[kazansky]

Hey all! Been reading for a while now on both here and AVSforum. I have a quick question. I am going to be building an HTPC based on i3-2100. I've been looking at this Mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157233

Most of the guys on AVS are just using the graphics on the Mobo/CPU where as it seems most of you on here are using discrete graphics cards. I'll be mostly using this HTPC to play blu-ray movie files/rips with XBMC. What do you suggest?

The one requirement I have is that I HAVE to be able to stream my video and audio over the same HDMI port so I output to my projector thru my AV receiver.

Thanks guys!

[Zon2020]

Hey all! Been reading for a while now on both here and AVSforum. I have a quick question. I am going to be building an HTPC based on i3-2100. I've been looking at this Mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157233

Most of the guys on AVS are just using the graphics on the Mobo/CPU where as it seems most of you on here are using discrete graphics cards. I'll be mostly using this HTPC to play blu-ray movie files/rips with XBMC. What do you suggest?

The one requirement I have is that I HAVE to be able to stream my video and audio over the same HDMI port so I output to my projector thru my AV receiver.

Thanks guys!

Your MB has a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot. Why not build your system without and try it, and if you're disatisfied and feel the need, putting in a graphics card later is the easiest thing in the world.

Why spend the money on a separate card without ever even trying what you're already paying for built into the i3 and the motherboard?

Personally I doubt you'll find the need to do so.

By the way, if you're using XBMC and use the i3's integrated GPU, you'll have to turn hardware acceleration off for the time being. Hopefully that's temporary and XBMC will be fixed soon. The CPU has plenty of power to handle it. You should read this thread : http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=98037

Finally, you'll be able to stream audio and video over a single HDMI cable irrespective of whether you go with the integrated GPU or a discrete card.

[poofyhairguy]

By the way, if you're using XBMC and use the i3's integrated GPU, you'll have to turn hardware acceleration off for the time being.

This plus messed up 24p support plus inferior interlacing support is why Intel is usually not recommended in these parts. For Linux builds, Nvidia just works. For Windows builds AMD has the best picture quality bar-none. Intel only excels at cost.

[eskro]

intel only excels at cost.

+1 :p