HDMI motherboard recommendations

[iglu]

I want to put a PC in the behind the (1080p) tv to just play movies (and nothing else) from the Gigabit network.

I was thinking of using an hdmi motherboard: any recommendations?

Any preference between chipsets 690G (intel) or Nvidia? does it really matter?

what is the minimum processor? minimum memory? hard drive?



Thanx

[Strzelecki]

The Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H seems to be a good board. Uses the AMD 780G chipset so can easily deal with HD. See http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...hics_chipset/1
and have a read through. It should give you some good guidance.

what case you putting it in? personally id use a bog standard mobo and fit a HD3450 with full HDMI http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=168 also it means you dont have to go AMD cpu

I persoanlly would not go for the onboard solutions

[alferret]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

what case you putting it in? personally id use a bog standard mobo and fit a HD3450 with full HDMI http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=168 also it means you dont have to go AMD cpu

I persoanlly would not go for the onboard solutions

£9.00 cheaper at Ebuyer http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140582

Also I agree with Zing and not go for OB graphics, most will be X1250 and they are crap.

I just use ocuk as an example for 24 quid on ebuyer its a steal

[cleshe]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

I just use ocuk as an example for 24 quid on ebuyer its a steal

Only thing the ebuyer one doesn't say is silence.I'd pay an extra tenner for no fan noise , to use in the living room.

[altis]

You coud go entirely fan-free with a mobo such as the VIA EPIA EX10000EG:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/ma...erboard_id=450
This has a DVI output which you should be able to connect to HDMI with an appropriate lead.

You could cut out any hard disk noise by using a CF card instead, and fit it all in a fairly small case too. But watch out for the PSU though.

I've built a SFF PC for Mrs A using an EPIA M6000 in a Venus case. However, once it gets going, the PSU fan is quite loud.

[iglu]

Thanks to everybody.

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

what case you putting it in? personally id use a bog standard mobo and fit a HD3450 with full HDMI http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=168 also it means you dont have to go AMD cpu

I persoanlly would not go for the onboard solutions

Many thanks, but I am concern as a couple of reviewers say that it struggles with 1080p...

I am thinking of getting a pair of these instead and have a 20m run from the wife's computer....

---------- Post added at 08:38 ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 ----------

Originally Posted by altis

You coud go entirely fan-free with a mobo such as the VIA EPIA EX10000EG:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/ma...erboard_id=450
This has a DVI output which you should be able to connect to HDMI with an appropriate lead.

You could cut out any hard disk noise by using a CF card instead, and fit it all in a fairly small case too. But watch out for the PSU though.

I've built a SFF PC for Mrs A using an EPIA M6000 in a Venus case. However, once it gets going, the PSU fan is quite loud.

Thanks, it doesn't do 1080p

well if that is the case an onboard solution will definately struggle go up a model or 2 then. £75 quid will get you a much better card

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=416 this one wont struggle

OIC instead of the media centre totally. I have absolutely no knowledge of them I guess it needs a good powerfull pc with twin gigabit ethernet and you will need a 3rd if you want it to stay on the net

Just reading the manual and I totally got it wrong looks like a good idea. You will still need a good gfx card at the start.

[keithwalton]

AMD's last few generation video cards (avivo hd) are very good at processing video and require next to no cpu time to play high definition videos, for example the hd 2400 in my laptop can easily play a 720p video across a wifi connection with only 10% cpu usage on a 1.66GHz core 2 duo. I can even play it fine running on battery power.

From the extra specification page on ebuyer

Fanless heatsink, Avivo HD Technology, integrated HD Audio controller, ATI CrossFireX Technology, ATI PowerPlay technology