Upgrading system for HD Playback

[mayamaniac]

Currently, I have a small form factor PC. It's an intel P4 2.4ghz with a Geforce 5500 128M. I'm using it as a SageTV Client connected to an HDTV via DVI. Its working fine playing SD content. When playing HD, of course it stutters in VMR9 mode, but in overlay its mostly smooth, stutters once a while.

I would like to make a few upgrades to make it play HD smoothly in VMR9 mode. Now the problem is this PC doesn't have an AGP slot. It has built in intel graphics and a PCI slot, which is currently occupied by the GF 5500. I checked a few sites and the best PCI card I can find is this BFG NVIDIA GeForce 6200 OC 256M. Is this the best PCI card available? I can also upgrade the CPU to something faster. I think the motherboard should support at least up to a P4 3Ghz. Now the question is whether these two upgrades coupled with PureVideo will be enough to get smooth HD playback in VMR9 mode?

[cychou]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

Currently, I have a small form factor PC. It's an intel P4 2.4ghz with a Geforce 5500 128M. I'm using it as a SageTV Client connected to an HDTV via DVI. Its working fine playing SD content. When playing HD, of course it stutters in VMR9 mode, but in overlay its mostly smooth, stutters once a while.

I would like to make a few upgrades to make it play HD smoothly in VMR9 mode. Now the problem is this PC doesn't have an AGP slot. It has built in intel graphics and a PCI slot, which is currently occupied by the GF 5500. I checked a few sites and the best PCI card I can find is this BFG NVIDIA GeForce 6200 OC 256M. Is this the best PCI card available? I can also upgrade the CPU to something faster. I think the motherboard should support at least up to a P4 3Ghz. Now the question is whether these two upgrades coupled with PureVideo will be enough to get smooth HD playback in VMR9 mode?

From I have been reading, you need at least a GeForce 6600 and above. As you can see in this forum, a lot of people experienced HD stutters (some even has a 7950).

I am using a fanless AGP GeForce 6600 (not GT version), and it still stutters when watching certain Sports events.

[Fastrack]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

Currently, I have a small form factor PC. It's an intel P4 2.4ghz with a Geforce 5500 128M. I'm using it as a SageTV Client connected to an HDTV via DVI. Its working fine playing SD content. When playing HD, of course it stutters in VMR9 mode, but in overlay its mostly smooth, stutters once a while.

I would like to make a few upgrades to make it play HD smoothly in VMR9 mode. Now the problem is this PC doesn't have an AGP slot. It has built in intel graphics and a PCI slot, which is currently occupied by the GF 5500. I checked a few sites and the best PCI card I can find is this BFG NVIDIA GeForce 6200 OC 256M. Is this the best PCI card available? I can also upgrade the CPU to something faster. I think the motherboard should support at least up to a P4 3Ghz. Now the question is whether these two upgrades coupled with PureVideo will be enough to get smooth HD playback in VMR9 mode?

I'm using a P4 3GHz with a 7600GS and I get silky smooth playback in VMR9 mode using the methods outlined in the thread "How I fixed 1080i shutter"

Mind you I also overclocked the cpu a bit as well (Currently running at 3.2GHz). Of course a Hockey game at 1080i is the ulimate test for planning/stutter

[bcjenkins]

Have you looked at any software decoders? I know CoreAVC claims to have as good as HW assisted. They are mp4 though.

[paulbeers]

Unfortunately PCI video isn't going to cut it at least I can't see how. You are looking at a complete overhaul. The 3.0 ghz cpu combined with even a 6200 won't cut it. The 2.4ghz Intel probably won't be a problem, it will be the vid card and that just won't cut it. I recommend 6600GT+ (or 7600GS+) to get smooth playback. My clients listed in my signature aren't reallllyyyy "good enough" for HD. They work at 720P and Overlay, but not at anything better.

[Fastrack]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Unfortunately PCI video isn't going to cut it at least I can't see how. You are looking at a complete overhaul. The 3.0 ghz cpu combined with even a 6200 won't cut it. The 2.4ghz Intel probably won't be a problem, it will be the vid card and that just won't cut it. I recommend 6600GT+ (or 7600GS+) to get smooth playback. My clients listed in my signature aren't reallllyyyy "good enough" for HD. They work at 720P and Overlay, but not at anything better.

Yeah I would agree. I did notice the first time I read his post that he only had PCI.

[mayamaniac]

Thanks for all the feedbacks. I guess I'll have to wait for the HD extenders then, that is the best option I think.