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Let us know how you're going to upgrade for HiDef

Written by DMAN, on 02-06-2007

We're interested in your HTPCs and if you're looking to upgrade for HDTV, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disc support.

The reason why we're asking is that we have an option to implement a H/W decoding solution that will require you not to have to upgrade at all in most cases.

All you will need is a spare PCI or PCIe x1 slot.

So please have a look at this poll and let us know your strategy for the next generation of video and audio quality

Just a bit about the hardware decoding solution. It will be capable of decoding VC1, MPEG-2, H.264, DivX & Xvid video streams with most audio.
So if you have a high CPU% decoding any of these at the moment in standard or high definition then it may be a solution for you.

Also note any purchases if we go ahead will automatically result in donations to MediaPortal too!

Cheers
DMAN

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Users' Comments (20)

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Posted by THDBASED, on 02-06-2007, , Registered

1. ...

Interesting, is there any more info on the card available on the internet or is this product still being developed?

p.s.: Post is messing up site layout :)

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Posted by dman_lfc, on 03-06-2007, , Registered

2. ...

still being developed. the strategy will be determined by the users.

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Posted by seven5, on 03-06-2007, , Registered

3. ...

hmm some of the nicer video cards have h.264 decoding support. In a year this should be pretty standard on video cards.

Does that make this irrellevent?

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Posted by kamrat, on 03-06-2007, , Registered

4. ...

I agree. I just bought a Nvidia 8600GTS card with HDCP support and 100% h.264 hardware support. The CPU does not have to do a thing. This is already available in cards costing about €100 and will probably be standard in most cards in a years time.
I would put priority on supporting the new Vista renderer EVR in software instead. That is needed to support the Nvidia hardware solution.

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Posted by Topher5000, on 04-06-2007, , Registered

5. ...

I use the mobo's on-board video (6150) so this would interest me if the cost is a fair bit lower than a video card. Right now, .ts streams aren't smooth during pans & action.
Would this board need a fan?

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Posted by dman_lfc, on 04-06-2007, , Registered

6. ...

No fan required at all.

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Posted by Weezul, on 05-06-2007, , Registered

7. ...

I've been waiting for a pci card solution that does hardware offloaded decoding like the Physics cards that are being touted...

Please, tell us more!

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Posted by RutgerDB, on 05-06-2007, , Registered

8. ...

I'm planning on building an HD MediaPortal for some time now and think I'll go with the 8600GT. But this card only decodes H264. Not VC1 or MPEG-2. So I'll be left with a solution that is not 100%.

I'm quite interested because of that reason.

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Posted by Gamester17, on 05-06-2007, , Registered

9. ...

is it a adapter/controller-chip from Sigma Designs?
http://www.sigmadesigns.com
Both their SMP8630 Series and EM8620L Series supports MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and VC-1 / WMV3 hardware decoding in high-definition.

I am curious though which codecs software package is involved?, if a open source library like FFmpeg can be used or if you have to use a proprietary and closed source one. I feel that proprietary technology limits ones options.

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Posted by thxjabba, on 06-06-2007, , Registered

10. ...

This sounds great. I just hate those bluky video cards that generate a lot of excessive heat. And on top of that, makes you pay for a lot 3D functions that has nothing to do with htpc.

If this card can be paired with a cheap itx board, i would buy one for every room in the house.

Great going you guys:))

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Posted by Howard, on 06-06-2007, , Registered

11. HD is inevitable for everyone in the lon

I am already running my PC at 1080p into a native 1080p panel (Samsung). Although I have Blu-ray via my PS3, I will be buying an XBOX360 HD-DVD player for the PC using Slysoft's AnyDVD HD to remove HDCP requirements. I am very interested in this product as a result.

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Posted by bji, on 06-06-2007, , Registered

12. ...

I do NOT think this is interesting or relevant as a MediaPortal project.

As a commercial project, however, where you buy this card and get the drivers like you would any others, then use that with MediaPortal, its -almost- a good idea but still something you'd do 10 years ago but not today. Specialized hardware is going away - generalized hardware is cheaper and smarter.

I think MediaPortal should stay focused on being the best HTPC software, nothing less .. or more!

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Posted by roosterx, on 06-06-2007, , Registered

13. Get a new gfx

Guess i will need to upgrade my gfx card to 8600gt(from x1650pro) or something for my HTPC to be able to playback 1080p movies.

And i'll se if i just switch mobo/cpu from my main comp to htpc one at the same time i upgrade my main comp.

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Posted by justathome, on 06-06-2007, , Registered

14. ...

I have already set this up on my HTPC and can play HD-DVD flawlessly without an additional card. using Core 2 Duo 6300 and ati 1950xt.
What would be better for me is software improvements for decoding rather than having to change containers and being able to play evo's etc. Also more support for playing live HD streams for H264 in the UK.

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Posted by Bascombe, on 06-06-2007, , Registered

15. ...

Speaking as a long term xcard user, this sounds like my dream scenario. The rest of my pc is quite capable of doing what I want it to, and I would far rather invest in an upgrade to the xcard than get hooked into the whole upgrading gfx cards/mobo/cpu cycle again.

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Posted by Dirk, on 07-06-2007, , Registered

16. ...

I just installed a HIS radeon x1650xt isilence. This card can handle HD res fine and the added bonus is smooth 3d gameplay and avivo for a bit more than €100. My processor is a Core 2 DUO T5600 so I can't hear the system running.

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Posted by MZWiZard, on 15-06-2007, , Registered

17. ...

I have an integrated solution with Geforce6150 and Athlon64 3800+ connected through DVI to a 32" flat TV at 1280x768. It plays HDTV quite nice (even the dreaded Purevideo HDTV sample). While the idea (if cheap) is good, I dont have space for any more PCI cards, as I have a baby ATX card with only two slots. And they're already occupied with a PVR-150 and a Nova-T PCI.

Nvidia guys, get the Purevideo decoder! It maked a difference on playability of HDTV here. :)

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Posted by mdbarber, on 28-06-2007, , Registered

18. Mr.?

I really like this idea, but lets face it whilst media portal is windows based,the decoding card will not make any real difference most to the processor/ram required just to run the os.
Really from what i've seen h-def stuff can be decoded by a modest processor i have done it very smoothly with a celeron 3ghz and an old passive cooled ati x600pro
also vc1,h-264 whats around the corner?, im sure most would only consider this card if it were upgradable with newer codecs

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Posted by cmessin1, on 03-08-2007, , Registered

19. ...

I am waiting for the upcoming rs780 chipset from AMD/ATI. This is an IGP chipset with the UVD technology built in. For full support it need Vista but it will decode just about everything in hardware. Since it is IGP it will be passive cooling and will be on the lower end of the power requirements. It will have a built in audio processor as well and supports hdmi1.3 I believe. I am also told it will do 1080/60p and 24p.

So for me the things to work on are:

Vista
EVR
DXVA2

A system to easily (or automatically) chage output between 24p and 60p would be great but I know that has a lot to do with the video drivers.

Last I would love to see the TV server expand into a full media server. This way it would simply centralized storage of MP3 libraries as well.

Thanks for all the hard work.

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Posted by Dan K, on 14-05-2008, , Guest

20. Small Form Factor PC's

Many of us use small form factor computers for our media PC's, so I'd definitely want a half-height card (with normal bracket) that I can buy a half-height bracket for, or it simply won't fit in my machine and friends.

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Last Updated ( Sunday, 03 June 2007 )

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