min. requirement for HTPC and xbox360 HD-DVD

C

compwarez

Gawd
Joined
Aug 2, 2006
Messages
752
my old pc:

AXP 2400+
a7n266-c
256 RAM
IDE 300 GB HD
tuner card w/ ir blaster
ati 9800pro

i know i need to upgrade the ram and video card. do i need to upgrade the cpu or just keep it or throw the cpu and motherboard away or sell it and get a faster one.
 
I have the system in my sig as a HTPC, I need a new video card and ram for everything to work flawlessly (I hope). Hope that helps.
 
i dont think ull need to upgrade the video card because i think the 9800 can offload some of the video processing from the cpu. i use it in my current htpc and everything seems to be working fine with hd vids. if u do decide to upgrade go with a nvidia/purevideo combo. the cpu im not sure of. u'll just have to try and see. i ran mine w/ a 2500+, but i wasnt doing hd at the time. i think ms recommeneds a dual core proc for 1080p, but im using a 3400+ on my tv and everything seems cool (1366x768)
 
Your video card is more than adequate. You can run HDTV on a 5200 (though I wouldn't) and the 9800 kicks the crap outta that.

I'd think you'll probably be ok. Worst case is to try it and see what happens, then you'll know if you need more umph. It probably is all dependent on the bitrate and codec used on the HD-DVD you're trying to play.

BTW, I run my htpc on a 2500+ with a 6600GT. Just a minor step up from your stuff, and I have no problems at all with ATSC signals. DEFINITELY get more ram though.
 
tranCendenZ said:
Courtesy of Nvidia:
http://download.nvidia.com/downloads/pvzone/Checklist_for_Building_a_HDPC.pdf

I'd recommend upgrading your CPU to at least an A64 X2 3800+ or a Core Duo 2400, as well as upgrading your video card to an HDCP-compliant card.
Click to expand...

That's for playing HD-DVD or BR, which is probably more than he needs.

For comparison, my 2500+ XP/6800GT/512RAM machine can record SD, record HD, and play recorded HD at the same time just fine. 360 extender works great as well, just add Transcode 360 and HDTV Pump, and I can play back pretty much anything.

The only things I have any issues with are WMVHD and x.264 HD files, and that's because the AGP 6800GT can't HW decode those files (bug on the card). If I had a 6600GT, I'd be able to handle everything I want to play just fine.

Edit:
He does have HD-DVD in the title, but I'm assuming the OP is going to use the HD-DVD addon for the 360?
 
with my 4200 I can watch SDTV, but I can't watch live HDTV or watch recorded HDTV, all because of it being choppy and my cpu load hitting 100% and slowing my comp way down. Do you believe that the video card is the main problem for that? Is HDTV that dependant on a video card?
 
Depending on the software you're using for a front end, the 4200 MAY very well be a problem. A lot of the software uses DX9 rendering, and if I recall correctly, the 4200 is DX8.

I'd think you'd do a LOT better with an updated DX9 card, even a low end one. x1300, 7600, 6600, 6200, etc... anything with DX9.
 
JBark said:
That's for playing HD-DVD or BR, which is probably more than he needs.

Edit:
He does have HD-DVD in the title, but I'm assuming the OP is going to use the HD-DVD addon for the 360?
Click to expand...
Yes. it's in the title in a manor that suggests to me that he wants to use the 360's HD-DVD player with his HTPC. In which case he does need atleast an X2 3800+ or E6300 C2D and a 7600GT as minimum requirements.
 
agreed, the video card is the weak link in this....nvidia 66xx and up series cards(barring the agp bug) all handle this in hardware using VRM, the poor old cousin 4200 is stuck drawing overlay for this which is less efficient for high bitrate streams(HD).

edit: you may want to throw some more memory at that machine for recording as well, Hard disk swapping can ruin a good recording, and after everything is in and configured properly, use something like perfectdisk to defrag for speed and less UI stuttering and such. the results of just this can really help after a bunch of installs tryin to get an HTPC to work right.
 
i know i am going to buy 1 GB (512x2) memory. and the video card. do i need to buy anything else except the ram and the video card. everything is okay except those two. is that correct?

should i rather buy a cheap 939 combo. like a ecs motheboard w/ like 3200+ or 3000+.


should i get ati chipset matx board or nivida chipset matx board?
 
help me to build a budget htpc?

watch hdtv, and sometimes record shows. xbox360 hd-dvd player
 
It would be nice if you explain away the confusion surrounding "xbox360 hd-dvd player" first before asking for help. We have no idea what you're looking to do with the system.
compwarez said:
should i rather buy a cheap 939 combo. like a ecs motheboard w/ like 3200+ or 3000+.
Click to expand...
NO! :eek:
Aside from the fact that ECS is crap we have no idea what you're trying to do, answer the questions in this thread first.
should i get ati chipset matx board or nivida chipset matx board?
Click to expand...
I can tell you right now that you're going to be much better off with an NV chipset but beyond that I can't really suggest anything else.
 
sorry i use my system for HTPc, watch hd-dvd for xbox360 hd-dvd player, watch hd cable.
 
why i cannot do HD cable.

if i have a HD setup box then i can watch Hd but not to record it.
 
since i cannot use it to record HD. then i can use it to watch divx movies and use xbox360 hddvd player to play dvd..

okay i bought a foxconn matx board. should i get opteron 165 or x2 3800+. which one is better.

any suggestion on the cpu?

x2 3800+, opteron 165 or FX-55
 
compwarez said:
any help on the cpu.
Click to expand...
You know you need a dual core CPU, the FX-55 is not one. Other then that it doesn't matter between the Opteron 165 or the X2 3800+; get whichever is cheaper.
 
it is funny the nvidia htpc sites, they told me i have to get either fx-55 or x2 3800.
 
the 165 is better than the 3800. Has more cache. I dont know if that will make a difference but I imagine it would not hurt.
 
I won't make a difference which is why I said to get which ever is cheaper.
 
actually i am going to use x2 4600 dual channel system for htpc. and use this w/intel system for regular use.
 
If you can WAIT.

The problem ppl are having, like myself, is TRUE HD DVD software.

Until the true software comes out, not PDVD 6.5, we might actually be able to use higher end single cores. I have a 2.2 OCed to 2.6 and it usually runs at 50 - 70% when running an HDDVD.

I would wait though a dual core is better. I'm getting a lower end and OCing.
 
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