Is a separate sound & graphics card required for HTPC?

hilton

hilton

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Chappies, quick question.

I'm looking at putting together a HTPC or more specifically a computer that plays media. No BD or DVD as I have that attached to my AVR (HDMI 1.3a), just movies (.mkv or .avi). I also want to store all my music and photographs there for central management.

I will not be using it for PVR functions but maybe I will try online TV but that is the lowest of the priorities.

Anyway, bottom line, do I need a separate sound and graphics card for this to work or can I make do with one of those media type Intel or Asus motherboards with everything on-board? Everyone talks about bit-streaming but doesn't mention the specifics.

Thanks.
 
Slip said:
Have a look here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/show...icroATX System: Mid-Range System: Intel-Intel

I'm running an Intel Core i3 and bitstreaming to my Denon receiver over HDMI works fine. Playback of HD content is no problem either. Just make sure you install the right drivers if you go this route
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I also think that having the correct drivers is very important. I'm running a relatively lightweight nvidia ION processor which has a dedicated gpu (graphics processor) and it only works properly - i.e. plays mkv's nicely - if the correct drivers and players are in place. I found a lot of help on the net for my specific setup though.
 
Ok so reading that thread just made me more confused. Is it fair to say that an on-board graphics card (iGPU) will do the job of a normal board with an additional graphics card? I don't mean the R3k up boards but mid-range?

What about sound?
 
hilton said:
Ok so reading that thread just made me more confused. Is it fair to say that an on-board graphics card (iGPU) will do the job of a normal board with an additional graphics card? I don't mean the R3k up boards but mid-range?

What about sound?
Click to expand...

Sound should go through the HDMI port whether it's onboard or a card. You just have to be careful with what onboard GPU you go for, some might have HDMI out but aren't powerful enough to play 1080p smoothly.
 
A cheap ATI low profile card with no fan like the ATI 4550 works great. It has a sound card onboard. Video Quality is defnetaly better than onboard Intel GMA cards I've tested and is is nice to transfer sound and video via HDMI.
 
hilton said:
Ok so reading that thread just made me more confused. Is it fair to say that an on-board graphics card (iGPU) will do the job of a normal board with an additional graphics card? I don't mean the R3k up boards but mid-range?

What about sound?
Click to expand...

Most boards these days with onboard video/HDMI out will support full HD.

IIRC uncompressed, digital sound will go to your AVR over HDMI, and the AVR will do the processing.

*edit*

I would second a heat sink-less graphics card though, like the ATI entry levels. To go with a discrete/non-onboard VGA mobo.

Here's a nice one:

±R550 Asus EAH5450/DI/1GD3(LP) HD5450 chipset , HDMi ready , extra Low-profile pci bracket , support DirectX 11 , built-in HDMi codec+7.1 audio , pci-e 2.0 x16 , 1Gb 64bit DDR3 , RoPs : 4 , 12.8Gb/sec memory transfer , 80 stream processors ( pixel shader engine + vertex pipelines ) , core/memory : 650/1600mhz , dvi+d-sub+hdmi , HDMi+HDTV-out - retail pack

(3yr warranty)

Or:

±R495 Sapphire HD5450 chipset , HDMi ready , Silent heatsink only + extra Low-profile pci bracket , support Eyefinity + DirectX 11 , built-in HDMi codec+7.1 audio , pci-e 2.0 x16 , 1Gb 64bit DDR3 , RoPs : 4 , 12.8Gb/sec memory transfer , 80 stream processors ( pixel shader engine + vertex pipelines ) , core/memory : 650/1333mhz , dvi+d-sub+hdmi , HDMi+HDTV-out - retail pack

(2yr warranty)
 
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hilton said:
Ok so reading that thread just made me more confused. Is it fair to say that an on-board graphics card (iGPU) will do the job of a normal board with an additional graphics card? I don't mean the R3k up boards but mid-range?

What about sound?
Click to expand...

No. It depends on the onboard GPU being able to play HD content. If it uses a Intel GPU look for one that is X4500HD or higher. Most ATI or nVidia ones will be fine though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA#GMA_X4500

I would not worry about sound, onboard will do unless you are an audiophile but then you would not be listening to low quality audio rips anyway.
 
ponder said:
I would not worry about sound, onboard will do unless you are an audiophile but then you would not be listening to low quality audio rips anyway.
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This is true, but I have to say that my Xonar Essence STX has made everything sound better, even 120kbps mp3s. Pure bliss and I could never go back to onboard.

In the OP's case, the AVR is likely to be doing the processing, so as long as they can get uncompressed digital audio signal to it via HDMI, their sound quality will be as good as that which the AVR can produce.
 
My opinion: rather spend your money on better speakers/earphones. A decent motherboard these days has excellent audio out (even analogue).
 
Synaesthesia said:
My opinion: rather spend your money on better speakers/earphones. A decent motherboard these days has excellent audio out (even analogue).
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Decent is probably +- R2,000, such as an Asus with SupremeXfi or whatever? Even if R1,500, personally I'd rather get a R1,000 mobo and save up R500 and combine it with a R1,000 sound card. :)
 
PostmanPot said:
Decent is probably +- R2,000, such as an Asus with SupremeXfi or whatever? Even if R1,500, personally I'd rather get a R1,000 mobo and save up R500 and combine it with a R1,000 sound card. :)
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Pardon my ignorance but what is the exact benefit of an expensive sound card when the lower end ones already process DTS etc?
 
Fudzy said:
Pardon my ignorance but what is the exact benefit of an expensive sound card when the lower end ones already process DTS etc?
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Well yes, one could get the Asus Xonar DX for about R850 which does Dolby stuff which is where most of an improvement is noticeable, I think.

Benefits of my Essence STX (R1150) would be amplified 6.3mm jacks, RCA jacks for 2.1 speakers, HD audio, higher SNR... It suits my needs, as I run 2.1 speakers and will be getting decent headphones soon.

Not too sure of the benefits of more expensive non-headphone cards are, but I'm sure they're there. :p
 
PostmanPot said:
Decent is probably +- R2,000, such as an Asus with SupremeXfi or whatever? Even if R1,500, personally I'd rather get a R1,000 mobo and save up R500 and combine it with a R1,000 sound card. :)
Click to expand...
Nope, actually decent is any old cheapie, made in the last few years. My sister's Macbook Pro has wonderful sound.
Fudzy said:
Pardon my ignorance but what is the exact benefit of an expensive sound card when the lower end ones already process DTS etc?
Click to expand...
It's called the placebo effect.
 
Synaesthesia said:
It's called the placebo effect.
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Maybe with DTS.

Dolby is most certainly not a placebo effect. The difference is night and day, even on my Logitech R120 (Rands) headset. :)

Sounds like I used to think exactly like you, where a good sound card was one of the parts I overlooked most. Will never go back to onboard after hearing the difference - even in Windows sounds...
 
Fudzy said:
What do you mean?
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Dolby/Dolby Digital/DD/etc. enhances sound. In the case of mine, on 2.1/2 channel/stereo speakers/headphones, I use Dolby Pro Logic IIx. Insane difference even on cheap speakers.

Oh, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx emulates surround sound on 2.1/2 channel/stereo speakers/headphones - again, an incredible difference, even in the simplest of formats like Family Guy compressed .avi's. Example, doors opening on the left sound like they're coming from the left.
 
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