Via Epia

[carpeVideo]

I just ordered one of these with processor for $120. Supposedly good built on graphics with hardware acceleration of most playback types. 1 firewire, optical out and too many USB ports. I got a 65W AMC chip - we'll see how it works. But Tom's hardware gave the chipset great reviews.

ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-text-_-

[mvallevand]

Right. There isn't much point in me building a PC alternative client to the PCH that provides less functionality. Some satellite providers are now doing 1080p too so it isn't just BD. I'm quite happy with my cheap G965 for 720p/1080i and low end C2D.

Martin

[ilovejedd]

Right. There isn't much point in me building a PC alternative client to the PCH that provides less functionality. Some satellite providers are now doing 1080p too so it isn't just BD. I'm quite happy with my cheap G965 for 720p/1080i and low end C2D.

Martin

Yeah, for a pure media playback machine, the PCH gives the best value. Sure, satellite feeds may use 1080p x264, but I find it unlikely that they'll use 40Mbps bitrates like Blu-ray. Assuming all other things are equal, it's harder to decode a 40Mbps stream than a 20Mbps one. :p

Lol, if my Intel 945GC w/Celeron 430 can hack it (albeit w/near 100% CPU utilization), then a C2D should be more than sufficient. Right now, I'm dying to play with the new D945GCLF2 mini-itx board. I might just do it soon, since I'm planning on building a mini-itx server for the MagicJack. The MagicJack's currently connected to my old POS Dell laptop but if we keep it after the free trial, I'd have to relocate it and maybe get a cordless for it. I really don't want to dirty any of my other PC's with it. It's promising to be an adware/pop-up nightmare.

[pBS]

yikes, what's the deal with xbmc's cpu usage at 50% when just sitting at a menu?
no wonder they need a 3ghz cpu!!! sure the menus loook all nice and zippy, but 50% of a dual core for menus? whoa....and the playback takes noadvantage of video card help, doesn't even seem like using the colorspace conversion available in almost every card and i would think available for use in linux...
that makes Core codec look like magic when compared...[another software only solution]

i wouldn't even ponder that unless they get some sort of accell going..
frankly i can't afford a 300$ processor to play stuff i can play fine w/a 40$ one on a 50$ motherboard..

p.s. G965 can do bluray, it has all the built-in accell needed...
[and is the minimum cited by cyberlink]

[mvallevand]

I have given up on the xbmc approach to emulation mode on the G45 and going back to mplayer and using a spare C2D I have.

Martin

[pBS]

that would be my vote, always wished the work on the mvp emulator using mplayer had continued a bit more, could make for a truely multi-platform client with the least work..
and mplayer is very efficient..
not sure if the've gotten bluray working on it yet tho..