@jojitb
thanks for the info regarding the XBMC for windows. Last time I checked ala pa sila release na windows version. Meron na pala ngayon, ma downlaod na nga Yung Xbox 1 ko with XBMC ang unang file/movie server ko. ganda nga ng user interface nito, customizable skins pa. I assume same din sa windows version? Also, dami na ba available na codecs, kaya na x264?
The latest Atlantis version of XBMC (Linux/Windows/OSX/Xbox) is quite stable and can already play almost all videos (hidef or SD) I can throw at it. In fact I haven't used my XBOX1 for almost a month.
The only caveat right now is that XBMC does not use GPU acceleration for playing videos (although it does utilize dual-core procs). The suggested specs for playing hiccup-free "birds of planet earth mkv video" is a 3GHz dual core processor (AMD or Intel). For 720p, I've used an Athlon X2 2GHz without any problems.
jojitb actually the only issues we had with the creative audigy value was the driver support ..
creative was so greedy they wanted us to switch to xfi onwards model for vista ..
Well, kung HTPC lang naman I would prefer to use XP para less resource intensive. Saka sa mga walang Audigy, a 300 peso alternative is great isn't it?
Help naman. What're the specs for the most inexpensive HTPC rig you can think of?
ito ang aking el-cheapo XBMC HTPC dream setup. (PCX Prices unless otherwise stated)
CPU: Intel E2160 2850 (GAISANO)
MOBO: ECS GF7100PVT-M3 2840 (This has DVI and can be connected to your HDTVs via HDMI to DVI adaptor/cable)
MEM: 2GB Transcend DDR2800 1440
HDD: 1TB WD Green Power 5995 (PCHUB)
CASING: Icute QS02 1900 (PCHUB or 2k from another seller in TPC)
PSU: 500W Generic 500 (PCHUB)
DVD: Liteon 20x DVDRW SATA 1320
REMOTE: CDRKING PC Remote 480 (CDRKING)
===============================
TOTAL 16845
Overclock the E2160 to 3GHz, install XBMC and Eventghost and you will have a low-power, quiet, cheap 1080p HTPC. Do not overclock if you do not need 1080p yet. I think this is cheaper that an AMD X2 + 780G setup. Kung tipid na tipid ka talaga, you can try to get an E1200 (2050pesos @ Gaisano) and OC it also.
My current HTPC is an E2180 at 3GHz and it consumes around 70W (well, Volt-Amperes to be accurate) when playing HD videos.
I also have a dream torrent downloader/media server setup. Focus is on file serving speed (gigabit) and power consumption. But since that is not an HTPC anymore, I don't think I could post it here.