What Chipset for Home Theater PC?

[Ginnal]

I'm in the process of building a htpc. What Chipset has the best featureset for a htpc.
For Example the VIA P4M800 has the Unichrome core with includes mpeg2 decoding hardware. I have having a hard time determining if other chips have hardware mpeg decoding or other features that would be appealing such As hardware Dolby Digital Decoding. ( I Intend to feed the decodes signal into a reciever) This PC will be doing the following;
DVD Playback (mpeg decoding would be nice)
Analog TV Tuning and Recording (hardware encoder on the card)
Music Playback through reciever ( so decent embedded auidio would be nice)

 

[woodscomp]

I would keep the decoding on a separate card. My suggestion would be a MSI Nforce4 SLI board with the built in Creative Labs Live audio. Coupled with a nice low priced AMD64 3200+ or 3000+ processor and a gig of ram. Keep the video simple unless you plan to game with it. A 300GB or larger hard drive from WD (there new ones are so quiet).

I always look for optical outputs on the audio because it makes it so much easier to incorporate into existing home theater's.

For decoding I like the EVGA dual tuner cards for use with MS MCE 2005.

 

[Diasper]

Originally posted by: woodscomp
I would keep the decoding on a separate card. My suggestion would be a MSI Nforce4 SLI board with the built in Creative Labs Live audio. Coupled with a nice low priced AMD64 3200+ or 3000+ processor and a gig of ram. Keep the video simple unless you plan to game with it. A 300GB or larger hard drive from WD (there new ones are so quiet).

I always look for optical outputs on the audio because it makes it so much easier to incorporate into existing home theater's.

For decoding I like the EVGA dual tuner cards for use with MS MCE 2005.

A word of advice: nforce4 = noisy, hot, unreliable northbridge fans - not the best option in a small/quiet htpc.

Of course, you can look to replace it but that's extra hassle/loss of warranty + if in a low cooling case probably won't deal too happily with a purely passive heatsink - just depends on whether u intend to overclock, cooling etc.

Either way research what you're buying thoroughly

 

[Ginnal]

woodscomp.

The reason why I have gone with an onboard solution is that mpeg decoder cards seem to add an unneccesary level on complexity, I don't need any 3d prowess since will be doing no gaming and most video cards don't even seem to mention hardware decoding.

 

[Peter]

Keep it simple, slow, and quiet. S3 Unichrome Pro is good enough ... if you don't do DVI. The chip could, but very few boards implement it.
For discrete graphics on a media PC, I wouldn't go higher than an ATi 9550SE. You get DX9 hardware with WORKING video accelerator and DVD decoder hardware, WORKING DVI, and component output via ATI's adaptor plug (separate purchase). Alternatively, XGI's Volari V3XT or S3 Deltachrome provide HDTV support straight out of the box.
All of those are fanless.

 

[Ginnal]

Originally posted by: Peter
Keep it simple, slow, and quiet. S3 Unichrome Pro is good enough ... if you don't do DVI. The chip could, but very few boards implement it.
For discrete graphics on a media PC, I wouldn't go higher than an ATi 9550SE. You get DX9 hardware with WORKING video accelerator and DVD decoder hardware, WORKING DVI, and component output via ATI's adaptor plug (separate purchase). Alternatively, XGI's Volari V3XT or S3 Deltachrome provide HDTV support straight out of the box.
All of those are fanless.

Sweet, I'll be sure to post pics (if you care) once its done.

 

[Peter]

Sure, please do. Advice is only worth half as much without feedback on the results.

 

[rstrohkirch]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26