My first HTPC, comments/advice is appreciated

Thanks stokedfish, but i've already ordered the box and the "remote" and it's been shipped :-) Can anyone tell me if I will be able to playback 1080p movies from XBMC with the box, according to the productsite, the box should be able to do so, but will XbMC support this?
Also it it a complete necessity running some kind of Linux or should XP or W7 be able to do so as well? I've never used linux so I have no Linux skills/experience whatsoever :-(

For smooth 1080p movies, linux is the way to go!

Just follow this:

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=54705

Linux isn't that hard to learn, give it a try!

This thread is what got me spec'ing an HTPC to connect to my Component projector (thread) so poke holes in this system if you care. I'll run either XBMC Live or run XBMC on top of XP. I've read several threads here about the Ion, Acer's, home builds, etc. Rather than start yet another HTPC build thread I'll jump on the back of this thread...

This what I came up with that in theory "should" output Component so I can use my projector:

~$270 US at NewEgg
mobo: $75 ASRock G43Twins 775
video: $33 ASUS EN8400GS GeForce 8400 Silent (appears to have a component adapter included)
cpu: $68 Intel E5200 2.5Ghz 775
ram: $33 Crucial 2 x 1GB sticks
case: $50 APEX DM-318 MicroATX
dvd: $20 Lite_ON DVD player

Thanks
Mike S

mikes1p Wrote:This thread is what got me spec'ing an HTPC to connect to my Component projector (thread) so poke holes in this system if you care. I'll run either XBMC Live or run XBMC on top of XP. I've read several threads here about the Ion, Acer's, home builds, etc. Rather than start yet another HTPC build thread I'll jump on the back of this thread...

This what I came up with that in theory "should" output Component so I can use my projector:

~$270 US at NewEgg
mobo: $75 ASRock G43Twins 775
video: $33 ASUS EN8400GS GeForce 8400 Silent (appears to have a component adapter included)
cpu: $68 Intel E5200 2.5Ghz 775
ram: $33 Crucial 2 x 1GB sticks
case: $50 APEX DM-318 MicroATX
dvd: $20 Lite_ON DVD player

Thanks
Mike S

Why do you use a Mobo with integrated Intel GPU and an additional separate GPU ? For the price of Mobo + GPU you could easily get a mobo with integrated Nvidia GPU (Geforce 9300 or 9400).

ccMatrix Wrote:Why do you use a Mobo with integrated Intel GPU and an additional separate GPU ? For the price of Mobo + GPU you could easily get a mobo with integrated Nvidia GPU (Geforce 9300 or 9400).

I know it's odd, the dongle that allows the video card to send the HDTV Component signal uses the S-Video port, I haven't seen a mobo with that. Only way I can think to make this work. I was looking for a micro-atx mobo with socket 775 and a PCI 2.0 slot, don't care about onboard video, there are so many mobo choices it'll make your head explode.

Turns out I'll need a low profile card with that case, or a different case that allows a full height card.
Mike S

Which video inputs does the TV have? Is S-Video your only option? onboard graphics cards aren't usually only offer VGA, HDMI and/or DVI. Maybe there is an alternative to S-Video for you.

ccMatrix Wrote:Which video inputs does the TV have? Is S-Video your only option? onboard graphics cards aren't usually only offer VGA, HDMI and/or DVI. Maybe there is an alternative to S-Video for you.

I need Component for my older 16:9 projector, it only accepts VGA and Component. VGA is not an option, since it's 4:3 screen ratio, wide screen DVD's are letterboxed twice. So I've found some Nvidia and ATI cards that do 720p and 1080i Component via a dongle that plugs into the S-Video port on the card, one is on the list I put together.

The only other option (short of a new projector) is to find a DVI or HDMI to Component converter box, which adds another device into the mix, and the good converters cost more than video cards

Mike S