Final Thoughts
I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I received the ION 330HT. I have seen small HTPC systems that were just garbage, but with the Intel Atom processor and the NVIDIA ION GPU this system really is the perfect home theater system. First let’s talk about High Definition playback, this system easily played back Blu-ray movies with the ASUS SBC-04D1S-U External Slim Blu-ray Combo Drive we tested it with. Also our HD movie tests we very successful only the 1080p test used over 50% of the CPU all other were around 30%. Since this system has an HDMI connection it easily can be connected to your HDTV, although the HDMI cable is not included.
The one thing that really makes the ION 330HT very attractive for many people is actually how small it is, at only 7.6”(W) x 2.75”(H) x 7.3”(L) it can fit pretty much anywhere. It makes almost no noise at all and with the Instant Boot feature you can turn it on and off with ease. Since it is so small it would be great for a college dorm room where things are normally cramped.
The Intel Atom processor and the NVIDIA ION GPU are really a great duo. They not only allow for great media playback, but provide enough processing power for most normal computer operations. I was easily able to surf the internet, do some word processing, and use services like twitter. Even if you don’t use this system as a media machine it makes a great inexpensive workstation.
Talking about being inexpensive the ION 330HT can be found online for under $400! That sure is a great deal for a small machine that not only can play 1080p video, but also can do more than just a normal media player, it is a fully functional PC! Overall ThinkComputers gives the ASRock ION 330HT Nettop a 10 out of 10 score and our Editor’s Choice Award!
Pros:
– Small size
– Price
– Capable of 1080p playback
– 7.1 sound
– Easily upgradeable
– Instant boot feature
Cons:
– No HDMI cable included
