Quote:
Originally Posted by merovingian
Well I definitely won't argue, I mean debate, about the NVidia drivers; the problems there are well known. However, the low end 8000 series cards are great value cards for HD playback. The 8500GT cards for example go for sub $200, have HDCP, and do 100% of the H.264 decode (and likewise for other codecs). You can also get passively cooled 8500GTs. So if we're talking about an "ultimate" HTPC, which in my mind would definitely mean H.264 playback of high bit-rate 1080p content, then the 8000 series should be seriously considered IMO. However, I do agree that most folks don't need it just yet.
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More and more TV/Movie content available in matroska but there are 2 problems here. 1. Most of people are like me and have a panel where is no real difference if you are watching SD or HD
2. H.264 is big and Australian broadband market is not mature enough to propose 200+ Gb per month.
I can play H.264 on my gear, it takes ~50% of my P4 CPU
Quote:
Originally Posted by merovingian
Yeah fair call there. I considered the NAS route for myself, and it's definitely appealing, but that meant getting budgetary approval for two boxes in one go. Anyway, I think it gets back to that phrase "ultimate HTPC" again: HTPC plus NAS might be a better overall solution but if someome is building just the ultimate HTPC, I think 500Gb is too little.
Yeah you're right about the HD noise, but SPCR's figures are so low that all of the different noise types should be inaudible from across the room. Should.  |
There is no such a thing as just HTPC. You have to connect it to the internet, it means that you have to have home network. Then why not to have NAS?