A Viiv compliant computer is generally comprised of a dual core, 64-bit Intel processor running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. The motherboard chipset must also support 7.1 channel surround sound. Like Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition, the idea behind Viiv is to provide for a better, more refined user experience when watching movies and TV on a PC, as well as listening to music, gaming, viewing photos, and the capability to access on-demand entertainment services that deliver content straight to your PC. Viiv compliance requires a specific set of hardware dictated by Intel Corp. Current supported processors include Intel Pentium D, Intel Core Duo, and Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition. Current chipsets required to achieve the Viiv experience include Intel Express 975X, 955X, 945G, 945P, 945GT, and Mobile 945GM. LAN connections include Intel Pro/1000M, Intel Pro/ 100VE, and Intel Pro/100 VM.
Viiv Spec’d Alienware Area 51 3550
So, is Viiv what it is touted to be? Or is it just another computer? To experience the Viiv effect, I took a look at one of the latest offerings from Alienware that is Viiv-compliant, the Alienware Area-51 3550 Media Center Edition. The system ships with a 2.8GHz Intel Pentium D processor 920 with dual core technology running on an 800MHz frontside bus, 1GB 533MHz dual channel DDR2 SDRAM, a 3Gb/s 250GB SATA 7200 rpm hard drive with 8MB cache and native command queuing. Graphics is provided by an NVIDIA PCI Express x16 GeForce 6600LE with 128MB RAM.
