Calling all MP New Zealanders (Both of you!!) (200 Viewers)

[eXDee]

Problem is a PCI-E HD2600 is $150, but i can only find one place selling the HD2600 AGP and its around $240.
I don't really like paying a lot for old tech when theres better for cheaper, and the systems already outdated, maybe a cheap pci-e system would work okay for under $500 or so (cpu, ram, mobo, gfx)

Picking parts from C1 Shoppingmall the HD2600xt pci-e, E4300 +1gb ddr2 800 + P5KPL-VM comes to $480, but the cpu isnt that powerful, any idea how it compares to the northwood, and if the 2600XT would be able to do 1080i fine?
I don't think there any motherboards with a decent onboard vga chip which could support hardware acceleration unfortunately, which would be an okay solution.

Still looking at options for DVB-T, its either upgrade the agp card, buy a whole new system (eg above) or buy a STB PVR which is probably $600+.
We are getting Mysky HDi at some point too, so im also wondering how thats going to fit into the equation, since i wouldn't be able to transfer recordings off that to the HTPC.

Also, Reply 1000!

 

[Klathman]

On the mySky HD point there is the Hauppage PVR HD coming out sometime soon which is meant to accept component inputs and has a USB output. From the specs I've seen it grabs the HD image and converts it to H.264 so while it isn't digital the whole way as long as mySky HD has component support it could be a goer.

Anyone noticed that sky have now dropped the HDCP requirement for their HD box and are now just saying minimum res of 720p? That would seem to suggest that component support will be available as it's not even saying DVI/HDMI required.

As far as the graphics card goes I don't know how old your system is but if the graphics card is the only thing holding you back from doing HD then I'd just get the AGP card. Overall it's cheaper and what would you really gain from upgrading the whole system? It is after all just a HTPC isn't it. Who cares if it can't play the latest games as long as the music and videos look good.

 

[handya]

does anyone know a good, cheap htpc case?

 

[dman_lfc]

does anyone know a good, cheap htpc case?

Brilliant case...
Antec.com - Veris
Also available in black...
Antec.com - Veris

Comes with LCD display & remote control.

DMAN

 

[eXDee]

does anyone know a good, cheap htpc case?

Brilliant case...
Antec.com - Veris
Also available in black...
Antec.com - Veris

Comes with LCD display & remote control.

DMAN

$350 is cheap?

I'd go with this
Or smaller with psu
Or small and silver, with psu

 

[dman_lfc]

Man you guys downunder get ripped off $240 for a AGP card now $350 for an Antec case... yikes!

DMAN

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Antec Fusion V2 MATX MediaCenter Case - Aluminium Front Bezel with 430W PSU - Ebuyer

Even translating that to Dollars is 279.37, 70 dollars difference does not sound quite so bad, but yes we can get electrical stuff cheaper here and we still complain about how cheap America is for these goods.

 

[mcraenz]

does anyone know a good, cheap htpc case?

I'm thinking of getting one of these silverstone LC17s.
Buy SILVERSTONE LASCALA SST-LC17 Silver Aluminum/Steel ATX Deskto at PlayTech.co.nz

Plus this one (according to the product description) is:

Designed for intimate personal environments

Still $130 without PSU! which I think is expensive for a case, especially since my current HTPC is in a compaq W4000 workstation case!!

 

[Spragleknas]

does anyone know a good, cheap htpc case?

I have this: Antec.com - New Solution Series
Just like Fusion -but no VFD and alu. and slightly weaker PSU.

 

[mcraenz]

does anyone know a good, cheap htpc case?

I have this: Antec.com - New Solution Series
Just like Fusion -but no VFD and alu. and slightly weaker PSU.

Too many HTPC cases have only 3 or 4 expansion slots, I'm planning to buy an intel DP35DP motherboard that has 6 pci slots NOT including the video card. You need to take in to consideration the motherboard that you're going to use and how many PCI tuners you'll have.