AMD Home Cinema

Although chiefly interested in backing Alienware's new Hangar18 PC, AMD today also showcased a new reference PC as part of its AMD LIVE! media center PC strategy. The Home Cinema reference design is built as a platform for third-party designers to customize for their own needs and highlights the media-savvy aspects of the AMD's hardware and software efforts. The receiver-sized box relies as little as possible on traditional controls and includes both its own LCD as well as front-face menu and track navigation controls; it also hides a slot-load optical drive for playing movies.

Front and back inputs will also help any PC builder customize the Home Cinema to its needs, AMD says. In its standard trim, the case's front sports minijack audio input and output, S-video, and a multi-format card reader. Rear connections vary but can include digital cable TV tuners, amplifiers from D2Audio, and the video output from a dedicated video card (including HDMI).

No specific partners have been announced that will use AMD's platform in its most recognizable form. The firm nevertheless expects home theater PC specialists to create whole systems around the device and will allow multiple choices of parts, including video chipsets from graphics rival NVIDIA.

By Electronista Staff

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