Down Sizing my computer --- maybe even going to an htpc

acruxksa

Just ordered a Soltek Mania EQ3901, AMD Athlon64 3500+ (venice core) and a Maxtor DiamondMax 200Mb SATA HDD. Already have an extra 1Gb of Corsair memory and will move my R9800Pro over until I can get something with video in/out. My current monster box just seems too large and I've got an overwhelming urge to build an HTPC (or at least one that can play the part in a pinch).

Any recommendations on HDTV capable video cards? (don't really know much about them). Also I have a spare PCI slot, so should I leave the R9800Pro and just get an extra PCI card for video in?

dadx2mj · Posted: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:36:53 Post Subject:

You are downsizing to a A64 3500+ Confused

Damn my XP2400+ is really starting to show it's age but anyway what the hell are you down sizing from?

acruxksa · Posted: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:44:30 Post Subject:

I should say down sizing cases. My current comp is an A64 3000+ winchester, but the case is a monster and about 3 1/2 yrs. old so I think it's time for a change.

It's been a great case, I can't even count how many upgrades it's seen, but the time has come for something new. I actually entertained the idea of buying a Mac Mini, but decided to go with the A64 3500+ instead.

knight0334 · Posted: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 08:43:20 Post Subject:

sheesh guys!! even my Celeron 466 with an old 16mb Rage 128 All-in-Wonder card is capable of handling 99% of my HTPC duties. ...only thing it stumbles on is MPEG4 stuff and an occasional MPEG2.

What are you guys doing to need so much power in a video player?

LaTech · Posted: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 09:10:46 Post Subject:

Pron?

acruxksa · Posted: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:12:37 Post Subject:

HDTV - Divx/MPEG4 encoding/decoding - MP3 Encoding - Solitaire Smile

I might even get lucky, because my cable box (Motorola DCT 6208) has a firewire out port, so I may be able to just use that for video in. I've done it before, but it was only a temporary solution on my laptop. It is kind of a round about way to get things working, but I might be able to implement it a little bettter with a dedicated PC.

Ultimately I'm still going to be looking for an HDTV card if anyone has any suggestions.

I know I could get away with a less powerful machine, but the problem is, once you find a SFF case and Mobo (or in this case SFF barebones solution) and go looking for a cpu in the A64 line, the 3500 seemed to be the best bang for the buck. I actually entertained the idea of getting the 3800 X2 Smile

, but will save that for a later day.

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 13:04:23 Post Subject:

I've heard good things on the ATi HDTV Wonder.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 23:25:23 Post Subject:

I have one... Nice!

Drivers were intially a PITA, but it works well. Captures standard cable/broadcast TV, as well as HD signals.

What I want, and what is no available elsewhere, is a card that will capture HD cable signals... The HD on the ATI card can only be over the air!

acruxksa · Posted: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 03:09:31 Post Subject:

Looks like an ATI HDTV Wonder is going to be the way to go. Smile

Might wait a while longer though, until we have more than one OTA HD channel. (others should be up in a couple months)