Installation and Testing:
 

Test System

Installation was simple and easy. When I install a system for the first time for testing or for personal use, I like to reset the CMOS and start from a clean slate so that it can be configured to my personal settings. In the past, some boards wouldn't boot properly without a CMOS clear in the first place. So, between these two reasons, you can cut away any chances of the motherboard being a DOA or reporting false errors. You'll be happy to know that ASRock put together a nice thick manual to help with any installation questions. Most manuals tend to be short and to the point leaving out smaller details. Testing will follow suit as with any previous HTPC motherboards.

CPUZ

Mainboard

Memory

SPD

It didn't take long for the system to boot up at which point the BIOS was immediately browsed looking at the layout and configurations. After becoming familiar with the settings, most of them are located by functions associated with different components like the CPU, Northbridge, and Southbridge. I think this is actually kind of cool as you learn where each function is supported. Since the system is configured for real HDMI performance, this is exactly how the BIOS was configured. The memory voltages come up short offering a maximum 2.04 volts in the manual settings which means you will get the best results leaving the settings on Auto. At least then, the motherboard can automatically scale up the voltage to remain stable.

Some memory needs more power than a lot of the more budget based motherboards are offering in the BIOS settings. It's really important that this be remedied as soon as possible since not all the memory modules are being read properly by the motherboards. If this happens, the memory will undoubtedly encounter problems and appear to be "unsupported" or "faulty" when in fact it could be fixed with a manual BIOS setting. But, that setting really needs to offer voltages of up to at least 2.5 volts.

Main Page	Advanced Settings	CPU Configuration
Chipset Settings	Performance Settings	Memory settings
Northbridge	Southbridge	PC Monitor

At stock settings, the system was tested for performance, stability, and ease of configurations. This also in turn allowed me to see exactly what functions may or may not have problems working correctly. Connecting the system to my HD monitor was easy as pie using the HDMI adapter. Video performance via the onboard graphics appeared to be perfectly produced in terms of video playback. WinDVD was used to configure and play various movies just to see what performance was like under intense and artistic style graphics. Some times, you don't know what you have till you experiment further to see what it's capable of.

Ghost Rider

Love HDMI Clarity

This is where the 7.1 High Definition Audio really supports what you're watching. There is no point to watching a really good movie these days if you're missing out on the best intense audio ever made. Movies with excellent music can really stand out if you have the right audio and speaker configurations. Using a very good speaker system, sponsored my friends from ComputerSonics, movies like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, We Were Soldiers, and Ghost Rider just had to be tested. The movies all have either good computer generated graphics, good color depth, and excellent sound tracks which is a good way to test the caliber of your HTPC. If the 7.1 HD Audio isn't enough for your own ears, you can always go pick up a Bluegears or Razer audio card and really tweak your HTPC audio out. The preference really remains up to you.

Danger Den HTPC?

Looks Cool!

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