New HTPC - HD audio question

[anthonycmh]

Hi all,

I'm new here and I'm currently trying to put together my first HTPC by Christmas. My question here principally is around the topic of audio, specifically Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD.

First of all this is my proposed build:
Case: Antec NSK2480
CPU: AMD X2 240
RAM: 2GB Kingston DDR3 1333
Motherboard: Gigabyte MA785GMT-UD2H
Hard Disk: WD 10EADS Caviar GP 1TB
TV tuner: Compro E700 (or maybe Hauppauge 2200)
Bluray drive: Samsung SH-B083A

Now with my home theatre setup, I currently only have a Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS capable receiver. So I assume the above HTPC would be fine for me to output to the receiver via optical cable, to get DD5.1/DTS?

But, if i wanted to get Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD in the near future (after I upgrade my receiver) - is my best option to get the Asus Xonar HDAV card? Is this an easy upgrade or am I missing something?

Is there anything else I could be doing to try and future-proof my HTPC in this respect?

Would it be better if I built an Intel system instead?

Would really appreciate any advice you guys might have.

[gabs247]

hi anthonycmh,

I'm considering a similiar setup, except I was hoping to go for the Antec Minuet 350, just because the space in my TV cabinet is limited...if only the fans were at the back, it'd be easier to cut a hole out there...

I'm considering an AMD/Mobo with onboard graphics, or an Intel E6300/Mobo/Nvidia 9400GT...unfortuantely, if I get a separate graphics card it won't fit into the case!

I'm happy to wait a while for Bluray till the prices drop; I don't have any and not likely to get any soon.

I'm also interested in the audio output, just too many variables I ahven't figured out yet, but potentially I'd like to get a new digital receiver and sound system for my setup...so I want to make sure the media center will pump out the sound.

[01-0077]

is my best option to get the Asus Xonar HDAV card? Is this an easy upgrade or am I missing something?

Hi anthonycmh,

Your proposed setup will do dd5.1/dts via optical spdif.

I believe that motherboard is supposed to support 7.1 LPCM via hdmi although this site seems to suggest otherwise.

At the moment the Asus Xonar HDAV is one of the ways to get HD Audio.

Auzentech have released a new HD audio card, the x-fi hometheater hd but it costs around the $300 mark.

I believe some higher end ati graphics cards support HD audio as well.

Of course you have to consider just how nicely each of these solutions will play with your other hardware, for example I read somewhere that the Asus Xonar has issues on certain motherboards. So before you go spending any of your hard earned do some research.

John.

[anthonycmh]

Thanks for that John.

What about building around an Intel platform instead? I've read bits and pieces around the forums that this might allow me to output 8 channel LPCM over HDMI.

But I'm still a bit confused. What would I need in order to so do?

[01-0077]

anthonycmh,

I believe the main reasons many opt for amd solutions for htpc are cost, onboard graphics, power consumption and heat. When intel mobo's with 9400 nvidia chipsets came out I grabbed one as soon as possible because I considered it the best onboard gpu offered on an intel board in some time.

In socket 775 my GA-E7AUM-DS2H does 7.1 LPCM via hdmi as does the DFI Lanparty JR GF9400-T2RS and these both have the GF9400 chipset. Only problem is the gigabyte is no longer in production and the DFI is very hard to find.

Other socket 775 mobo's will also do 7.1 LPCM but then you have to consider the onboard gpu which can mean added expense if you need a dedicated graphics card.

I would imagine the new i5 & i7 mobo's would handle 7.1 LPCM over HDMI but again you have to consider the onboard gpu. There are also only a limited number of micro atx boards available and they are expensive eg. $360 - $420 for the ASUS Rampage II Gene.

If you really want 8 channel audio then I think the best option at present would be to purchase a mobo which does what you want and couple it with the Xonar HDAV (this way you will get Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD). Just make sure you research as much as possible for any conflicts between the mobo and sound card. I have read on this forum of such a conflict between the dfi 9400 mobo and the ASUS Xonar (post #242). Maybe an ASUS mobo will work better with the ASUS Xonar, but who knows.

Personally, I will be waiting a bit longer before worrying about 8 channel audio, 5.1 does me just fine at present. Not to mention finance approval from the little lady for a new receiver, speakers and sound card isn't likely any time soon

Good luck,

John.

[politby]

The keword here is "Christmas".

If you could hold out until January I would wait for the new Intel I3 processors (Clarkdale) which have on-die graphics that will accelerate HD content. With the matching H55 mobo chipset they will also have a protected audio path so they can bitstream the HD codecs to an AVR that can decode them.

If you cannot wait until January, go with the Xonar and a 9300/9400 based motherboard, alternatively a cheaper/easier to find mobo plus an ATI 5xx0 graphics card. The 5xx0 will soon be able to bitstream the HD codecs with the main software players (PowerDVD, TMT, WinDVD).
Or go with a cheaper mobo, the Xonar, and an ATI 4550 or nVidia 220 gfx card.

[01-0077]

The 5xx0 will soon be able to bitstream the HD codecs with the main software players (PowerDVD, TMT, WinDVD).

This may already be possible, I read this post and it sounds like a 4 or 5 series card and PDVD 9 Ultra is all that is required.

John.

[anthonycmh]

If you cannot wait until January, go with the Xonar and a 9300/9400 based motherboard, alternatively a cheaper/easier to find mobo plus an ATI 5xx0 graphics card. The 5xx0 will soon be able to bitstream the HD codecs with the main software players (PowerDVD, TMT, WinDVD).
Or go with a cheaper mobo, the Xonar, and an ATI 4550 or nVidia 220 gfx card.

I've been continuing to research around the net, and I see what you mean with the new Intel i3 processors.

In regards to the Xonar solution - why do you say that I could get the Xonar and a 9300/9400 based motherboard? Just wondering why you are so specific?

Is there anything wrong with just pairing the Xonar with a 785g-based motherboard and using the onboard 4200 graphics?

[01-0077]

In regards to the Xonar solution - why do you say that I could get the Xonar and a 9300/9400 based motherboard? Just wondering why you are so specific?

Is there anything wrong with just pairing the Xonar with a 785g-based motherboard and using the onboard 4200 graphics?

I would imagine this was because you asked about building around an intel platform, at present the 9400 chipset is probably the best integrated solution on an intel mobo.

The 785G will handle bluray playback fine, so I couldn't see why pairing the xonar with the 785G mobo would be a problem. Also, a 785G mobo should be a lot easier to find than an intel 9400 mobo.

Just out of interest the ASUS 9300 mobo has been reported to run extremely hot (to the point of system instability), probably due to a poor heatsink design.

If you can hang out the i3's do look promising.

[anthonycmh]

Just a quick update in case anyone was interested in a conclusion.

I've decided to just go ahead with my original specs as listed above, with the 785G chipset.

Right now I don't have a 7.1 receiver, and I don't have immediate plans to upgrade yet. So I decided I'd be happy with just 5.1 sound (Dolby Digital and/or DTS). By the time I do upgrade my home theatre (maybe a year or two from now), there would probably be other chipsets or better solutions to bitstreaming HD audio.

Thanks guys for your input - it did help me in my understanding.

I've bought most of my required parts, except for a TV tuner:
Case: Antec NSK2480 $137
CPU: AMD X2 240 $65
RAM: 2x2GB Kingston DDR3 1333 $118
Motherboard: Gigabyte MA785GMT-UD2H $99
Hard Disk: WD 10EADS Caviar GP 1TB $105
Blu-ray drive: Samsung SH-B083A $137
TV tuner: Undecided - Compro E700 or Hauppauge 2200