Just for fun, we decided to install Starcraft II to see how it ran. At a resolution of 1280x1024 at the lowest possible graphical settings, we were averaging approximately 24 FPS thanks to the AMD APU (HD 6320). For the vast majority of our gameplay, it was quite playable, only slowing down noticeably during large engagements, though at no point was the gameplay incredibly smooth. However, as the Giada was designed as an HTPC and not meant for gaming, this is impressive. For those that want to do a bit of gaming on this setup, it is certainly playable if you are willing to compromise on graphical settings.
Overall, as an HTPC, the Giada A51 is a great device. It is very small, has minimal power consumption, is almost completely silent, and provides a decent amount of hard drive space for storing music and video. While it is no powerhouse, it is effective at performing the tasks it was designed to do, and can even go a bit beyond them when used for light gaming. It provides a smooth and responsive experience in Windows 7 and while browsing the internet. At a price of $320 USD, we highly recommend the Giada Mini-PC A51 for anyone looking to purchase an HTPC and for that reason, we are awarding it our Editor’s Choice Award for Home Entertainment (HTPC).
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