Re: Please review my proposed Shuttle Media Center PC spec

From: GeekFunk (geekfunk_at_gmail.com)
Date: 11/28/04 

Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2004 14:26:50 -0800

OK. I can understand how you may be confounded by all the
advice that you've been given to your original posting
here. I, too, found it bewildering.

In my opinion, your initial proposed configuration was
just fine. I'm building a system around WMC 2005, also.
I'm nearly set on my configuration. A recent purchase
more or less settled all issues.

Here in the US, we just had Black Friday, on which day
Christmas shoppers go mad. I completed an exceptional
bargain on a Syntax Olevia 30" HDTV ready LCD TV monitor
($799US after rebates). Do a Google search (or Google's
Froogle) to discover the specifications. Because this
monitor is HDTV ready, I needed a HDTV tuner in my WMC
box.

So, here's my configuration:

Asus K8N motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3000+
512 MB DDR memory
200 GB Western Digital SATA HDD
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics
Samsung 16x DVD Dual Layer burner
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250MCE TV/radio card
ATI HDTV Wonder tuner card
AHANIX D4 Media Center Black case

I've decided on the AHANIX case because it has the
traditional AV component styling. It's really a slightly
modified desktop type of computer case. Do you remember
the flat kind of computer case that went out of style in
favor of the midtower case? Well, they're back.

I have two TV tuners because of the new HDTV LCD TV
monitor. I already had the Hauppauge WinTV PVR, so that's
why I have two tuners. The LCD TV has multiple video
inputs, including DVI, VGA, S-video, component (2), each
of which can be accessed if I have the respective video
source connected.

Originally, I considered the eVGA nVidia GeforceFX 5700LE
graphics card instead of the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro.
However, after seeing Half Life2 played on the Olevia 30"
LCD monitor in the store, I knew I had to have a more
powerful graphics engine in the WMC 2005 box. It was
gorgeous, and quite impressive indeed.

Incidentally, I have a Shuttle SFF box, and I love it. I
know you will be satisfied whatever configuration you
settle on.

>-----Original Message-----
>Now you've got me in a quandry. Your "black spec"
earlier suggested a
>Geforce card and now you're hinting at the capabilities
of ATI Radeon. I've
>got no preference either way, so long as it works
(well). I don't see me
>having a component input TV for a good while, if ever.
Right now my choices
>are RGB, s-video or composite.Which to choose????????
>
>
>GeekFunk wrote:
>> Tim
>>
>> ATI sells the HDTV component adapter for most of its
>> Radeon class graphics cards. When attached to the ATI
>> grahpic card's DVI or VGA connector, it allows output
>> from the computer to any device with component input
>> (YPrPb) such as a HDTV monitor, thereby delivering high
>> definition.
>>
>> Stuff from ATI's website:
>>
>> "Highest quality method to deliver component output
with
>> your RADEON® 9800, RADEON® 9700, RADEON® 9600, RADEON®
>> 9500, RADEON® 8500 Series, or ALL-IN-WONDER family of
>> mulitimedia cards.
>>
>> "Ideal for gaming, surfing the Internet, watching DVDs
on
>> your big screen TV. Supports 480i (interlaced) 480p
>> (progressive), 720p and 1080i formats. Works with any
>> analog component (YPrPb) input device such as
projectors,
>> HDTVs, etc."
>>
>> Of course, if your HD television or monitor has a DVI
>> connector, then you do a DVI to DVI cable instead of
this
>> adaptor.

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