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<blockquote data-quote="etheesdad" data-source="post: 343888" data-attributes="member: 84335"><p>UPDATE TO ORIGINAL POST</p><p></p><p>Just thought I might add an update for HD/1080p/blu-ray support. The graphics card list doesnt </p><p></p><p>distinguish which cards are not suited to blu-ray & the newer hardware-encoding cards. Also, the </p><p></p><p>PSU information needs to be linked to the choice of GPU, which is an important factor to consider </p><p></p><p>when selecting power rating and # of 12volt rails. </p><p></p><p>"Tests at <a href="http://www.silentpcreview.com" target="_blank">www.silentpcreview.com</a> shows that even the most power-thirsty systems doesnt </p><p></p><p>consume more than 200W at full load" - some low-end HTPC GPUs now need at least 350 watts</p><p></p><p>- 512meg ram not relevant if running vista</p><p>- max 300gb hard drives (?)</p><p>- dx 9 graphics cards ; only really relevant for for xp</p><p>- dual or single core omits current processor technology</p><p></p><p>-------</p><p></p><p>Blu-Ray hardware Requirements</p><p><a href="http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/bd-support/enu/system-requirement.jsp" target="_blank">http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/bd-support/enu/system-requirement.jsp</a></p><p></p><p>(jist of the article)</p><p>CPU - 3ghz single core or faster</p><p>Video ram - 256 meg or more</p><p>System ram - 1gb or more</p><p>Video card- </p><p> Nvidia - 7600gt or higher</p><p> ATI - HD 2400 or higher</p><p></p><p>INTEGRATED</p><p></p><p>Given recent advances in integrated graphics, this means the Nvidia 8200/8300/9300/9400 integrated </p><p></p><p>chipset motherboards are looking like a good prospect for blu-ray. 790 gx may also be worth </p><p></p><p>looking at. </p><p></p><p>Arguably a 780g integrated will do it, but re MP use, I would suggest a scan through here</p><p><a href="https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/htpc-projects-42/migration-amd-690g-780g-40706/" target="_blank">https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/htpc-projects-42/migration-amd-690g-780g-40706/</a></p><p>if considering one</p><p></p><p>On the 9300/9400, this ASUS motherboard (ASUS P5N7A-VM ) recently got an excellent wrap for HTPC use on Extremetech</p><p><a href="http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2333126,00.asp" target="_blank">http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2333126,00.asp</a></p><p></p><p>ATI and NVIDIA SYSTEMS</p><p></p><p>ATI</p><p></p><p>ATI offer a system called Unified Video Decoder (UVD) which is designed to take the load off CPU </p><p></p><p>when playing back High-Def Video. Its incorporated into:</p><p></p><p>HD2000 series</p><p>HD3000 series</p><p>HD4000 series</p><p></p><p>**only the HD4000 series has UVD2, which takes full advantage of Blu-ray functionality with dual-</p><p></p><p>stream, picture in picture (PIP) capabilities, including full decode of VC-1, H.264 and MPEG-2</p><p></p><p>NVIDIA</p><p></p><p>Nvidias on-board GPU decoding technologu is PurevideoHD, which is available on</p><p></p><p>8000 series</p><p>9000 series</p><p>GTX series (260, 280, ***)</p><p></p><p>**only the 9000 and GTX series support full decode of VC-1</p><p></p><p>more here, including Intel decoding technology :</p><p><a href="http://nwgat.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/video-cards-for-hardware-decoding-of-blu-ray-disc/" target="_blank">http://nwgat.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/video-cards-for-hardware-decoding-of-blu-ray-disc/</a></p><p></p><p>and here</p><p><a href="https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/hardware-selection-help-62/basic-overview-gpu-hd-video-processing-48888/" target="_blank">https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/hardware-selection-help-62/basic-overview-gpu-hd-video-processing-48888/</a></p><p></p><p>Theres an really good article at TomsHardware.com that compares NVIDIA vs ATI HD on HD Decoding</p><p></p><p>Compares: </p><p>780G (integrated)</p><p>8200 (integrated)</p><p>HD2400 (discrete)</p><p>8400GS (discrete)</p><p></p><p>And throws into the mix [single core 3.2ghz /vs/ dual core x2 5400] </p><p></p><p>RESULT: </p><p>in their test the single-core cpu was not up to the task</p><p>See the article for the lowdown on integrated vs discrete on ati/nvidia</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-blu-ray-video,2030.html" target="_blank">http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-blu-ray-video,2030.html</a></p><p></p><p>------------------------</p><p></p><p>CONCLUSION</p><p>Nvidia 9400/9500GT or ATI 4550/4650 is probably the best way to go as an 'ideal' HTPC card for Blu-Ray playback on a machine not intended to be used for gaming.