February 6, 2009 at 03:14Overview of the HIPER HMC-2K53A-H2 Media Center
It all started with the fact that in one of the article contests on the AMDclub.ru website I took first place, for which I was awarded an interesting device, which will be discussed in this article - it became the HIPER HMC-2K53A-H2 media center . Traffic .
The original is on my blog. Only there I will write - immediately to you! :)
Let's start from afar. Perhaps, since far from everyone knows about Hiper , a couple of words about its history and market position are simply necessary;) The
full name of the company is the Hiper Group , or more precisely, the HIgh PERformance Group, and it has existed since 2001. As far as I know, the roots of this English company grow from the well-knownTo Master Master Cooler - where someone Stuffing Fallah (Farsh Fallah) served as Vice-President. He later left his post, deciding to establish a new company. Despite his young age, thanks to the excellent technical base, Hyper very quickly went on a par with the leading manufacturers of some components, having established strong partnerships with companies such as ATI, AMD and others.
The company does not try to grab a piece of bread in each niche, but focuses mainly on power supplies ( Hiperpower ) and barebone systems for media centers ( Hipermedia ). In addition to this, a lot of various awards and patents received products of the following categories - computer cases ( Hipercase ), aluminum keyboards (Hipercomm ), coolers ( Hipercool ) and wires ( Hiperlink ).
But today we will focus on the media center, so let's get started.
That's enough honey :) So, I open the cardboard box, knowing in advance that there shouldn’t be any problems with picking (knowing from the other two products I have from Hyper). I was not mistaken, because inside I found:
- A media center case (packed in a thick layer of foamed elastic material for transportation safety) with an MSI K9NGM2 motherboard installed Micro-ATX ;
- Audio-Out / SPDIF bracket;
- Adapter from two RCA to one 3.5mm;
- IDE adapter for slimline (thin) CD / DVD drives;
- IDE and SATA cables + power cable;
- Two disks with software;
- A set of screw bolts;
- IO-flap and plug of the PCI-connector;
- Manual book (in English)
More clearly:
Or like this:
Appearance inspires confidence - a matte black metal case with a glossy plastic insert in front. On the top cover there are two ventilation grilles (one above the power supply, the second above the socket) - through one you can see the red textolite of the motherboard. Symmetrically on the sides of the case are also located ventilation "gills". On the front (plastic) side, from left to right: the
drive slot is located above all, under it there is a button for ejecting disks, turning on the media center and a reset button (reset). To the right is a vacuum-fluorescent (VFD) display, under which there are 6 multimedia buttons.
Well, on the very right is the opening bezel, behind which are located: 4 card reader connectors (SM, CF / MD, SD / MMC, MS), 3 audio connectors (Line in, Mic in, Stereo out), IEEE1394 and 2 usb port. Thus, closing the false panel, in front of us in all its glory appears the device, completely not overloaded with unnecessary elements. And if you open it - there is the possibility of functional expansion. Very convenient, as it turned out.
On the back of the case there are many connectors in which a completely inexperienced user can easily get confused. It’s easier to show a picture from the manual. I don’t post a photo, because it turns out to be “pillow-like” for me :(
Integrated network controller - based on the Realtek RTL8201CL PCIE controller, with support for 10/100/1000 Mbps. It should be noted the presence of Wi-Fi.
The sound controller is also integrated - based on the "chipset" support for High Definition Audio and the Realtek ALC883 codec with the ability to connect 7.1 audio systems - I received very good marks on IXBT.
Case dimensions 430mm x 310mm x 53 (!) Mm - this is a little more than a regular DVD player! For a full-fledged _scalable_ computer, this is great. With a power supply (200 watts), the case weighs about 3.5kg. Remember the Lebedev Optimus Maximus keyboard I reviewed recently ? It weighs only twice as light! :)
On the bottom side of the device, everything is simple - 4 round rubber feet that do not allow to move the device, a pair of ventilation holes.
I unscrew the two bolts, remove the cover of the device. In short - the loopback cables from the power supply are neatly drawn through the case, everything is connected - there is a place.
