2009-01-21, 06:05 PM
Hi guys,
Apologies for asking an age-old question...I do have a slightly different twist on it though!
I'm currently looking to change my GBPVR setup to a client-server one, as I'm currently running the backend and frontend on my fileserver, sitting behind my TV. It works, but it's not how I want it!
The server is a plenty powerful box (2xDualCore Xeons, 2GB RAM, Windows XP Pro), so I'll be using that to stream both live TV, recorded shows, and other video material (including HD content).
I know you can run the GBPVR frontend on something less powerful than my phone, but I'm quite out of date with current hardware requirements for HD stuff.
What I want is something that's going to be able to playback at least 720p .mkv's, obviously standard def stuff, and possibly in the future HD content through DVB-S2.
I've been looking at something like a
ASUS M3A-H/HDMI with AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ (2.8GHz) - but I don't know if that's up to scratch? Between that processor and the onboard graphics, will they handle HD content?
I'm also ideally looking for something low-powered...don't wanna be breaking the bank with the power consumption...but it's not the end of the world. Most important is keeping the price down. I don't really want to be spending much more than £150 on the mobo, CPU and GFX.
I'd really appreciate any comments or advice!
--Mark
Apologies for asking an age-old question...I do have a slightly different twist on it though!
I'm currently looking to change my GBPVR setup to a client-server one, as I'm currently running the backend and frontend on my fileserver, sitting behind my TV. It works, but it's not how I want it!
The server is a plenty powerful box (2xDualCore Xeons, 2GB RAM, Windows XP Pro), so I'll be using that to stream both live TV, recorded shows, and other video material (including HD content).
I know you can run the GBPVR frontend on something less powerful than my phone, but I'm quite out of date with current hardware requirements for HD stuff.
What I want is something that's going to be able to playback at least 720p .mkv's, obviously standard def stuff, and possibly in the future HD content through DVB-S2.
I've been looking at something like a
ASUS M3A-H/HDMI with AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ (2.8GHz) - but I don't know if that's up to scratch? Between that processor and the onboard graphics, will they handle HD content?
I'm also ideally looking for something low-powered...don't wanna be breaking the bank with the power consumption...but it's not the end of the world. Most important is keeping the price down. I don't really want to be spending much more than £150 on the mobo, CPU and GFX.
I'd really appreciate any comments or advice!
--Mark
HTPC
[SIZE="1"]
OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
Hardware: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400 (2.8GHZ), 4GB DDR RAM, ATI Radeon 3200HD, 2x 500GB, 1x 1TB, Hauppauge Nova-T 500, Hauppauge Nova-S2-HD, 42" LG Plasma
[/SIZE]
Storage Server
[SIZE="1"]
OS: Debian Lenny
Hardware: 2x Intel Xeon dual-core 3.00ghz, 2GB DDR RAM (Dell), NVIDIA Quadro NVS, 5xHDD (1.8TB Total), 2x HP 19" Monitors
[/SIZE]
[SIZE="1"]
OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
Hardware: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400 (2.8GHZ), 4GB DDR RAM, ATI Radeon 3200HD, 2x 500GB, 1x 1TB, Hauppauge Nova-T 500, Hauppauge Nova-S2-HD, 42" LG Plasma
[/SIZE]
Storage Server
[SIZE="1"]
OS: Debian Lenny
Hardware: 2x Intel Xeon dual-core 3.00ghz, 2GB DDR RAM (Dell), NVIDIA Quadro NVS, 5xHDD (1.8TB Total), 2x HP 19" Monitors
[/SIZE]