</p><p></p><p>NOTE:</p><p>CyberLink BD Advisor is a downloadable application which will scan existing hardware and notify of any upgrade requirements for blu-ray support</p><p><a href="http://www.cyberlink.com/prog/bd-support/diagnosis.do" target="_blank">http://www.cyberlink.com/prog/bd-support/diagnosis.do</a></p><p></p><p>-- does not provide 'degrees' of viability - just a pass/fail output on a number of specific criteria</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="etheesdad, post: 343888, member: 84335"] UPDATE TO ORIGINAL POST Just thought I might add an update for HD/1080p/blu-ray support. The graphics card list doesnt distinguish which cards are not suited to blu-ray & the newer hardware-encoding cards. Also, the PSU information needs to be linked to the choice of GPU, which is an important factor to consider when selecting power rating and # of 12volt rails. "Tests at [url]www.silentpcreview.com[/url] shows that even the most power-thirsty systems doesnt consume more than 200W at full load" - some low-end HTPC GPUs now need at least 350 watts - 512meg ram not relevant if running vista - max 300gb hard drives (?) - dx 9 graphics cards ; only really relevant for for xp - dual or single core omits current processor technology ------- Blu-Ray hardware Requirements [url]http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/bd-support/enu/system-requirement.jsp[/url] (jist of the article) CPU - 3ghz single core or faster Video ram - 256 meg or more System ram - 1gb or more Video card- Nvidia - 7600gt or higher ATI - HD 2400 or higher INTEGRATED Given recent advances in integrated graphics, this means the Nvidia 8200/8300/9300/9400 integrated chipset motherboards are looking like a good prospect for blu-ray. 790 gx may also be worth looking at. Arguably a 780g integrated will do it, but re MP use, I would suggest a scan through here [url]https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/htpc-projects-42/migration-amd-690g-780g-40706/[/url] if considering one On the 9300/9400, this ASUS motherboard (ASUS P5N7A-VM ) recently got an excellent wrap for HTPC use on Extremetech [url]http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2333126,00.asp[/url] ATI and NVIDIA SYSTEMS ATI ATI offer a system called Unified Video Decoder (UVD) which is designed to take the load off CPU when playing back High-Def Video. Its incorporated into: HD2000 series HD3000 series HD4000 series **only the HD4000 series has UVD2, which takes full advantage of Blu-ray functionality with dual- stream, picture in picture (PIP) capabilities, including full decode of VC-1, H.264 and MPEG-2 NVIDIA Nvidias on-board GPU decoding technologu is PurevideoHD, which is available on 8000 series 9000 series GTX series (260, 280, ***) **only the 9000 and GTX series support full decode of VC-1 more here, including Intel decoding technology : [url]http://nwgat.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/video-cards-for-hardware-decoding-of-blu-ray-disc/[/url] and here [url]https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/hardware-selection-help-62/basic-overview-gpu-hd-video-processing-48888/[/url] Theres an really good article at TomsHardware.com that compares NVIDIA vs ATI HD on HD Decoding Compares: 780G (integrated) 8200 (integrated) HD2400 (discrete) 8400GS (discrete) And throws into the mix [single core 3.2ghz /vs/ dual core x2 5400] RESULT: in their test the single-core cpu was not up to the task See the article for the lowdown on integrated vs discrete on ati/nvidia [url]http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-blu-ray-video,2030.html[/url] ------------------------ CONCLUSION Nvidia 9400/9500GT or ATI 4550/4650 is probably the best way to go as an 'ideal' HTPC card for Blu-Ray playback on a machine not intended to be used for gaming. NOTE: CyberLink BD Advisor is a downloadable application which will scan existing hardware and notify of any upgrade requirements for blu-ray support [url]http://www.cyberlink.com/prog/bd-support/diagnosis.do[/url] -- does not provide 'degrees' of viability - just a pass/fail output on a number of specific criteria [/QUOTE]
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