Most of the elements are branded, moreover, not just a sticker on top of a piece of iron made at someone else’s factory :)
A power supply, as I said at 200 watts. Its characteristics are incomparable with the monsters that Hiper releases for desktop systems, but are quite sufficient to feed any processor from the AMD family.
In the slides reserved for the hard drive, a tiny cooler is built in.
The only thing that is not enough for complete happiness ... is the components necessary for work, as mentioned in the manual:
Which, in principle, is logical. Everyone buys the filling according to their needs. I bought:
- Two 1Gb Hynix strips (maximum 8GB)
- WD Sata 7200 1TB hard drive
- Slim DVD *
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 DualCore 4850e - 2.5GHz **
- Video card ***
- Cooler ****
* With drive for drives had to tinker. Since I went to buy accessories the next day after receiving the prize (without particularly looking at the device, because it was positioned as a birthday present for my wife and was carefully hidden), I did not even pay attention to the place under the disks. Later, already on the way, I thought that only a drive with a slot for discs, and not with a carriage, is suitable. And given that there are not many such drives ... and that I had to look for the right one from the terminal in the catalog without pictures ... among hundreds of other drives ... In general, I need the NEC IDE-7633A-01 SlimI didn’t find it right away :)
** I chose the model with the letter “e” - with reduced heat dissipation of 45 watts.
*** The video card is integrated into the chipset and despite the presence of PCI-Express, inserting a full-fledged video card will not work due to the size of the case.
**** I was lucky, the cooler with thermal grease went after the main prize. But, judging by the discussions on the forum, it is also not so easy to find - dimensions-s. Alternatively, one can always look for an alternative.
In total, something like six thousand came out. Eh ... sorry the wife does not understand all the charms of the resulting miracle ... but I understand! :)
Then everything is elementary - you can assemble if not with your eyes closed, then within 5 minutes for sure. No instructions. But still, I’ll give a screen - you should be proud of that!
I double-check everything, cover it. I connect the wires, turn it on - the Power button is highlighted with a blue diode of medium brightness.
It works quite quietly - even at night, “oo-oo-oo” from four coolers (screw, 2 * bp, processor) does not put pressure on the ears. And compared to my previous eight-year configuration, this one is silent.
If it’s interesting, here are two mp3 files that you’ve recorded in the studio ( about the method) the volume of this media center (with subsequent conversion to 128kbit / s LAME MP3). The microphone was located at a distance of 1 meter from the device. The length of each sound file - 16s - at first there is 6 seconds of surrounding silence, after which - 10 seconds of the media center (in idle mode and maximum load) in the same "silence". Set the volume level so that the first 6 seconds of recording are barely audible (from a distance of a meter).
The noise during normal operation is 31dB . At maximum load - 35dB .
If you plug in a silent picoPSU power supply unit ( overview ), then the noise level from the system will be only 23dB !
Thanks for the soundtracks to www.silentpcreview.com;)
A few seconds after turning on, a few beeps are heard - I don’t know how to turn them off (and haven’t asked this question yet), but this is normal - polling USB devices. The more it is stuck in the ports, the more it will squeak.
If you put your hand in the air vent above the processor, it blows cool. In other places it is much warmer, but within normal limits. For example, a terabyte screw under load (copying 400GB of information) all the time was 44 degrees.
Looking at the picture above, it is clear how the media center should be located in space. But in practice, raising his hand to the grill on the right side, he did not notice any movement of air flow at all - everything comes out through the top cover and openings at the power supply. Therefore, I tried to put the device upright - no overheating, the disks were read with a bang, this is also the norm for the hard drive - but what a saving of space! I hid it between books and it’s done)
And yet, now the computer is working in the position in which it is prescribed in the instructions. I am sure that it will easily fit into any interior, under any other equipment.
The screen is quite bright and with certain shamanism it can be made very functional. I have WinXP and for me it just displays the date and time.
On Vista, he can easily make friends with many players (Windows Media Player, Winamp, iTunes, PowerDVD) and maybe do something else. Or you need to look at what’s on the disks from the kit, what I forgot to do :)
But for me the transition to the new OS is a whole feat, so just believe it :) The brightness of the screen is big enough - it does not glare in the sun, but doesn’t throw itself in the dark in the eyes. A small screen testing program can display any text on it.
