Toshiba HD-A1 has already appeared in our news several times as the first HD DVD player on the market. We have among others, reported that HD-A1 is much more of a computer compared to a regular DVD player today. We’ve received information that says that the player is relatively loud as it comes with at least one fan. It seems that an explanation has surfaced now and it truly strengthens that HD-A1 has many similarities with a Media Center computer. Toshiba has namely used old Pentium 4-M processors in its HD-A1 machines. These processors are based on the Northwood core and haven’t been around for very long, but apparently Intel had more than a dozen lying around for Toshiba to use.
Pentium 4-M was launched with the Northwood core ranging from 2.4GHz up to 3.06 with 130nm manufacturing process and even if it’s no boiling-hot Prescott core Pentium 4-M is hardly the optimal choice for a stationary DVD player as it comes with a TDP at 59.8W (2.4GHz), up to 70W (3.06GHz). Intel’s Pentium M processors or ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processors would’ve been a much better choice as these range from 25W down to 10W. But as usual money was the number one factor here and considering that Pentium 4-M isn’t sold on the regular PC market any more Intel, most likely, offered Toshiba a very favourable deal.
Toshiba has most likely gotten a real cheap core of its first HD DVD player, but at the same time the power consumption of the unit is quite high at 79W and require a fan to keep cool. In other words there are better solutions to use consumers and we pressume that other manufacturers, or even Toshiba, will launch better such soon.
Source: TG Daily
