HTPC Question

scott.holmes · 18 Mar 2010 at 13:13

Hi All

I have finished my mITX build now and was pondering using it as an actual HTPC. At the moment i dont have a blu ray drive in it but they are cheaper than i thought.

Current spec is i3 530, DFI H55, 2gb Ram, Sapphire 5750 GFX and Intel X25-V HDD all in a SG06 case

If i got a Blu Ray drive for it and hooked it to my telly (37" Toshiba Flat screen) via the HDMI out would the resolution be the best quality offered by the Blu Ray or would anything limit it?

Currently i use the PS3 for Blu ray downstairs but id like to move that upstairs so i can use it more as it's the girlfriends TV and for some odd reason she doesnt want to watch me play on the PS3 for hours on end... :confused:

Thanks!

Baboonanza · 18 Mar 2010 at 14:08

You'll get a perfect picture, but you'll have to buy some Blu-Ray playback software like Total Media Theatre or PowerDVD first.

scott.holmes · 18 Mar 2010 at 17:02

Cool thanks, i have a copy of PowerDVD already so will give it a go i think.

Only thing that may annoy me is the card isnt totally silent, not deafening but will have to see!

Baboonanza · 18 Mar 2010 at 17:14

Unless you're going to game on it you don't need the GPU. The i3 will handle HTPC duties with aplomb.

scott.holmes · 18 Mar 2010 at 19:00

At the moment im using it for gaming, but if i decide to take it downstairs i will probably take the GFX out and use it in my main rig, probably better than my current 8800gts.

Id have to then find a little cheaper cap, preferrable totally passive to put in the HTPC though, not sure i could find one that will fit?

If i did find out, if it has HDMI out will it put it out across that port at 1080p res or do they differ?

Azra · 18 Mar 2010 at 20:22

sapphire have a range of low profile passive grfx if you didn't want to use the onboard opition. HDMI output at 1080p np etc

scott.holmes · 18 Mar 2010 at 22:21

This DFI P55 ITX motherboard doesnt have onboard sadly.

Azra · 19 Mar 2010 at 05:23

Sapphire 4550 is excellent or the 5450 if you want dx11

scott.holmes · 19 Mar 2010 at 07:01

Defo looking at the 5450 at the moment, its passive and under £50 so i think that will be ideal. Just a shame that OcUK dont have it in stock

Kanifee · 19 Mar 2010 at 12:13

get a 5450 or other 5xxx series, then you will get complete ability to stream HD audio to a capable receiver, very handy if you are thinking blu-ray.

scott.holmes · 19 Mar 2010 at 12:42

Looking around the 5450 seems very limited in stock in a lot of places, is this because its really new or really crap? o_O

sibeer · 19 Mar 2010 at 16:26

scott.holmes said:
Looking around the 5450 seems very limited in stock in a lot of places, is this because its really new or really crap? o_O

It offers very little above the cheaper 4550 other than the HD Audio so few people are excited about it. As it is new too it will take a while for exiting 4xxx stock to reduce and people to start buying these in on mass.

That said it is definitely the best card for media only use and the XFX one at OCUK is passive and low profile (and is available in stock elsewhere).

chipps101 · 19 Mar 2010 at 18:10

if you are only going to be using it as an htpc you could get one of these - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-171-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1274
you would need to also get one of the ati hdmi dongles though as it doesn't come with one but they can be had for about a fiver on the well known auction site.

scott.holmes · 19 Mar 2010 at 18:24

Thanks for that link to the card, thats very good value and above all its passive!

Using a DVI to HDMI adapter though, does that degrade quality?

Azra · 19 Mar 2010 at 18:30

How big a rush are you in? Sapphire are said to have a 5670 (passive) in the works and out soon

chipps101 · 19 Mar 2010 at 19:12

scott.holmes said:
Thanks for that link to the card, thats very good value and above all its passive!

Using a DVI to HDMI adapter though, does that degrade quality?

i use one with my passive 2600xt and the quality is the same as when i used a 4550 with built in hdmi.
just for your info i'm using that same 3450 i just bought in a case with very little airflow and it's idling around 45 and goes up to 55 playing a high bitrate h264 movie.

scott.holmes · 19 Mar 2010 at 22:38

It probably wont be for a week or two, have to see what the bank says first. The 5670 seems like a plan, how soon is soon?

Thanks for the update on the DVD to HDMI i just expect there to be some quality loss :/