System requirements

I'm currently running a modded Xbox with SBMC and have been loving it for years, but as HD content becomes more available I'm looking for a replacement. Tried the popcorn hour and didn't like it so am now looing towards a HTPC running XBMC.

I have read the wiki and quotes minimums and all, but I'm sitting next to a spare AMD 2400+ with 512MB of RAM but it's let down by its GeForce 4MX video card.

Before I bother trying, is this graphics card got a hope in hell or should I just give up now ??

(the chances of finding a decent AGP card is pretty slim since they topped out round the 6xxx series or so and that was a few generations ago)

Welcome to the forums.

You could probably get a PCI 8400gs and do a majority of HD with VDPAU in linux (when it's stable) just fine. Search is your friend.

Hello!
I want to migrate from XBMC on xbox to PC.

The problem is, I cant really find any threads with info/tips on what hardware to buy.

Ofc, I can go and buy a core2/4 2ghz+ with 4 gb ram and a nice graphics card, and it will work..

But what I want, in order of relevance:

1. Be able to play 1080p h264
2. Low power consumption
3. quiet, preferred no fans should be needed to cool the cpu/gpu
4. not more expensive then necessary
5. linux or windows does not matter

I have read the thread about GPU support, but, since the graphic cards supported mostly (think I saw one PCI) are pci-express, that requires me to buy a relativly new mobo, and that leads to easy access to a fast cpu, and then I dont see the point in useing GPU for decode...

So...
Can anyone try to help me with this?
What is the best way to go?
Maybe find a graphics card with PCI, and use a slowass old computer? will for example a pentium 3 or so work?
Or, just scrap the GPU idea and go for a CPU that can decode? Whats the minimum speed/cores needed to playback 1080p?

Johan84 Wrote:Hello!


1. Be able to play 1080p h264
2. Low power consumption
3. quiet, preferred no fans should be needed to cool the cpu/gpu
4. not more expensive then necessary
5. linux or windows does not matter

everything you want will probably be possible in the very near future on an intel atom platform with an VDPAU capable nVidia card. i have a feeling we'll see the vdpau merged into the main SVN before atlantis+1 comes out in april.

Johan84 Wrote:I have read the thread about GPU support, but, since the graphic cards supported mostly (think I saw one PCI) are pci-express, that requires me to buy a relativly new mobo, and that leads to easy access to a fast cpu, and then I dont see the point in useing GPU for decode...

So...
Can anyone try to help me with this?
What is the best way to go?
Maybe find a graphics card with PCI, and use a slowass old computer? will for example a pentium 3 or so work?
Or, just scrap the GPU idea and go for a CPU that can decode? Whats the minimum speed/cores needed to playback 1080p?

here's a standard PCI card that one of the developers is reporting works for him:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814187042

davilla is using that card with an atom (the 330 dual core model, i believe) and reports ~30% cpu utilization on the notorious 'killa' sample. i was able to spec out such a system for less than $250 US.

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=43405