Suggestions needed for HTPC

That card is quite good for music. However if you plan to watch movies on it, AFAIK, it doesn't do DD passthru so you won't get multichannel at your receiver. You are better off with an XFi. Better still, get an external DAC and get the platinum version of the XFi and connect the DAC via optical for music. If you want a card that's HDCP compliant, look for one that has an HDMI port on its bracket. The only ones with DVI that are HDCP compliant are 7950GT/7950GX2/X1950XTX/X1900XT 256MB. You won't get an AGP videocard that supports HDCP.

As a matter of fact, I use two separate audiocards on my machine... An XFi for movies/gaming and an external M-Audio Audiophile USB for music. Both of these are connected to a Citypulse DA7.2x external DAC since the converters on both cards pretty much suck. Frankly speaking, the EMUs are not that much better either, especially if you intend to connect really good equipment to it.

Hi,

Reignofchaos:
How much does the x-fi range cost, especially the one with x-ram.


regards - sunil

SUNILYO schrieb:

Hi, Reignofchaos: How much does the x-fi range cost, especially the one with x-ram. regards - sunil

X-Ram is useless... marketing tactics. The Fatality version in India is around 14k and the elite pro is around 22k. Both are useless investments IMHO. The best deal is a platinum with an external DAC.

How much does that cost (x-fi platinum) ?

What do u say for DDTS-100 decoder. is it cheaper than the x-fi ???

I already have a 5.1 live soundcard clubbed with inspire 5.1 speaker system ? which one do u suggest for external decoding. i am more into movies & surround sound music.

SUNILYO schrieb:

How much does that cost (x-fi platinum) ? What do u say for DDTS-100 decoder. is it cheaper than the x-fi ??? I already have a 5.1 live soundcard clubbed with inspire 5.1 speaker system ? which one do u suggest for external decoding. i am more into movies & surround sound music.

I'm not sure how much the decoder costs. Does the live 5.1 have an SPDIF out? XFi is a decent card for movies. I haven't seen the platinum version at my dealer but it should be available.

Yes the 5.1 has an spdif out. But then if i want to enjoy the DD & DTS tracks then i'll have to connect it to my AVR which is quite a painstaking process for me as both of them are in different floors altogether.

could u suggest any cheap external decoder so that i can enjoy DD & DTS track thru my PC.

Sunilyo, The X-FI extreme music costs between 7 to 8K. I don't know if this is the same one that reignofchaos is talking about.

Reignofchaos,
Is the x-fi available in a separate version to the extrememusic one? In some of the forums, esp forums for guitarists, ppl do not recommend any of the creative soundblaster lines of cards(citing too much noise induced while recording). Most of them prefer the M-audio and a few suggested the EMU. I haven't heard either. I have the SBlive which till now was only used for chatting on the net with friends and relatives abroad.

Can I assume that an X-FI and external DAC will beat entry level cdps like Marantz, rotel, etc? What is your take on this?

I have seen a DVI graphics card connected to a TV which gave out amazing clarity at a friend's place. He also showed the same pic with component and the difference was clear. Would it make sense to invest in an HDMI card if all I am looking for is connecting to an HD tv with DVI to obtain results better than say a Denon 2910?

Regards,
Pranab

Ronnie1612 schrieb:

Sunilyo, The X-FI extreme music costs between 7 to 8K. I don't know if this is the same one that reignofchaos is talking about. Reignofchaos, Is the x-fi available in a separate version to the extrememusic one? In some of the forums, esp forums for guitarists, ppl do not recommend any of the creative soundblaster lines of cards(citing too much noise induced while recording). Most of them prefer the M-audio and a few suggested the EMU. I haven't heard either. I have the SBlive which till now was only used for chatting on the net with friends and relatives abroad. Can I assume that an X-FI and external DAC will beat entry level cdps like Marantz, rotel, etc? What is your take on this? I have seen a DVI graphics card connected to a TV which gave out amazing clarity at a friend's place. He also showed the same pic with component and the difference was clear. Would it make sense to invest in an HDMI card if all I am looking for is connecting to an HD tv with DVI to obtain results better than say a Denon 2910? Regards, Pranab

