On 6 November 2010 14:14, Udo Richter udo_richter@gmx.de wrote:
Am 03.11.2010 10:06, schrieb Theunis Potgieter:
I'm considering to upgrade my current p3 system to a hdmi/optical SPDIF and enough expansion slots to fill in dvb-s devices.
The unkown factor for me is, should I consider a motherboard where the Core i3 (System on Chip) has got a built in hdmi interface? Or would I be better off with nvidia's vdpau, of consider to go ati/amd and what power usage are we looking at? Should I then rely on vaapi support again?
The alternatives for HD output are still not very satisfying.
The best - and most common - chances currently are NVidia / vdpau, though you're stuck on a heavyweight graphics card solution based on closed source drivers. Plus, NVidia is starting to fade away for onboard graphics, limiting the future to separate graphics cards.
Intel graphis and vaapi (Core i3 or GMA X4500HD) is looking very promising, however its currently more of a proof-of-concept. I think the best implementation is currenly as mplayer frontend.
I was hoping for this for intel solution (less heat and power usage), but their media boards only comes out with hdmi and no onboard(back board) optical SPDIF out (you need a casing/enclosure with the optical module that plugs into the board).
AMD also supports vaapi, but progress is very slow, and its still very buggy. Also, its limited to closed source drivers.
Sounds similar to what nvidia went through.
Hardware decoder cards exist, but have their own issues. Extension HD works, but seems already to be a dying solution. The Broadcom Crystal decoder works, but has no own output and no de-interlacer. The Technotrend 6400 FF HD card would be a nice simply-works solution, but is fighting delays over delays. (Current release plan is Feb 2011, further delays would surprise no one any more)
Trying to avoid transcoding other media files back to mpeg2 for the FF HD card.
I am facing the same problem, and decided not to rush anything, esp. since I still don't have an HD capable TV anyway.
Maybe I need to wait for other manufacturers to provide intel (SoC) hdmi solutions with optical SPDIF out on the backpanel, reason being I require optical as my receiver/amplifier (NAD T761) is from the older generation that is not hdmi compliant. Trying to avoid this upgrade too.
The best board that that I can see so far is this one but requires external graphics card and is still a desktop (price comparison) http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=&a...
I just need to buy 2x (pci-e to pci) converters for my current 4x pci dvb-s cards in the pentium 3.
And I would still have some pci-e slots free for future use.
I have this card already: nVidia Geforce 8400GS, Architecture: G98 A2 and it works great currently with vdr + streamdev as a client + xineliboutput.vdpau, power usage is still a bit high though.
The goal is to consolidate the two machines to one machine which runs 24/7.
My current power usage for vdr in the home is 330W. I know this by using a power/electricity monitor device.
Thanks, Theunis
Cheers,
Udo