Hi all,

Im building a new HTPC and hardware has changed quite a bit since my
last build.  I now have to update the motherboard and video card due to
PCI Express being the only video format with any future.

So I am after some indication of what people are happy with when it
comes to video cards for HDTV.  My current system is only useful for
SDTV due to antiquated GPU.  The new system will consist of 3+GHz
processor, a dual DVB-T card for watching and recording, and a digital
5.1 sound card.

VIDEO

I tend to prefer NVIDIA harware for video based on the excellent support
for linux.  However, I will definitely need the ability for overscan, as
well as xinerama DVI (HD projector 1080i) and TV-out (flatscreen CRT
700x400) output.  I am thinking of a Geforce 6200 with 128MB ram, but am
concerned that this card does not have video overlay (I dont think many
do since the 5xxx series).  If anyone is using a 6xxx series card, can
you tell me if you notice any tearing in the picture, especially at high
resolution?  Otherwise I am interested in positive experiences with
currently available PCI express cards.  As this is purely a headless
HTPC, it will only be doing freevo stuff, so 3D graphics is unnecessary.


AUDIO

My trust SB Live! 5.1 digital has served me well.  I use the coax
digital passthrough to power my indoor receiver as well as the outdoor
receiver at the same time.  I dont want to use optical for outdoors as
the price for optical cable is silly compared to coax over that distance
(lets not talk about the price of DVI over distance).  However, the
Live! 5.1 digital is no longer available, instead we have the Audigy
series of cards.  Can someone here speak from experience that the Audigy
2 or 4 series of cards are supported under linux with the same level of
compatibility for digital passthrough as the Live Digital series of
cards?  I could use the old SB Live!, but I want to keep both systems
operational.

I am also tempted to try a motherboard with onboard coaxial outputs.
The two chipsets appear to be realtek and intel, but I am unsure again
as to the compatability under linux and google isnt helping a great deal
as most people appear to be more interested in analogue sound systems.
I would like to here of people using onboard sound chips who are using
digital AC3 and DTS receivers.


Any advice on current hardware appreciated.


Best Regards,
-- 
Justin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>


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