Why buttons are located on the front panel - I’m lost in conjecture. If the device is at hand (like mine), then it’s easier not to press them, but the buttons in the application on the monitor. If the device is located at the other end of the room, then it is much easier to use the remote control than to go and press with your finger.
Speaking of remotes. This media center is average among the brothers. The eldest, by status, relies on a functional remote, but I read about it only on the Internet. It has not yet been possible to make friends with the Logitech HarmonyOne remote control center, despite the fact that it is guaranteed to be supported by the remote control.
Apparently, again everything depends on Windows - you need either Vista or XP MCE(Media Center Edition) - I don’t have either one at the moment. But if it suddenly happens, I think, as with all other devices, the console will make friends with the media center, opening up many new opportunities for me.
As you have already noticed, the media center for me does not fulfill all the functions originally laid down in its name (media ...) - it is used as the main computer. But this once again confirms its versatility - you can work, and you can watch movies - there are all the possibilities for this. I’m already used to this device and I don’t know if I’m ready to put something else on the piece of desktop available to me.
I can’t say that I’m experiencing any inconvenience when using the device. But still, there is something. The first thing that comes to mind is a purchased drive for disks. I can’t part with the feeling that inserting a disk, it wipes the input “curtains” like an emery cloth. Small discs (on which many camcorders are removed) cannot be inserted there. More precisely, you can insert it once ...;) But in the old fashioned way, it will not be possible to open the drive.
Next ... the Reset button is definitely the right thing. But it is located, it seems to me, somewhat unsuccessfully. It was a couple of times, accidentally pressed a book or a box with disks, and at the most inopportune moment. On the other hand, it only accustoms to order.
The cover of the media center is matte, metal, not easily soiled, but it is easy to leave scratches on it - it immediately spoils the view. It turns out that you can’t put anything on the lid (nevertheless, it is more designed for quiet use somewhere under the plasma panel) - but in this way a fairly large area disappears in vain. So you still want to put the media center upright. I’m thinking about a vertical wall mount.
Pros
- Good equipment;
- Nice appearance, excellent assembly, reliable design;
- It works very quietly, does not get very hot even under load;
- Functional VFD display;
- Possible modernization;
- Its name is functionally justified at 100%;
- Reasonable price (about 300 $);
Cons
- It’s not so easy to get the media center itself :)
- It can be expensive in the end (it all depends on the configuration you need). In addition, you need to select the configuration very carefully.
- Integrated graphics card. As I already noted, despite the availability of a suitable PCI-Express slot, it will not work to insert a full-fledged video card - this fact should be taken into account BEFORE the purchase, so that after this it will not come as a surprise. A slot for inserting TV tuners is intended and then, not any;
- An HDMI connector in a system of this type would definitely not hurt;
- Over time, a dusty circle forms on the processor's ventilation grill from the cooler, which, if not wiped, will spoil the appearance. I struggle with this double zilch from a cylinder with compressed air [I have a very dusty in the room :(];
Thus, given that this is a well-deserved :) gift, I have practically no tar in a barrel of honey. Even without a video card, the capabilities of a media center are more than enough for me, despite the fact that I am quite demanding in some matters.
And although I have studied not so many media centers during my practice) I can say with confidence that this product will not get lost at the end of the competitors list. If you want to have a bunch of multimedia features, say, in your living room, but don’t want to keep a complete case in sight, then the HMC-2K53A-H2 media center will definitely suit you. Finding it on sale is not so easy, but I can please it - there is a new, third generation - HIPER HMC-2K53A-A3 . For about the same price, there is only HDMI, a remote control, a newer motherboard (K9A GM2, on AMD 690G and ATI SB600 chipsets), the rest is the same. To listen to my advice or just consider the device as a candidate for home use - your business. Boomburum
was extremely pleased with you - stay in touch! In the near future, a review of an equally interesting Hiper Anubis case is planned , followed by a review of the Logitech HarmonyOne universal remote control and another Logitech wireless kit . Still, there will be no article about skimmers, although it’s ready ...
