Xbox 360 pulls around 150W when on and idling. Granted, I hav an older one, but even the newest Jasper ones would likely pull 100W or more.

rjairam

 The newer ones (Jasper) have HDMI.  I have two of them. One of them has component via the XBOX proprietary connector and the newer one has HDMI. 

 

I've had an xbox360 ultimate for 2 years (or even longer, can't remember) and it already had hdmi.  No way any new xbox360 sold today does NOT have hdmi, even the arcades !.

 

New 360 Arcades have HDMI, yes.  Also are loud to!

 Am I the only one that can barely hear a 360?  I know the wife says I'm deaf, but my HTPC sounds like a freight train compared to the Xbox.  And I can't even hear my HTPC from the couch (with 4 case fans).

 

Maybe my wife is 100% correct