Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/14/sony_unveils_vaio_media_centres/
Sony has extended its Vaio Digital Media Center line-up with a pair of new models pitched at European consumers keen to embrace HD content with Blu-ray Disc technology. Interestingly, the VGX-XL201 and VGX-XL202 machines both feature an as yet unannounced Nvidia graphics chip.
Both models are based on Intel Core 2 Duo processors and, as such, they're Viiv-branded machines, Sony said. They also contain 250GB or 500GB of unformatted hard disk storage capacity ready for DVR duties - the units incorporate a hybrid analogue and digital TV tuner. Each has 1GB of DDR 2 SDRAM on board. The XL201 has a 1.86GHz CPU - the XL202's is clocked to 2.13GHz.
There's a Blu-ray Disc drive build into the VGX-XL202 though Sony didn't say whether it will also write BD-R and BD-RE media - or, indeed, DVD±R/RW discs. There's an HDMI port for HD TV connections, and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi for wireless network links.
Sony didn't say whether the VGX-XL200 series machines also support HDCP, but we suspect their Nvidia GeForce 7600 GTL GPUs, each equipped with 256MB of video memory, do. Nvidia has yet to launch the 7600 GTL.
Last month, LG said it was preparing a HD PC with a GeForce 7900 GT GPU on board, which LG explicitly stated has HDCP support on board. Pre-recorded BDs will eventually demand HDCP for full HD resolution playback, so it's a good bet the 7600 GTL has HDCP support too.
Sony didn't say when the media centre systems will ship, or how much they will cost. It did say the machines will be sold in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Austria. ®
EVGA touts 'fastest' GeForce 7950 GT-based board yet (10 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/10/evga_fastest_geforce_7950gt/
IO Data reveals second Nvidia GPU with HDCP (4 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/04/iodate_hdcp_nvidia/
Sony to patch Blu-ray burners for BD-ROM playback (2 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/02/sony_readies_bd-rom_patch/
Sony ships first EV-DO Rev A equipped laptop (26 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/26/sony_ships_ev-do_rev_a_laptop/
MSI sounds 'stolen' GeForce 7900 GS alert (21 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/21/msi_stolen_geforce_7900gs_warning/
Pre-AMD, ATI preps novel server charge (19 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/19/ati_gpgpu/
Sony to take Apple's MacBook laptop head on (19 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/19/sony_unveils_vaio_n10/
Nvidia ships 'first' 80nm mobile graphics chip (14 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/14/nvidia_unveils_geforce_go_7700/
Nvidia launches GeForce 7950 GT and 7900 GS chips (6 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/06/nvidia_geforce_7950gt_7900gs/
Sony delays PS3 (6 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/06/more_delays_for_sony_ps3/
Blu-ray Disc launch line-up revealed to Europeans (1 September 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/01/euro_blu-ray_content_announced/
LG confirms Nvidia HDCP-native GPU plan (29 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/29/lg_confirms_nvidia_hdcp_gpu/
Gigabyte readies silent HDMI, HDCP graphics card (23 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/23/gigabyte_preps_hdmi_card/
Nvidia to 'hit ATI while it's down' with GeForce 7950 GT (17 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/17/nvidia_preps_geforce_7950_gt/
Nvidia said to be readying HDCP-native GPU updates (4 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/04/nvidia_geforce_hdcp_update/