Recent content by disc

My new laptop wouldn't consistently handshake with my Vizio VO32LF, and I've grown FAR too accustomed to the 32" 1080p desktop real-estate to deal with a small screen, so I did the only thing natural; sell the Vizio on Craig's List and go shopping. I did my research online, and settled on a...

Updated the original post with my new Z68 configuration. I'm thinking the RAM is probably overkill, and perhaps I should switch it out for a 4GB kit when I upgrade my main desktop to LGA 1155.

EDIT: disregard

I finally moved from BeyondTV to SageTV, and I can't say I miss Beyond. The fact that that BeyondTV wouldn't interface with my x264 mkv movies was reason enough for me to shell out another $80; the slicker interface, weather tool, and pandora plugin are just gravy on top.

I’d like to think that as an electrical engineer by trade, I’d make a good reviewer. I have the technology background to understand what’s at work and I’m used to making cost vs. quality decisions. I’m willing to subject the monitor to the usual applications...

Believe me when I say I understand cost objectives, but if you have any sort of decent paying job (meaning that your time is not worthless) you'll thank yourself later if you opt for a larger hard drive. A 500GB drive will run you about an extra $50 on sale, and honestly, if somebody kicked...

RAID usually accomplishes one of two things; either faster disk access, or data redundancy. For HTPC usage, faster disk access is usually pointless. Depending on the value of your data, redundancy might be a desirable feature. On my archival file server I run RAID5 to help prevent a disk...

^-- that card + satellite (via a coax cable) = standard def :(

This thread had a point at some time, right? </sarcasm> Call it your l33th4xor box for all we care. Arguing over a name is retarded.

ESiR and company exceed 'scene' standards and are what I would call good HD. Given that, I'm not sure I've ever seen a 9,100 kbps x264, but I certainly don't watch everything. Back on topic, as w1re said, x264 support just sucks right now. There are a couple of ways to hack it, but as far...

10,000 kbps 720p x264 is overkill imo. I'd guess your quants are in 'excessive' range (ie, beyond being visible). 'Scene' is like ~3,000 kbps, good HD is like 4,500 to 6,000 kbps.

Good luck with that. CRT is generally accepted as having the absolute best blacks.

To add my experience (and take it for that, I'm not stating that people haven't been able to get 1080i working on a 6150) I had to pony up for something stronger get glitch free 1080i playback. I have no regrets though, because smooth HD playback is a beautiful thing :)

This recommendation always gets mixed reviews, but a good way to save a bundle on speakers is to buy used. I watched Craig's List for a few months and picked up a nice five speaker Paradigm setup on the cheap. If you find somebody upgrading, it's a great way to pick up a set of Mid-fi speakers...

Part of the problem is you're veiwing this images on your (relative to a TV) small monitor. Blow up a standard def image on a 55" screen, and you'll have no problem telling the difference between SD and HD.