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Hello, I'm 100% new to this HTPC thing and I'll looking to build a HTPC for my new apartment. I've read through a lot of the threads in this HTPC section and learned a bit but I still have a few questions.
First, I'm thinking about getting a SAPPHIRE Theatrix 650 PRO as my tuner card but I'm unsure if it will work for me. I have digital cable from Time Warner however I don't have one of their HD STBs so I won't be getting any of their HD stations. What I really need to know is will I have any problems with the 650 PRO accepting input from my STB, also is the 650 PRO known to work with at least some of the many DVR/PVR programs out there like SageTV and BeyondTV, or even Windows Media Center (I might run WMC 2005 as I already own it but if Vista MC is better I might go with that).
Now, for the motherboard & CPU, I'm thinking the GIGABYTE GA-MA69GM-S2H paired with a X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz would be a good setup. I like the GA-MA69GM-S2H because of the stock HDMI output with decent integrated video (I'll talk more about a video card next). I think the 4000+ X2 will provide plenty of power for what I'm looking to do. Mainly I want to be able to use this as a DVR and also to play DVDs as well as movies/TV shows I've acquired on the hard drive.
Onto the video card, I don't plan on watching much HD content right now (mainly because I'm not sure if my digital cable will offer any HD programming) so I'm not to sure if I need a video card and I'd rather not have to purchase a video card right now if I don't have to. But if is video card is really needed I was looking at the XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready card. However I'm not sure if that card will do on the card acceleration so my CPU isn't being push to it's limits whenever I'm just trying to watch some TV, and I really wanted to use the HDMI port on the motherboard, but I guess DVI > HDMI would be find it it would take some strain off the CPU. One reason I did want a video card is so I could play some video games like CS 1.6/CZ and other not to graphic intensive games while my girlfriend isn't home, also games like Worms 2 are great when you have friends over. But maybe the integrated video of the GA-MA69GM-S2H would be powerful enough to run those games (I have an Xbox 360 that I mainly use for gaming so I don't see myself playing any of the newer games on this HTPC and its not really built for gaming anyways).
I guess thats in for now, I'm hoping you guys can give me some input on the parts I'm thinking of using or even any recommendations for better parts. I don't really have a strict budget but I'll like to get the best bang for my buck and as few as I can tell the above parts provide that.
First, I'm thinking about getting a SAPPHIRE Theatrix 650 PRO as my tuner card but I'm unsure if it will work for me. I have digital cable from Time Warner however I don't have one of their HD STBs so I won't be getting any of their HD stations. What I really need to know is will I have any problems with the 650 PRO accepting input from my STB, also is the 650 PRO known to work with at least some of the many DVR/PVR programs out there like SageTV and BeyondTV, or even Windows Media Center (I might run WMC 2005 as I already own it but if Vista MC is better I might go with that).
Now, for the motherboard & CPU, I'm thinking the GIGABYTE GA-MA69GM-S2H paired with a X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz would be a good setup. I like the GA-MA69GM-S2H because of the stock HDMI output with decent integrated video (I'll talk more about a video card next). I think the 4000+ X2 will provide plenty of power for what I'm looking to do. Mainly I want to be able to use this as a DVR and also to play DVDs as well as movies/TV shows I've acquired on the hard drive.
Onto the video card, I don't plan on watching much HD content right now (mainly because I'm not sure if my digital cable will offer any HD programming) so I'm not to sure if I need a video card and I'd rather not have to purchase a video card right now if I don't have to. But if is video card is really needed I was looking at the XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready card. However I'm not sure if that card will do on the card acceleration so my CPU isn't being push to it's limits whenever I'm just trying to watch some TV, and I really wanted to use the HDMI port on the motherboard, but I guess DVI > HDMI would be find it it would take some strain off the CPU. One reason I did want a video card is so I could play some video games like CS 1.6/CZ and other not to graphic intensive games while my girlfriend isn't home, also games like Worms 2 are great when you have friends over. But maybe the integrated video of the GA-MA69GM-S2H would be powerful enough to run those games (I have an Xbox 360 that I mainly use for gaming so I don't see myself playing any of the newer games on this HTPC and its not really built for gaming anyways).
I guess thats in for now, I'm hoping you guys can give me some input on the parts I'm thinking of using or even any recommendations for better parts. I don't really have a strict budget but I'll like to get the best bang for my buck and as few as I can tell the above parts provide that.