[consequential]

Hi all,

I apologize in advance for asking a lame question like this seeing as how I might be able to find this information on the web or even this forum if I look hard enough, however, anything I've found thus far have been 6-12 month old posts/info.

I'm looking to build my first HTPC (I've sold my Popcorn A-110) and given up on the idea of getting a different/better media streaming device such as the C-200 or Xtreamer. I want to be able to do the following:

1. Play 1080P video
2. Play up to Dolby Digital/DTS (AV Receiver doesn't decode more than this and accepts only optical/co-ax and doesn't have HDMI ports, so video will go direct to 1080P tv while optical out to AVR will be necessary)
3. Play BD (I have a BD writer) or BD ISO's
4. Play DVD ISO's (DVD menu's etc..)
5. View all times or many types of HD containers such as M2TS (from Sony HD Camcorder), MKV's etc..
6. Be able to use web portals stuff (not sure what's out there but things like Netflix, playon, youtube, hulu, that kind of stuff)

I'm looking to spend between $400-600 and the system will have be located either in my home theater area (on top of receiver) or directly beside the theater on the floor.

NOTE:
-I have a NAS so I'm not looking to use this HTPC for storage
-I'm not interested in recording TV etc... just the above list (I have DirecTV DVR's already)
-My house is wired for LAN so I don't need to worry about wireless
-I can install Vista if that's recommened or perhaps I can learn about Linux, but whatever the best solution is

Thanks so much in advance and again I'm sorry to bug you all with this request but I'd very much appreciate any help. I'm really interested in what parts I should purchase to put this system together.

Thanks!

[blittan]

1. Nvidia ION (of some sort, your choice.. Zotac, ASRock, Acer and more have it)
2.See above, rules out Acer Revo IIRC (no s/pdif out)
3. ASRock has a ION box with BD player. (xbmc don't handle it yet, but there is external launcher which launches a player of your choice) This complicates things, Linux don't support playing bluray (if I am not mistaken) which also affects no 1. since ION is only good with vdpau on linux. (see note)
4. XBMC handles this nativly
5. see above
6. Available via python plugins, check the python part of the forum.

* If you need to be able to play BD discs, then you must use windows, and should go for a fast dualcore (Intel is slightly better) and a really good Nvidia Geforce card.

[consequential]

1. Nvidia ION (of some sort, your choice.. Zotac, ASRock, Acer and more have it)
2.See above, rules out Acer Revo IIRC (no s/pdif out)
3. ASRock has a ION box with BD player. (xbmc don't handle it yet, but there is external launcher which launches a player of your choice) This complicates things, Linux don't support playing bluray (if I am not mistaken) which also affects no 1. since ION is only good with vdpau on linux. (see note)
4. XBMC handles this nativly
5. see above
6. Available via python plugins, check the python part of the forum.

* If you need to be able to play BD discs, then you must use windows, and should go for a fast dualcore (Intel is slightly better) and a really good Nvidia Geforce card.

Hmm, I posted this same question on the avsforum and got some other suggestions as well:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...st16843166

What do you think about the new Gigabyte mobo with the AMD proc in the latest post there?

Also, why do you think there's a need for discrete graphics card?

[blittan]

I wouldn't buy a amd graphics card, nvidia works better I think.

If you aren't running linux taking advantage of GPU decoding using vdpau, then you need a high end maching to be able to do the same in windows, look around the forums, there are alot of threads describing HTPC machines.

I run a Asus M3N78-VM (integrated Geforce 8300) with an AMD X2 5600+ and 2GB Ram, that can't play 1080p in Windows, but does just fine with linux and vdpau.

Since you are going to play Bluray discs, you need windows. Thus the need for a better graphicscard.

[fekker]

Here's what I use

GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128357
Intel e5200 or e6300 (the new one) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819116091
2gb ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820145034
pcix 9400 GT 1GB video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814187037
ninja cpu cooler - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...inja%20cpu


Easy to set the e5200 at 3ghz (and much higher)
9400 rocks with vdpau, or under windows
expansion options, 4 sata and 2 ide connections
gig network card
rock solid stable
spdif header on board for digital audio out
plays 1080p without any gpu assistance, but can be configured to use external player

Under winders or linux it rocks.. i do mip's dev on that config

[bionic1234]

Check out the DailyMotion video in this tigerdirect link

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...CatId=4618

[Briam]

I use a Zotac Ion A (dual core including power supply) and 2GB ram. I build my own case for it out of Plexiglas http://casemod.tweakup.dk/casemods/vis/80/

The ASRock or the Point of view box is definitely the way to go for an easy solution.

Haven't read this through but i think you can play blu-ray discs in linux https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Restri...ayAndHDDVD

If a dual core atom isn't enough cpu power for you, you can start considering some of the amd solutions.

[mkv1080p]

I wouldn't buy a amd graphics card, nvidia works better I think.

If you aren't running linux taking advantage of GPU decoding using vdpau, then you need a high end maching to be able to do the same in windows, look around the forums, there are alot of threads describing HTPC machines.

I run a Asus M3N78-VM (integrated Geforce 8300) with an AMD X2 5600+ and 2GB Ram, that can't play 1080p in Windows, but does just fine with linux and vdpau.

Since you are going to play Bluray discs, you need windows. Thus the need for a better graphicscard.

AMD X2 5600+ can't play 1080p in windows?
Man, I just bought Athlon X2 7850 which is also 2.8GHz in hope of playing 1080p and I also ordered same motherboard Asus M3N78-EM which is geforce 8300 ( Asus M3N78-VM is geforce 8200).
Does it struggle with scene x264 releases or full bluray rip? I will mostly use it for scene releases.