First Look: Alienware High Definition Media Server

[Apoptosis]

First Look: Alienware High Definition Media Server

Cutting-edge technology is coming home with the Alienware High Definition Media Server. With wireless high definition media streaming, full digital home automation readiness, 4 terabytes of hot swappable hard disk drive content storage, and Blu-ray high definition movies, your house just got a whole lot smarter. Read on to see what a $7,000 HD media server looks like!

Legit Reviews was able to snag one of Alienware’s first High Definition Media Servers off the assembly line to take a closer look what could be the future of home computing and entertainment. These high-end media servers are designed for users looking to create a connected and fully-integrated home theater. The price of the media server is between $5000 and $7000 depending on the configuration that you desire. In the next few weeks Legit Reviews will partner with two custom home theater installers in Los Angeles to get their views on the functionality and operability of the Alienware HD Media Server (HDMS). Because this flagship media server is not intended for normal consumers to install, Alienware is only making these servers available to profession installers. Until our installers have a go at it and report back to us, we wanted to at least give you a sneak peak as to what you will see after our installers get through...

Article Title: First Look: Alienware High Definition Media Server
Article URL: http://legitreviews.com/article/673/1/

[DMB2000uk]

I can't believe you managed to snag one of these. Very jealous Ken, very jealous.

Dan

[KnightRid]

WOW - 4TB!!! That would be nice to start off ;) Is it expandable? I have 614 dvds/sets that equal an actual 998 physical discs and at 4.5gb each (thinking low end here) that would be 4,491,000,000,000 wow, never figured that out before ;)

So anyway, when I think of a home media server, I think of one I can transfer EVERYTHING to and have it play it all.

Does this rip and convert? Just play?

Well I guess it is just WAY to expensive for me anyway, but for that kind of money, you would think it should do everything you want it to.

Mike

Heck BR discs are what, 50gb double sided? wouldnt take much at full quality to smash the 4tb barrier, hence the upgradable question

[kenc51]

I wanna see what's inside!

[Digital Puppy]

So anyway, when I think of a home media server, I think of one I can transfer EVERYTHING to and have it play it all.

Does this rip and convert? Just play?

The HDMS can transfer everything, but since it's got it's own processor and Windows OS, you can add any program you'd like to do your ripping, converting, and burning, etc. It does have a copy of Nero 7 Essentials on it already...

Oh, and yeah, it's defiantly upgradeable through not only the hot swappables, but through all of the USBs and two eSATA connections.

[Digital Puppy]

I wanna see what's inside!

Now Ken, you know we are going to check out what's under the hood!

[martini161]

this is freakin sweet, but i have a few questions. 1. WTF NO HDMI? 2. why does it come with an amd live cd? 3. what kind of video card does it use? can you upgrade it to crossfire?

[bubba]

Looks like it has DVI HDMI port, you would just need a DVI/HDMI cable.

Ken you get board with this I'll be more than happy to give it a good home.

[DMB2000uk]

this is freakin sweet, but i have a few questions. 1. WTF NO HDMI? 2. why does it come with an amd live cd? 3. what kind of video card does it use? can you upgrade it to crossfire?

HDMI is done through the DVI ports via an adaptor (included I think).
I meant to ask about the live CD! Guess I got distracted when all I could see was green
The standard card is an ATI® 2400 HD, though I don't know if its what Ken has in that one.

Dan

[martini161]

could you get another one and put it in corssfire with the x38 mobo?

[DMB2000uk]

Why would you want crossfire on a media server?

This thing only has to play back video's, not game

Dan

[Digital Puppy]

The unit we have is supposed to have a Sapphire HD2400XT GPU and there is an included DVI-HDMI adapter in the box.

[martini161]

can it pass through the audio throught that dvi port?

[Digital Puppy]

can it pass through the audio throught that dvi port?

Yup. It will pass digital audio via the DVI/HDMI connection.

[dicecca112]

Your getting a little notice on the interwebs

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=243702

[martini161]

can it pass through the audio throught that dvi port?

Yup. It will pass digital audio via the DVI/HDMI connection.

ok i thought it was just a video port. so why didnt they just make it stirght through hdmi?

[kenc51]

Your getting a little notice on the interwebs

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=243702

http://www.warp2search.net/contenttelle ... eview.html

http://www.driverheaven.net/news/155465 ... erver.html

[Digital Puppy]

ok i thought it was just a video port. so why didnt they just make it stirght through hdmi?

Probably because they can kill two birds with one stone....or rather, two connections with one port. If they went exclusive HDMI, you alienate (pun intended) a bunch of people who might not have HDMI panels. There are still a whole bunch of folks with "old" direct-view, rear projection, LCD and even Plasma sets out there that don't have HDMI. IMO, by making this dual port, you get the best of both worlds and make it versatile for installers...

[dicecca112]

ok i thought it was just a video port. so why didnt they just make it stirght through hdmi?

Probably because they can kill two birds with one stone....or rather, two connections with one port. If they went exclusive HDMI, you alienate (pun intended) a bunch of people who might not have HDMI panels. There are still a whole bunch of folks with "old" direct-view, rear projection, LCD and even Plasma sets out there that don't have HDMI. IMO, by making this dual port, you get the best of both worlds and make it versatile for installers...

Some of us only have the old CATV, RCA and Svideo

[dgood]

I think you could recreated this for about 1500 as long as you don't mind adapters to get different video outs.