Help with a new HTPC build
#1
Putting togeather a new HTPC and wanted your guys advice if the onboard video chip ATI Radeon HD 4250 would be powerful enough to play 1080p videos?

These were the parts I was planning on buying

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813131659

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811121115

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103899
or
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103903

The second cpu is a lot cheper but is only dual core and uses 65w where the 1st CPU is a quad core and only uses 45w but costs a lot more.

This HTPC will only be used for playing movies and music using XBMC software and win 7 64 bit. Long as it plays the 1080p movies smoothly i'll be happy

Any suggestons much appreciated, thanks..
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#2
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=90934

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Asus AT5IONT-I in an A+ CUPID-3 + 2TB Seagate LP + 16GB SSD + Ubuntu + Samba + XBMC

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#3
Graphics cards, in one word: nvidia.
CPU: can't you find a 45W dual core? That should be a pretty good compromise.
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#4
PatrickVogeli Wrote:Graphics cards, in one word: nvidia.
CPU: can't you find a 45W dual core? That should be a pretty good compromise.

The 45w only come in quad core configuration... I have one in my personal HTPC but now i'm trying to build some HTPC's for family members so I have to watch my budget for them.

I'm guessing a 65w Dual Core will do the job considering its like $80 cheaper.
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#5
This is my CPU. Notice that it got a 527. That's at the bottom of the Low range CPUs.

I have had no problem getting the highest bitrate 1080p movies to play, none. It sits around <20% CPU. Anything more, you're wasting your money.
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Public...r=14740405
Code:
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `xbmc_%`.* TO 'xbmc'@'%';
IF you have a mysql problem, find one of the 4 dozen threads already open.
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#6
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Public...r=15039265

Only reason I choose that over the 22$ AMD was because it included heat sink & fan. If you can price them cheaper, you can.
Code:
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `xbmc_%`.* TO 'xbmc'@'%';
IF you have a mysql problem, find one of the 4 dozen threads already open.
Reply
#7
darkscout Wrote:This is my CPU. Notice that it got a 527. That's at the bottom of the Low range CPUs.

I have had no problem getting the highest bitrate 1080p movies to play, none. It sits around <20% CPU. Anything more, you're wasting your money.
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Public...r=14740405

Ah nice, so a single core runs everything smoothly? Also is 1gb of Ram enough for a win7 64bit? Or would i Need to use Linux?

I think for $20 more I might upgrade to the GT 430 so it will handle the new audio formats plus 3d blu-ray if I ever upgrade to that.
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#8
dan350zr Wrote:Ah nice, so a single core runs everything smoothly? Also is 1gb of Ram enough for a win7 64bit? Or would i Need to use Linux?

I think for $20 more I might upgrade to the GT 430 so it will handle the new audio formats plus 3d blu-ray if I ever upgrade to that.

I don't run Windows 7, so I don't know.

I've played the 19MB/s rip of Transformers 2 with no skipping or any problem.
Code:
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `xbmc_%`.* TO 'xbmc'@'%';
IF you have a mysql problem, find one of the 4 dozen threads already open.
Reply

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