By the way, you can also participate in the competition for AMDClub.ru . Good luck!
The original is on my blog. Only there I will write - immediately to you! :)
Let's start from afar. Perhaps, since far from everyone knows about Hiper , a couple of words about its history and market position are simply necessary;) The
full name of the company is the Hiper Group , or more precisely, the HIgh PERformance Group, and it has existed since 2001. As far as I know, the roots of this English company grow from the well-knownTo Master Master Cooler - where someone Stuffing Fallah (Farsh Fallah) served as Vice-President. He later left his post, deciding to establish a new company. Despite his young age, thanks to the excellent technical base, Hyper very quickly went on a par with the leading manufacturers of some components, having established strong partnerships with companies such as ATI, AMD and others.
The company does not try to grab a piece of bread in each niche, but focuses mainly on power supplies ( Hiperpower ) and barebone systems for media centers ( Hipermedia ). In addition to this, a lot of various awards and patents received products of the following categories - computer cases ( Hipercase ), aluminum keyboards (Hipercomm ), coolers ( Hipercool ) and wires ( Hiperlink ).
But today we will focus on the media center, so let's get started.
Equipment
That's enough honey :) So, I open the cardboard box, knowing in advance that there shouldn’t be any problems with picking (knowing from the other two products I have from Hyper). I was not mistaken, because inside I found:
- A media center case (packed in a thick layer of foamed elastic material for transportation safety) with an MSI K9NGM2 motherboard installed Micro-ATX ;
- Audio-Out / SPDIF bracket;
- Adapter from two RCA to one 3.5mm;
- IDE adapter for slimline (thin) CD / DVD drives;
- IDE and SATA cables + power cable;
- Two disks with software;
- A set of screw bolts;
- IO-flap and plug of the PCI-connector;
- Manual book (in English)
More clearly:
Or like this:
Appearance
Appearance inspires confidence - a matte black metal case with a glossy plastic insert in front. On the top cover there are two ventilation grilles (one above the power supply, the second above the socket) - through one you can see the red textolite of the motherboard. Symmetrically on the sides of the case are also located ventilation "gills". On the front (plastic) side, from left to right: the
drive slot is located above all, under it there is a button for ejecting disks, turning on the media center and a reset button (reset). To the right is a vacuum-fluorescent (VFD) display, under which there are 6 multimedia buttons.
Well, on the very right is the opening bezel, behind which are located: 4 card reader connectors (SM, CF / MD, SD / MMC, MS), 3 audio connectors (Line in, Mic in, Stereo out), IEEE1394 and 2 usb port. Thus, closing the false panel, in front of us in all its glory appears the device, completely not overloaded with unnecessary elements. And if you open it - there is the possibility of functional expansion. Very convenient, as it turned out.
On the back of the case there are many connectors in which a completely inexperienced user can easily get confused. It’s easier to show a picture from the manual. I don’t post a photo, because it turns out to be “pillow-like” for me :(
Integrated network controller - based on the Realtek RTL8201CL PCIE controller, with support for 10/100/1000 Mbps. It should be noted the presence of Wi-Fi.
The sound controller is also integrated - based on the "chipset" support for High Definition Audio and the Realtek ALC883 codec with the ability to connect 7.1 audio systems - I received very good marks on IXBT.
Case dimensions 430mm x 310mm x 53 (!) Mm - this is a little more than a regular DVD player! For a full-fledged _scalable_ computer, this is great. With a power supply (200 watts), the case weighs about 3.5kg. Remember the Lebedev Optimus Maximus keyboard I reviewed recently ? It weighs only twice as light! :)
On the bottom side of the device, everything is simple - 4 round rubber feet that do not allow to move the device, a pair of ventilation holes.
I unscrew the two bolts, remove the cover of the device. In short - the loopback cables from the power supply are neatly drawn through the case, everything is connected - there is a place.
Most of the elements are branded, moreover, not just a sticker on top of a piece of iron made at someone else’s factory :)
A power supply, as I said at 200 watts. Its characteristics are incomparable with the monsters that Hiper releases for desktop systems, but are quite sufficient to feed any processor from the AMD family.
