MSI has today added to its range of Wind NetTops with the launch of its first dual-core version, the Wind NetTop D130.
Pictured below, the Wind NetTop D130 features Intel's dual-core Atom 330 processor, along with the Intel 945GC + ICH7 chipset and 2GB of DDR2 memory. Measuring in at just 300mm(H) x 65mm(W) x 240mm(D), the system aims to offer a low-power alternative to the regular HTPC.
MSI tells us it's HD-ready, but fails to mention whether or not that implies smooth playback of full-HD 1080p or just 720p, we fear it's only the latter. It does, however, go some way to talk up the Wind NetTop D130's low-power credentials by claiming it "has broken the myth that high-performance is equivalent to high power consumption".
Under full load, MSI claims the system will consume only 35W of power - far less than your average HTPC. Unfortunately, its failing as a home-theatre system could be the solitary VGA output found on the rear. Despite the omission of DVI or HDMI, the Wind NetTop D130 does provide a 160GB hard-disk drive, six USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 audio, a four-in-one card reader, a built-in DVD writer and optional wireless.
MSI expects the Wind NetTop D130 to arrive with a price-tag of 8,000 Taiwanese dollars, that translates to around £165 but we'd expect to pay in the region of £200 or more.
It's a pretty useful little system, but what we really want is a dual-core Wind NetTop armed with the Atom 330 and NVIDIA's ION platform - that might just be low-cost HTPC heaven.
Official press release: MSI Unveils the first "Dual-Core" Mini System, Wind NetTop D130