XFi is not for recording period. For recording you need something with AES/BSU balanced inputs such as the Audiophile 192/ESI Juli@/EMU 1212M. XFi is not for music... its for gaming/home theater. If you are interested in either, thats the card to get. I'm talking about the Platinum version with the front panel and remote. The xtrememusic doesn't have optical which is absolutely necessary for an internal card. A good spdif source+DAC will easily beat any entry level cdp. An entry level graphics card with DVI/HDMI will pummel even 2000-3000$ DVD player

reignofchaos,
Was just going through the creative site. Isn't the platinum the same as the extrememusic (they both use the same DAC) apart from the front connector? If I wanted to use a cable dongle that gave me optical out connectivity from the extrememusic, would that be a substitute or would you suggest going for the platinum over the extreme?

Any ideas on the cost of a platinum in Mumbai Lamington road?

Since you seem to be so knowledgeable about comp hardware, can you suggest a specific 6600GT card for me(price also)? I have an 865GBF mobo with a P4 and do not intend to upgrade the mobo and processor for sometime yet.

The external DAC will have to wait. I have asked someone to get it from outside and am in no tearing hurry at the moment.

Thanks,
Pranab

You can use that dongle as well and yes the cards are the same. However there's mostly no chance of getting that dongle in India. I personally have no clue of lamington st as of now since I live in blore. Here I've seen all the versions available with the platinum costing north of 11 grand. You'll never get an AGP card with HDCP as AGP doesn't support a secure path for data access like PCI-E. So if you must stick with AGP, get any 7600GS or X1600 Pro video card. The 6600GT is an outdated chip.

I am on the way to building the HTPC that I've been imagining for the past few months.I am completely replacing the existing computer that I have
The current comp is
Pentium 4; 2.6 Ghz, HT
865GBF motherboard
Creative live 5.1 sound card
1 PATA harddrive (40GB) and 1 SATA harddrive (160 GB)
300 watt PSU from INtex
2 256 MB DDR 400 RAM from Kingston
Lots of other useless PCI cards that I plan on throwing out

Of this only the 160GB hard drive from seagate will be retained for the new comp

Two purchases have already been made

1. Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse/remote s510 media remote
null(Logitech S510 Desktop Media Remote

Wanted a wireless one since I would be surfing also on the LCD TV that I have planned

2. Sound card : ESI Juli@
ESI Juli@

After reading a lot of reveiws, most ppl veered towards Juli@ or EMU for music and Creative for gaming. I use gaming consoles for playing games and will not be using this systemt o play games. Also the Juli@ supports 5.1 and has reputedly good opamps and dacs. Also the Envy 24HT-S board that it is based on has received some good reviews. In the future I might looking at adding an external DAC for playing music using the spdif of the Juli@


Also on the way are the following
1. Processor : E6400 or E6600 Core 2 duo sometime when the DX10 cards are released in Jan 2007
Core 2 Duo processor

2. Motherboard : Not yet decided but supporting Conroe
3. RAM : Corsair. Maybe 2 sticks of 512 MB

4. Case : Maybe Antec or any name brand. Will not go for the MATX board cases but a standard case to ensure that cooling is not an issue. And anyways I am not too caught up on making the comp look like a HT component.
Sometime next month
5. PSU : An Antec NeoHe 430
Sometime this month
Antec NeoHe 430


6. GPU : A Directx 10 card with HDCP support and HDMI port. Will not take a very highend one since this card will only be for surfing the net and watching DVD movies and blu-ray and HD-DVD when they are available.

7. Hard drive : 320 GB from Seagate (Sometime in Dec 2006)

8. TV Tuner card : not yet decided


I will be integrating this with my existing HT and run it off a new LCD tv(32 or 40 inch) that I am planning on buying soon.

Hopefully this should be ready by March next year, I am in no hurry and am spacing each of my purchases by a month.

Would love to hear from others who already have experience building an HTPC or have some knowledge if I am making any mistakes or can do better.

Regards,
Pranab

Very nice choices... just make sure ur ram is DDR2 667 and not the 533 junk.