In the slides reserved for the hard drive, a tiny cooler is built in.
The only thing that is not enough for complete happiness ... is the components necessary for work, as mentioned in the manual:
Which, in principle, is logical. Everyone buys the filling according to their needs. I bought:
- Two 1Gb Hynix strips (maximum 8GB)
- WD Sata 7200 1TB hard drive
- Slim DVD *
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 DualCore 4850e - 2.5GHz **
- Video card ***
- Cooler ****
* With drive for drives had to tinker. Since I went to buy accessories the next day after receiving the prize (without particularly looking at the device, because it was positioned as a birthday present for my wife and was carefully hidden), I did not even pay attention to the place under the disks. Later, already on the way, I thought that only a drive with a slot for discs, and not with a carriage, is suitable. And given that there are not many such drives ... and that I had to look for the right one from the terminal in the catalog without pictures ... among hundreds of other drives ... In general, I need the NEC IDE-7633A-01 SlimI didn’t find it right away :)
** I chose the model with the letter “e” - with reduced heat dissipation of 45 watts.
*** The video card is integrated into the chipset and despite the presence of PCI-Express, inserting a full-fledged video card will not work due to the size of the case.
**** I was lucky, the cooler with thermal grease went after the main prize. But, judging by the discussions on the forum, it is also not so easy to find - dimensions-s. Alternatively, one can always look for an alternative.
In total, something like six thousand came out. Eh ... sorry the wife does not understand all the charms of the resulting miracle ... but I understand! :)
Then everything is elementary - you can assemble if not with your eyes closed, then within 5 minutes for sure. No instructions. But still, I’ll give a screen - you should be proud of that!
I double-check everything, cover it. I connect the wires, turn it on - the Power button is highlighted with a blue diode of medium brightness.
It works quite quietly - even at night, “oo-oo-oo” from four coolers (screw, 2 * bp, processor) does not put pressure on the ears. And compared to my previous eight-year configuration, this one is silent.
If it’s interesting, here are two mp3 files that you’ve recorded in the studio ( about the method) the volume of this media center (with subsequent conversion to 128kbit / s LAME MP3). The microphone was located at a distance of 1 meter from the device. The length of each sound file - 16s - at first there is 6 seconds of surrounding silence, after which - 10 seconds of the media center (in idle mode and maximum load) in the same "silence". Set the volume level so that the first 6 seconds of recording are barely audible (from a distance of a meter).
The noise during normal operation is 31dB . At maximum load - 35dB .
If you plug in a silent picoPSU power supply unit ( overview ), then the noise level from the system will be only 23dB !
Thanks for the soundtracks to www.silentpcreview.com;)
A few seconds after turning on, a few beeps are heard - I don’t know how to turn them off (and haven’t asked this question yet), but this is normal - polling USB devices. The more it is stuck in the ports, the more it will squeak.
If you put your hand in the air vent above the processor, it blows cool. In other places it is much warmer, but within normal limits. For example, a terabyte screw under load (copying 400GB of information) all the time was 44 degrees.
Looking at the picture above, it is clear how the media center should be located in space. But in practice, raising his hand to the grill on the right side, he did not notice any movement of air flow at all - everything comes out through the top cover and openings at the power supply. Therefore, I tried to put the device upright - no overheating, the disks were read with a bang, this is also the norm for the hard drive - but what a saving of space! I hid it between books and it’s done)
And yet, now the computer is working in the position in which it is prescribed in the instructions. I am sure that it will easily fit into any interior, under any other equipment.
Screen
The screen is quite bright and with certain shamanism it can be made very functional. I have WinXP and for me it just displays the date and time.
On Vista, he can easily make friends with many players (Windows Media Player, Winamp, iTunes, PowerDVD) and maybe do something else. Or you need to look at what’s on the disks from the kit, what I forgot to do :)
But for me the transition to the new OS is a whole feat, so just believe it :) The brightness of the screen is big enough - it does not glare in the sun, but doesn’t throw itself in the dark in the eyes. A small screen testing program can display any text on it.
