What's the best HTPC motherboard?

[gazoo]

Yes, I know, this thread again. I'm looking into building a client machine and I was looking for a good micro atx board.

I found quite a few, but almost none of them have dual channel. I'm not sure if this is such a bonus. Here are my requirements:

- micro atx
- Onboard video capable of 1080i, maybe 1080p. DVI or HDMI ok (at least those). Nvidia seems more advanced for onboard than ATI, but I'm open for any suggestion
- Onboard SPDIF audio. Optical preferred, coax ok. Will give this up for regular analog if I can get nice onboard video.
- I'm partial to Intel, but will go AMD if that's the only way to get the stuff above.

My main concern is if onboard video can make it. I REALLY want to avoid getting a video card. This reduces cost and lets me use a really nice small case like Ahanix, etc.

Gigabit, MSI, Asrock all have nice boards with the 7050/7150 Nvidia GPUs. I believe there are x1250 ATI boards available too. I was of the impression that the 7150s were more capable than the x1250s, but I'll wait for some posts with feedback on that.

[whurlston]

I would wait for the AMD 8200/8300 motherboards due out in March/April. They will be making the same boards that take the Intel CPU but they will be a couple months behind.

[wtg]

Someone around recommended this board a while back, which is really quite tempting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813138061 Inexpensive, good reviews, and HDMI output. I keep hoping my PC will take a dive so I have an excuse to buy one.

[Koenie]

I would wait for the AMD 8200/8300 motherboards due out in March/April. They will be making the same boards that take the Intel CPU but they will be a couple months behind.

I am waiting for these too. They are such a big upgrade in the video capabilities. One of these with just the smallest AMD processor + a compact flash drive would make for a wonderful client machine.

[K.S.]

- Onboard video capable of 1080i, maybe 1080p. DVI or HDMI ok (at least those). Nvidia seems more advanced for onboard than ATI, but I'm open for any suggestion

if you want onboard support for 1080 you'll have to wait. only the 8200/8300 nvidia (like this one here http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelm...3=643&l4=0) or the coming 780G AMD chipsets will realy support 1080. everything thats available at the moment is only capable of 1080 through CPU resources... i.e. AMD690G needs a >2.4GHz CPU for playback & the CPU will be in heavy use, the coming AMD780G will playback 1080 and CPU load will be <30%

[McBainUK]

I would wait for the AMD 8200/8300 motherboards due out in March/April. They will be making the same boards that take the Intel CPU but they will be a couple months behind.

Any links?

[scb147]

I'm partial to my Intel DG965WH motherboard, it has been a real stable MB for myself. Plus the built-in SPDIF port is a nice option to have so I don't have to use a PCI slot for a sound card.

[gazoo]

Wow, that ASUS one looks like it would be the one. It's not out yet, right?

I've always been curious why a new, albeit integrated, chip like an Nvidia 7150 can't handle 1080i but my 4-5 year old 4X AGP ATI 9600 pro, 1.8Ghz P4 machine (which is probably also 4-5 years old) can do it. It does it, but barely, but it does do it. After tinkering with codecs, and with nothing else going on (recording, transcoding, etc) I can watch 1080i via VGA with no hiccups at all. It will do 1080p on a compressed .m2t file too AND it will do it via GBPVR - not just on WMP standalone.

I don't really want to take the chance spending money on the wrong board, and since these boards are due out any day now, I'll probably end up waiting for them.

I would like to know if anyone here has one of these 7050/7150 Nvidia boards and if they actually can handle 1080i.

I would also like to know if throwing a nice big Core2Duo in addition to these onboard chips would compensate for it being an onboard chip.

I just can't get it through my thick skull

[zehd]

if you want onboard support for 1080 you'll have to wait. only the 8200/8300 nvidia (like this one here http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelm...3=643&l4=0) or the coming 780G AMD chipsets will realy support 1080. everything thats available at the moment is only capable of 1080 through CPU resources... i.e. AMD690G needs a >2.4GHz CPU for playback & the CPU will be in heavy use, the coming AMD780G will playback 1080 and CPU load will be <30%

Will this do 1080 i or p?

[whurlston]

Someone around recommended this board a while back, which is really quite tempting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813138061 Inexpensive, good reviews, and HDMI output. I keep hoping my PC will take a dive so I have an excuse to buy one.

I don't recommend it anymore. The new 8200/8300 boards will be much better. I ended up having to put an HD 2400 on that board which defeated the purpose of having the onboard HDMI. If you REALLY want one wtg, I'll sell you mine when the 8300 comes out