1920x1080p x264 playback

[fas_159]

lookin to buiild system on low budget. need lowest requiremtns for 1080 x264 playback. the ones you can get from torrents (not microsoft site).

i wanna see how low we can goooo.

use media player classic and coreavc to play your files.

look forward to see your results.

[drew and not u]

Playback isn't an issue, any fairly modern system with an h/x264 capable graphics solution can handle it. And depending what sort of torrent's you're talking about there won't even be any HDCP issues.

What sort of budget are you looking at, and what else will you be wanting to use the system for (gaming/encoding/etc)?

On a budget I'd be looking at a P35 board (from Asus or Gigabyte [I prefer Asus]) with an E7200. I'm sure others will chime in with more specific recommendations.

Edit: Here's a basic recommended config:

Case and PSU:Antec Sonata III w/ 500w Earthwatts PSU - $120
Motherboard: Asus P5KC (supports DDR2 and DDR3) $135
Processor: Intel E7200 - $130
RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) G.Skill - $86
GPU: EVGA 9600GT $148 (after rebate)
Hard Drive: Western Digital 500GB - $80
Optical Drive: Lite-On SATA DVD+-RW - $30

$729 shipped for a solid system.

[azianai]

i'd scrap the 9600GT personally and go with one of the offering from ATI. I myself use a nice low end HD3450 for my HTPC, its connected to our 52" Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD and plays all the x264 with no issues at all. Very nice addition is the built in HDMI port with S-PDif compatibility to transfer audio straight through the HDMI. Got it from microcenter for 40 bucks AR (50 b4).
Micro Center Online - Radeon 3450 512MB DDR2 PCIe Graphics Card

If its an HTPC strictly, there's no reason to be buying such great hardware. I'd get 4 1gb stick dims which'll be cheaper than buyin 2 2gb sticks. Don't see the need for the combo board either that drew suggested, a normal DDR2 board'll be more than enough. Something like the GA-EP35-DS3L to save a couple of bucks also. Is the E7200 really necessary? I run my HTPC with a 2160 and 2gbs of DDR2 667 ram and have no issues.

[fas_159]

looking at the torrent files. here are the properties

mkv auto file

Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920x800 23.98fps [Undetermined (Video 1)]
Audio: DTS 48000Hz 6ch [Undetermined (Audio 1)]

close enough to full hd

im looking to spend no more than 240 dollars.

my current spec which plays them easily is e6600 8800gt.
im looking for a cheaper build for my living room.

[polobunny]

240 dollars for a full PC that plays HD contents? Save up.

[drew and not u]

Haha, no way man. You're going to be looking at $450 BARE minimum. And that's bottom of the barrel barely-get-you-by parts.

[oldman_gamer]

The local Sallies has (used) pc's for sale all the time for under $200 easily.Not sure what you may get...but that's about the only place you will find a unit in that price range.

[fas_159]

hey dont worry about the parts . i from uk man. i got my e6600 for 115 dollars. and my 8800gt oc for 220. i can get them pretty cheap.

wat i mean to say is around 230 dollars for both cpu and gpu only.
i got my hard drives etc from previous builds.

so wat cpu and gpu. and reminding you that i buy them second hand. never mind retail prices. they suck.

[drew and not u]

Well if that's the case than pretty much any Core2Duo CPU you can pick up in your budget will fit the bill. Then just pick up the most capable nVidia or ATI card you can find that supports HD playback.

[Boy'nBlack]

FoxConn G31MV-K = $50
E2180 Allendale = $70
2G OCZ Value ram = $37
Antec Basiq 500W PSU = $35
Asus 3650 $65

No case or DVD drive.