Lappy for HD viewing

spluff · 4 Jan 2008 at 12:14

Hi all,

Looking at a laptop which I can mainly use for general internet access and the main thing which is to connect to my LCD Tv in the sitting room and watch/decode HD movies while connecting to my amp.

Is there anything suitable? (hopefully not crazily priced)

Thanks

sja360 · 4 Jan 2008 at 22:32

i looked into this mate, and i found with my 1.5Ghz Core 2 Duo (667Mhz FSB) and a X3100 it runs 720p content fine providing its on high performance not balanced or max battery
i think what you need to find is a graphics card that does hd decoding such as the intel X3100 or 8400GS (i think its GS?) series as that and any 1.4+ Core 2 Duo would play hd content fine i'd think. btw my laptop is a Fujistu Siemens Amilo Pi2515 (1.5Ghz Core 2 Duo, 2GB 667, 250GB,X3100, 15.4") cost me £440 roughly (brother got 10% discount)

p.s. my requirement was HD playback and atleast a Dual Core cpu for around £400-500 and this fitted my needs perfectly.

Senture · 5 Jan 2008 at 12:40

You can get 1080p out of a C2D declocking its self to 1Ghz if you use the CoreAVC codec

sja360 · 5 Jan 2008 at 12:57

Senture said:
You can get 1080p out of a C2D declocking its self to 1Ghz if you use the CoreAVC codec

i read the bitrate fluctuates i mean some hd/blu-ray are floating around 5-12Mbp Bitrates, but i believe there will be Higher stuff that is 20Mbp meaning it requires much more to process it, so i dont think a dual 1ghz core 2 duo alone could do it.

DezUk · 7 Jan 2008 at 17:50

I'm also interested in possibly buying alaptop for HD viewing on a 50" plasma. I was considering a htpc but dont know if I can justify the cost of a htpc when I wont be doing a lot of HD viewing. I also like the idea of having the freedom of a laptop that I can use as my main PC around the house.

So what can people suggest?