Maz78

Thanks for that digitaladvisor, you've just confused me! LOL! Thanks though, I need to research and work more of this out! In the meantime, can you or anyone confirm if the following setup will work for me: I've found one of the MSI boards: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mai...ail.php?UID=702 This one has 7.1 audio, all the video connectors by the look of it, and 3 PCI slots in a Micro ATX board. I'm guessing if I wanted to have the "Spatial De-Interlacing" function, I would just install an addition 6600 series video card, and stand alone Sound card for that to handle the sound processing correct? In the meantime, I'm guessing this mb, with a decent tuner card and CPU would be more than sufficient for watching / recording TV? My onyl concern still is on the 1080i HD side, and as long as I have the 6600 card, "For spatial de interlacing" ?I should be fine correct? What tuner card would you recommend? I guess I can always upgrade the video card to one of x1800 / x1900's in the future for full HD DVD Support? Does the H.264 ONLY work with these cards or is it an accelerator? Ie: The CPU / existing setup I've specified will do it, but slow as all hell? And finally, how much of a PITA is it to setup MythTV with this sort of setup? Many thanks again!

Hi All! I've checked through some of the forum posts and have found some great information. I just wanted to ask a few questions that are more specific to my needs and region. Firstly, I am a PC savvy individual, but am new to the whole HTPC "thing". Basically, here are my requests / requirements for my HTPC: * Be able to watch / record HDTV in PAL. (AUSTRALIA) "No need for dual tuner as I'm not too concerned about this for the time being but I assume it can be upgraded later". (I don't have a HDTV "Yet" but will be purchasing one in the near future). * Be able to copy / burn DVD -> DVD and TV Shows -> DVD * I'm not concerned about games, I already have a dedicated game / work PC with a 6600GT so I basically want to know what is the best "cheap and effective" VGA card for this sort of setup, and what inputs / outputs it requires. I'm not really concernced about compressing videos, because I will not be copying anything off the HTPC, only to DVD, if at all, so I guess the "grunt" of the CPU/ GPU isn't terribly important!??? * Sound card - Which one??!!? Onboard, stand alone Sound Blaster? What inputs / outputs are required and how are the onboard sound cards and do they handle DTS and DD 5.1 / 7.1? * Motherboard? What are the truely ESSENTIAL requirements? I'm seeing some of these motherboards with built-in NVIDIA GPU's and Sound cards for HTPC's. Will this suffice for my requierments? Whats the best CPU to match this system setup? INTEL / AMD? I'm not fussed. At the moment I have a spare 1.8g P4 processor and it would be nice to use this if it is sucfficient, but again, I can go the AMD route. * Case - I'm looking at one of the Silverstones, probably the LC10 / LC10M, maybe a slimline case if I can get a mb with everything on board. * CPU - Is a P4 1.8g and 512mb ram enough for what my requirements? * SOFTWARE!! Now this is the biggy, I have downloaded and installed MYTHTV / Mythknoppix and installed it for a laugh on a spare PC at work and I think it looks fantastic, but I don't know my arse from my elbow regarding Linux!! Will this pose a problem when setting up MythTV and associated hardware / software drivers? I've seriously never used it so am a bit cautious about wasting a hell of a lot of time if I can't get it going PERFECTLY. Is it hard to get the EPG guide working for Australia? Is / Are there a lot of command lines and "programming" to get Myth conifured correctly? What about Medial Portal / GBPVR? A really dumb quesiton - What's the "startup" time from when you turn on your HTPC to the time you can watch TV? Is there any way to know if the hardware I pick will definitely work with the above listed HTPC OS's? Sorry for the ridiculous questions, I just wanted to clear a few basics up for myself. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!