[melat0nin]

Hi all

I've got XBMC running very nicely on a machine with these specs:

Athlon XP 3200 @ 2.2GHz (stock)
1GB RAM
GeForce 6200 fanless (AGP)
Ubuntu 9.10 (Desktop)
Shuttle XPC SN45Gv3

At present I've got it hooked up to a 42" Panasonic HDTV running at 720p. I can run the desktop in 1080p and XBMC runs, but it can't really handle 1080p native video.

I'd really like to upgrade to handle full HD with as little expense as possible. What hardware would you guys recommend? The obvious thing is the gfx card, but with only AGP to play with that limits my options.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

EDIT 2: Mods: sorry, I put this thread in the wrong place (should be in hardware). Feel free to move it if it is annoying you!

[junk]

Is that CPU dual core? If not, that's what I would get if possible.

I'm running a HTPC with about the same specs, first with a single core CPU. Had problems with 720p playback. Upgraded the CPU to a dual core - problems gone =)

[melat0nin]

Is that CPU dual core? If not, that's what I would get if possible.

I'm running a HTPC with about the same specs, first with a single core CPU. Had problems with 720p playback. Upgraded the CPU to a dual core - problems gone =)

Nope it's an old AGP machine so no dual core goodies here. I think it's not far from handling 1080p, especially since Atom machines (1.6GHz) with specialised gfx hardware can do it. I'm thinking a decent gfx card to offload the work from the CPU is the way forward, but it's hard to know which one (they all blabber on about being HD-ready but whether that actually means anything is another story, not to mention decent Linux driver support)

BTW the CPU is 2.2GHz, PR at 3.2

[xbs08]

Same specs here (except i have a 6600gt).

The problem is the agp. I dont think there's any cards that support VDPAU that are AGP. You could buy a PCI card but they're expensive compared to PCI-e.

Buy a revo or a zotac ion card.

[melat0nin]

Same specs here (except i have a 6600gt).

The problem is the agp. I dont think there's any cards that support VDPAU that are AGP. You could buy a PCI card but they're expensive compared to PCI-e.

Buy a revo or a zotac ion card.

What's a revo? Google didn't help me...

[junk]

Nope it's an old AGP machine so no dual core goodies here. I think it's not far from handling 1080p, especially since Atom machines (1.6GHz) with specialised gfx hardware can do it. I'm thinking a decent gfx card to offload the work from the CPU is the way forward, but it's hard to know which one (they all blabber on about being HD-ready but whether that actually means anything is another story, not to mention decent Linux driver support)

BTW the CPU is 2.2GHz, PR at 3.2

Well, as you're stuck with AGP I'm afraid it is as xbs08 says, you won't find a card with VDPAU, which means you cannot decode with the GFX. That's why I suggested a dual core, as XBMC can use two cores for decoding which just might be enough for 1080p playback =)

I think Zotac ION is a ITX motherboard, which practically means "get a new computer"

[xbs08]

Try searching for "Acer Revo".

[blittan]

Buy a Geforce 8200 or newer graphics card and take advantage of vdpau

[voyager2]

You don't have a 8200 AGP version the only one still making "up to date" AGP cards is ATI. I have a asus 3450 AGP in my 1,7 gig Dell optiplex and it plays full hd in windows with mediaplayer classic real cinnema. To bad there is still no support for it. Still fun to see a 20 euro pc playing full hd video.

[fekker]

ya could always grab an 8400 gs (pci) video card

there's plenty of folks using those with the atom 330 mobo's that only have a pci slot.

[blittan]

there are also 9400GT as PCI..