Minimum specs for 1080p Win7

Hi,

I'm planning on using Win7 + Media Browser as my HTPC setup and was wondering what you think the minimum required specs would be to play 1080p video (via physical blu-ray disc or mkv container).

I was thinking something like the below:

Core 2 Dual? i7 overkill i assume
4gb ram
intel 80bg SSD for OS + Media Browser image cache (tho may use ramdisk for this)
2tb drive for recorded tv (all other media will be streamed)
tv tuner
400w psu
bluray drive

graphic card ... i have no idea on what type of power i'll need.
Was thinking of going with a mATX case.

Is this serious overkill or will it be smooth. One of the key requirements is a smooth system, I hate laggy video / media centers.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Pete

Do you plan on gaming on this? If not an i7 or i5 is overkill.

You really only need a decent dual core proc and a video card that supports hardware acceleration and you'd be set. That's why the ION/Atom setups work, not that I'd recommend that route. The nVidia/CoreAVC combo works quite well.

If you want an mATX setup I'd go with an intel based system with an nVidia chipset board with 9300 or 9400 level graphics built in. Then pair that up with a dual core Pentium around 2.0ghz.

2 gigs of RAM is fine, as you'd want to stick with Windows 7 32-bit anyways for better compatibility as an HTPC.

Check out the Antec NSK2480 case, thats a solid choice for an HTPC.

For the TV tuner, what do you plan on recording? Sat, cable in HD, OTA? Thats important info.

Appears that boards with the 9300 / 9400 chipset are very rare over here in the UK, what would you recommend and the next best alternative. I guess I'll have to go with a low-power graphics card if i can't get this onboard one.

HTPC will have no gaming, so i'll go with Core 2 dual. Ideally looking to put a lot of RAM into this for ramdisk (8gb+).

TV tuner - i intend on recording digital freeview and in future Sky TV (sat + hd).

i like the cash you've provided, just needs a little bit of black spraypaint on the front.

Are ION/Atom setups powerful enough for MCE + 1080 videos?How much ram do they generally support?

Thanks
Peter

ION/Atom should do for 1080 video, but it won't work for streaming anything off the interwebs. I'd say even a C2D is a bit overkill, and would think about a E5200 to save some quid (that's what you call it right!). Check to see if you can get any 8200/8300 motherboards, as those work great with an Athlon II 240, which are generally cheaper.

If you go video card route, get one that does sound and video through hdmi to save on cables.

If you just want it for video, grab a new 8400GS if you cannot get one of the boards with 9300/9400 integrated.

The 8400GS supports the latest purevideo like the 9300/9400 which allows for great GPU decoding of video content.

Originally Posted by ryken

ION/Atom should do for 1080 video.

That's not fast enough, even if its a dual-core Atom.. even if you have the GPU do all the decoding.

Originally Posted by Snowknight26

That's not fast enough, even if its a dual-core Atom.. even if you have the GPU do all the decoding.

Incorrect. It is fast enough.

I wouldn't be saying that if I hadn't had a first hand experience of it not being fast enough.

Originally Posted by Snowknight26

I wouldn't be saying that if I hadn't had a first hand experience of it not being fast enough.

I have had first hand experience of it working just fine thank you very little.

Windows 7, CoreAVC, MCE.

That's because you were using CoreAVC which uses both the stream processors on the GPU and the CPU, as opposed to using solely one or the other. Guess I should have clarified that for those not ready to spend money on software when there are viable free alternatives.

My HTPC in my sig plays back 1080P BD, HD-DVD, and mkv's just fine.
E5200, Asus board with onboard 9300 graphics, Windows 7 64bit Ultimate.

edit: I guess I came in too late.

Originally Posted by Snowknight26

That's because you were using CoreAVC which uses both the stream processors on the GPU and the CPU, as opposed to using solely one or the other. Guess I should have clarified that for those not ready to spend money on software when there are viable free alternatives.

Yeah, I used what actually works.

Originally Posted by Snowknight26

That's because you were using CoreAVC which uses both the stream processors on the GPU and the CPU, as opposed to using solely one or the other. Guess I should have clarified that for those not ready to spend money on software when there are viable free alternatives.

Does not really sound like the free alternatives are all that viable if they do not work as well?

Look at it this way. If you have money to spend on software that will make your videos play better, why not spend that money on better hardware to begin with so that everything you run on it will benefit?

My current HTPC rig:

8200 based mobo with a 'mighty' 5050E @ 2.8Ghz runs anything I throw on it. I used MPC-HC (with DXVA, which is free). There is a very good read on how to get MPC-HC going with DXVA and what hardware author recommends...

Setting up DXVA

I just wish 8200 IGP had more SP to use SP filters in MPC-HC

Other than that I cannot complain, and If I had to buy a video card I would probably buy GT220...