AMD processor for watching HD videos

[Marmot]

I'm trying to piece together a computer for around $900, so it looks like it's going to be a Dell. I'd like to be able to play HD movie trailers at 1080p. Apple recommends a 3.0ghz pentium dual core.

It looks like I'll be using an AMD 64 x2 dual core 4200+. Will this be sufficient? The highest freq dual core I can find from dell is around 2.8ghz, so I must be looking at this wrong.


I'm not too literate with hardware 😱

 

[lobbyone]

It should be enough, but anyone correct me if i'm wrong, you'll be needing a capable video card to watch HD.

 

[regnez]

A 4200+ will be more than enough to stream 1080p from the Apple website. Just make sure you couple it with at least a gig of ram, and you will be good to go.

Originally posted by: lobbyone
It should be enough, but anyone correct me if i'm wrong, you'll be needing a capable video card to watch HD.

If all you want to do is watch the trailers in hi-def, then you will not need a video card. However, if you plan on getting an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive in the future to watch movies on your computer, then you are going to need a video card that allows you to play HDCP protected content.

 

[Marmot]

Originally posted by: regnez

If all you want to do is watch the trailers in hi-def, then you will not need a video card. However, if you plan on getting an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive in the future to watch movies on your computer, then you are going to need a video card that allows you to play HDCP protected content.

I didn't know that. I'll still get a nicer video card though.
I will have a gig of ram too.

Thanks for the input! It'll be nice to get rid of this Athlon XP 1900+ that has served me well over the years.