Feedback on VIA EPIA-M system plz

[mmlnewbie]

I'm almost ready to buy the following hardware for a dedicated dvd/divx/xvid/futureformat set-top box:

Cupid 2699 micro itx case
Via Epia m 1000 all-in-one mob (C3 1 ghz cpu)
Teac DV-28E slim dvd-rom
Seagate baracuda IV 80 gb

UK Links:
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=1423
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=5427
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=5408

I intend to just run xp on it and use a laptop as remote. Well, I might look into an IR remote eventually..

The pros of this are rather obvious:
a) fantastic form factor (64x270x270 mm)
b) almost soundless: external psu, small/no cpu fan, market's quietest disk - should be ~ 25 db according to specs
c) extensible and can handle any format you can handle on your pc
d) good interfaces: tv-out RCA composite video (or digital audio), s-vhs, 5.1 audio (I have an old TV, so the RCA plug is great)

The cons are:
a) a bit pricy (close to £400 ~ $550)
b) ?

Right - what else is bad about this configuration ?? Please help if you know - I don't feel like burning this much money and overlooking something! I'm most worried about the DVD-rom - has to be a laptop model to fit in the itx case. Anybody have experience with this ? Is it nice and quiet or sound like a kitchen appliance ?

[ElQuapo]

I asked almost the same question some time ago, allthough I was looking at the 800mhz version, and most people seemed to agree that the VIA is not fast enough to play divx.

[mmlnewbie]

Hmm - thanks for the feedback. I'm hesitating anyway after speaking with TEAC, who told me that their slim DVD-roms are not very quiet (at least they were honest).

Back to the drawing board..

[valnar]

Nothing competes with the old Matrox G400 32mb Dualhead video card. Anything else (especially VIA) has worse TV-Out quality. This assumes S-video or composite.

If you have the ability to use RGB or VGA, then get an ATI.

Either way, the Mini-ITX boards are not good for an HTPC.

Robert