help with motherboard/graphics card for a HTPC

[BenKenobi]

Hey all

I was originally looking at using this graphics card to use in the HTPC we are going to build

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100233L Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

But after searching around more, I found this motherboard that has an onboard ATI Radeon HD3200 which is here

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA78G-DS3H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Could the on board graphics card on that motherboard give enough for blu-ray/hd-dvd with this cpu?

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Black Edition Processor - CPUs / Processors

Thanks in advance

[juneau]

Hey all

I was originally looking at using this graphics card to use in the HTPC we are going to build

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100233L Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

But after searching around more, I found this motherboard that has an onboard ATI Radeon HD3200 which is here

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA78G-DS3H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Could the on board graphics card on that motherboard give enough for blu-ray/hd-dvd with this cpu?

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Black Edition Processor - CPUs / Processors

Thanks in advance

It's actually a very very good HTPC motherboard. I did notice however that the only digital output is optical. Is this OK?

[BenKenobi]

Yep Yep, all I need is optical

Bluray/hd-dvd

Motherboard
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA78G-DS3H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
90

CPU
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Black Edition Processor - CPUs / Processors
82

Case
Newegg.com - Thermaltake SopranoRS VG7000BWS Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
Comes FREE with combo deal through the CPU

RAM
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
58 – 25 MIR = 33

HDDVD/Bluray
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136133
160

Re-use hard-drive, PSU @ 400 watts


Total

365 with rebates

[Duke{CLR}]

That look like a nice setup for a small amount of cash. Be sure to update us on how it all works.

[BenKenobi]

Yes. It's mainly for blu-ray/hd-dvd, so of course you have to add another 100 dollars on there for PowerDVD. But still, it's comparable to a standalone, and it can do a whole lot more, and play HD-DVD as well.

[imlittlev]

get a few pictures up while you're at it!

[juneau]

Just to let you know that Cyberlink have messed up the HDDVD hack with their latest patch. You either don't update to the latest patch, update and wait for a new hack, or use another piece of software instead. WinDVD9 still plays both flawlessly for me and there's always Arcsoft.