DVD Playback and Conclusion
933MHz C3
When I tested the 933MHz C3 I came to the conclusion that it was almost
there but lacked the power to create a flawless viewing experience without
additional hardware such as a DVD decoder card. But the addition of a
card to an already cramped case would mean even less airflow through the
case plus extra heat.
1GHz C3
Believe it or not the extra 67MHz of the 1GHz C3 is more than enough to
create a flawless viewing experience with no stuttering, no dropped frames
and will even continue to play when other programs start up in the background.
With the added bonus of a completely silent machine your enjoyment of
a film will never be spoilt by the whirring of fan blades.
Conclusion
If ever there was a time to invest in one of these processors it is now,
the 1GHz milestone is a new era for these chips, they finally have the
power that we have come to expect in this day and age. Ok so it might
not match the Athlon's and P4's for raw power but have you ever heard
of a passively cooled Athlon XP running at sub 50°C !?!
If your pondering the idea of a HTPC of your own then there is no alternative to the VIA C3 1GHz ! Where the older chips have failed before this new chip has what it takes to chug along happily and in perfect silence.
