Intel On-board graphics and Freeview.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Intel On-board graphics and Freeview.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#85446 19-Jun-2011 21:16

Just a quick question for you chaps.

It has been a couple of years since I built my HTPC so I am a bit out of the loop when it comes to what is available.

My question is:
Are the new Intel H67 Graphics Processors up to decoding DVB-T Freeview? or do I still need an add-in graphics card.

If I do need an add-in card, what would you recommend?

I was looking at this combo as a basis for the build
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=15037

1 x ASUS P8H67-I Deluxe Rev 3.0 Intel H67 Mini ITX
1 x Intel Core i5 2500 Sandy Bridge 3.30GHz 6MB 95W LGA1155
1 x Corsair 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR3-1333 SO-DIMM

Thanks for your replies.

InspectorGadget

Kraven

710 posts

Ultimate Geek

#482937 19-Jun-2011 21:45

I'm running on a Core i3-530 with no issues. Plays Freeview HD channels and Bluray like a dream.

This is an earlier generation CPU to the one your planning, so it should work fine.

EDIT: Should probably add that you could go for an i3 over an i5 if you wanted to save some coin.

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Dingbatt

6421 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#483287 20-Jun-2011 17:24

What media centre software are you going to use to view Freeview (HD thru DTT I'm presuming)? The reason I ask is while an Atom/ION combo would run DTT using Windows MC7 it couldn't cope with the same programming when using MediaPortal when I tried it, and as MP is my preferred media-centre, the Atom/Ion got flicked into another role.
I recognise the kit you are suggesting is more powerful but you could always add a graphics card later if required.

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michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#483291 20-Jun-2011 17:36

InspectorGadget:
Are the new Intel H67 Graphics Processors up to decoding DVB-T Freeview? or do I still need an add-in graphics card.

The H67 chipset actually doesn't contain a graphics processor.

The processor is built into the CPU itself. There's two different models, The Intel HD 2000 and the Intel HD 3000. Which one you have depends on the CPU, not the GPU. The i5 2500 has the HD 2000, the i5 2500K has the HD 3000 (I think).

I'm pretty sure both have support for H.264 decoding. Even if they don't, the CPU itself is more than adequate for the task.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#483507 21-Jun-2011 09:28

Thanks guys,

I've had a look at the following website, and it shows under the Intel Quick Sync Video section that all 2nd Gen Intel Core processors have support for hardware H.264 encode/decode.
http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-processor-graphics/

I'd prefer hardware support, as with multiple DT channels being recorded at the same time, the processor will be taking a hit.

W7MC will be the HTPC software of choice.

Thanks for all your responses.

InspectorGadget

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#483583 21-Jun-2011 12:22

InspectorGadget: Thanks guys,

I've had a look at the following website, and it shows under the Intel Quick Sync Video section that all 2nd Gen Intel Core processors have support for hardware H.264 encode/decode.
http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-processor-graphics/

I'd prefer hardware support, as with multiple DT channels being recorded at the same time, the processor will be taking a hit.

W7MC will be the HTPC software of choice.

Thanks for all your responses.

InspectorGadget

Multiple channels recorded doesn't mean multiple channels decoded at once though, does it?

mcraenz

1117 posts

Uber Geek

#483697 21-Jun-2011 15:15

recording doesn't cost anything in terms of video performance. All you're doing is writing the data stream to disk. It's playing the recording (or "live") stream which takes all the grunt.

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InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#483828 21-Jun-2011 18:57

mcraenz: recording doesn't cost anything in terms of video performance. All you're doing is writing the data stream to disk. It's playing the recording (or "live") stream which takes all the grunt.

Interesting . . . That had never occured to me. So you'd only ever be decoding one stream at a time.

Thanks mcraenz