Why buttons are located on the front panel - I’m lost in conjecture. If the device is at hand (like mine), then it’s easier not to press them, but the buttons in the application on the monitor. If the device is located at the other end of the room, then it is much easier to use the remote control than to go and press with your finger.
Speaking of remotes. This media center is average among the brothers. The eldest, by status, relies on a functional remote, but I read about it only on the Internet. It has not yet been possible to make friends with the Logitech HarmonyOne remote control center, despite the fact that it is guaranteed to be supported by the remote control.
Apparently, again everything depends on Windows - you need either Vista or XP MCE(Media Center Edition) - I don’t have either one at the moment. But if it suddenly happens, I think, as with all other devices, the console will make friends with the media center, opening up many new opportunities for me.
As you have already noticed, the media center for me does not fulfill all the functions originally laid down in its name (media ...) - it is used as the main computer. But this once again confirms its versatility - you can work, and you can watch movies - there are all the possibilities for this. I’m already used to this device and I don’t know if I’m ready to put something else on the piece of desktop available to me.
Ease of use
I can’t say that I’m experiencing any inconvenience when using the device. But still, there is something. The first thing that comes to mind is a purchased drive for disks. I can’t part with the feeling that inserting a disk, it wipes the input “curtains” like an emery cloth. Small discs (on which many camcorders are removed) cannot be inserted there. More precisely, you can insert it once ...;) But in the old fashioned way, it will not be possible to open the drive.
Next ... the Reset button is definitely the right thing. But it is located, it seems to me, somewhat unsuccessfully. It was a couple of times, accidentally pressed a book or a box with disks, and at the most inopportune moment. On the other hand, it only accustoms to order.
The cover of the media center is matte, metal, not easily soiled, but it is easy to leave scratches on it - it immediately spoils the view. It turns out that you can’t put anything on the lid (nevertheless, it is more designed for quiet use somewhere under the plasma panel) - but in this way a fairly large area disappears in vain. So you still want to put the media center upright. I’m thinking about a vertical wall mount.
Control weighing
Pros
- Good equipment;
- Nice appearance, excellent assembly, reliable design;
- It works very quietly, does not get very hot even under load;
- Functional VFD display;
- Possible modernization;
- Its name is functionally justified at 100%;
- Reasonable price (about 300 $);
Cons
- It’s not so easy to get the media center itself :)
- It can be expensive in the end (it all depends on the configuration you need). In addition, you need to select the configuration very carefully.
- Integrated graphics card. As I already noted, despite the availability of a suitable PCI-Express slot, it will not work to insert a full-fledged video card - this fact should be taken into account BEFORE the purchase, so that after this it will not come as a surprise. A slot for inserting TV tuners is intended and then, not any;
- An HDMI connector in a system of this type would definitely not hurt;
- Over time, a dusty circle forms on the processor's ventilation grill from the cooler, which, if not wiped, will spoil the appearance. I struggle with this double zilch from a cylinder with compressed air [I have a very dusty in the room :(];
Total
Thus, given that this is a well-deserved :) gift, I have practically no tar in a barrel of honey. Even without a video card, the capabilities of a media center are more than enough for me, despite the fact that I am quite demanding in some matters.
And although I have studied not so many media centers during my practice) I can say with confidence that this product will not get lost at the end of the competitors list. If you want to have a bunch of multimedia features, say, in your living room, but don’t want to keep a complete case in sight, then the HMC-2K53A-H2 media center will definitely suit you. Finding it on sale is not so easy, but I can please it - there is a new, third generation - HIPER HMC-2K53A-A3 . For about the same price, there is only HDMI, a remote control, a newer motherboard (K9A GM2, on AMD 690G and ATI SB600 chipsets), the rest is the same. To listen to my advice or just consider the device as a candidate for home use - your business. Boomburum
was extremely pleased with you - stay in touch! In the near future, a review of an equally interesting Hiper Anubis case is planned , followed by a review of the Logitech HarmonyOne universal remote control and another Logitech wireless kit . Still, there will be no article about skimmers, although it’s ready ...
By the way, you can also participate in the competition for AMDClub.ru . Good luck!