|
The Official PC building thread -3rd Edition
|
|
|
Any Flaming Results in a Temp Ban or Worse. Your Choice!!!
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 08:29 |
Link to this message
|
The X1000 series does not support DXVA. There may be a method to use GPU decoding in Linux, but the HD2000 series is the first series from ATI to support GPU decoding that works in windows to my knowledge.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 08:40 |
Link to this message
|
I'm not entirely sure but I think there ARE Windows programs out there that can use the X1000 series. I was able to use the K-Lite codec pack to get my trusty old X850XT playing 1080p with acceleration, but it was buggy and only worked some of the time.
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388 |
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 08:45 |
Link to this message
|
I don't trust codec packs like those. I'll be swapping my HD4830 into my HTPC anyway shortly, so I will have DXVA anyway. The only sticking point I'm worried about is remembering that there are no windows server drivers for my Creative External sound card, which is required for stereo copy (since Realtek still can't be bothered to implement it)
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 10:07 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by sammorris:
Not all 1080p I wouldn't expect. I've heard instances of the newer Atom chips being powerful enough to decode low bitrate 1080p encodes, but the higher bitrate encodes will be a bit on the laggy side.
The example 1080p rip i'm talking about is H.264, video bitrate of 4334kbps, 1920x1080 resolution, audio s 640kbps. I'm not very au fait with 1080 stuff as it's not my thing, as i say i only bother with a maximum of 720p file myself
Originally posted by sammorris:
I don't trust codec packs like those.
I've sworn by them for many years across many machines, i find that i don't need any other codecs at all due to using K-Lite. I can't vouch for other packs but there's nothing to fear with K-Lite.
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 10:08
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 10:12 |
Link to this message
|
Yeah, total bitrate of 4974kbps is quite low for 1080p. Generally, problems only start to occur when bitrate is in 5 figures.
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 10:17 |
Link to this message
|
I see, as i say it's just not my thing. All i know is that my eyes are find watching 720p and even 480p rips, i'll wager that even Avatar (for instance) will look more than good enough at 720p. My xbox 360 is only set to 720p, but then i'm no PC or console gamer so high resolutions are of no interest to this almost-oldie :)
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 10:18
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
12. January 2010 @ 10:18 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by sammorris:
Creaky: As a Q6600 user, the CPU can do all the work and you'd never notice any lag. GPU decoding is only of fundamental importance when the CPU isn't powerful enough.
Russ: Hmm, that's quite possibly true, though Desktop cases I remember being thinner than tower cases typically are.
Sam,
For the most part, desktops were nothing more than a mid-tower laid on it's side, with the drives flipped 90 degrees. The only ones I ever saw that were thinner were the Dell and HP/Compaq ones that could be used a a desktop or a mini tower. The last one I had was about the same size as my Centurion case. The Dell required a plastic base be snapped onto it, for it to be used as a tower.
GigaByte 990FXA-UD5 - AMD FX-8320 @4.0GHz @1.312v - Corsair H-60 liquid CPU Cooler - 4x4 GB GSkill RipJaws DDR3/1866 Cas8, 8-9-9-24 - Corsair 400-R Case - OCZ FATAL1TY 550 watt Modular PSU - Intel 330 120GB SATA III SSD - WD Black 500GB SATA III - WD black 1 TB Sata III - WD Black 500GB SATA II - 2 Asus DRW-24B1ST DVD-Burner - Sony 420W 5.1 PL-II Suround Sound - GigaByte GTX550/1GB 970 Mhz Video - Asus VE247H 23.6" HDMI 1080p Monitor
 |
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 10:21 |
Link to this message
|
To be fair, you need to be using a large screen, be sitting reasonably close and have good eyesight to need 1080p most of the time. However, it is also often the case that 1080p rips are better encoded than 720p rips which makes up for image quality problems that are not caused by the low resolution itself. I am quire easily able to distinguish the difference between 720 and 1080 rips on a display that is native 1920x1080. On a screen that has a native resolution higher or lower than that, it's no easy due to interpolation/extrapolation effect.
Russ:
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 10:22
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 10:26 |
Link to this message
|
I recognise the smallest Dell in that pic, i have two of those (Optiplex 745's), very nice size and very nice machines.
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
|
AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 11:37 |
Link to this message
|
Well I have a few 720p rips that are better quality than a low bitrate 1080p. But usually I can easily tell the difference between 2 high quality rips. My monitor is effectively native resolution, only taller.
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388
|
AfterDawn Addict
7 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 13:13 |
Link to this message
|
Creaky, do those tiny dell cases cool well? I'm seeing one on ebay for a super price :D
Whoops. Didn't account for shipping. But it has sparked a desire to search ebay for cheaper HTPC cases ;)
To delete, or not to delete. THAT is the question! This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 13:26
|
AfterDawn Addict
7 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 13:45 |
Link to this message
|
To delete, or not to delete. THAT is the question! |
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 13:46 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by omegaman7:
Creaky, do those tiny dell cases cool well? I'm seeing one on ebay for a super price :D
Whoops. Didn't account for shipping. But it has sparked a desire to search ebay for cheaper HTPC cases ;)
Yeah they have good airflow (good job as one of them runs flat out with Seti@Home all day every day, it only gets turned off for a few hours overnight, i say a few as i rarely sleep much so it's on most of the time). Don't forget though, most (probablly all) Dell cases are non standard so you can't just put your own parts in them. I like them as they're very quiet and more than powerful enough. I use one as my HTPC for the same reasons.
I also have Seti running on the Quad machine whenever it's switched on (ie very often), decided i might as well make the CPU's work hard on those two machines when they're switched on (normally the Quad would only be on when encoding something but these days i either have the Quad and the main C2D machines on together or the C2D and a laptop on together). I don't bother running Seti on the HTPC though as it's not often on for long.
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 13:52
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
12. January 2010 @ 15:41 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by sammorris:
To be fair, you need to be using a large screen, be sitting reasonably close and have good eyesight to need 1080p most of the time. However, it is also often the case that 1080p rips are better encoded than 720p rips which makes up for image quality problems that are not caused by the low resolution itself. I am quire easily able to distinguish the difference between 720 and 1080 rips on a display that is native 1920x1080. On a screen that has a native resolution higher or lower than that, it's no easy due to interpolation/extrapolation effect.
Russ:
Sam,
Yeah, Dell made a bunch like that. Some of the earlier ones were much thicker!
One of the things I don't really like, even with 720p is it's sometimes too good. By that I mean sometimes CG looks very fake. A good example of that is The two Chronicles of Narnia movies. The sword fighting close-up scenes look fine when watching the regular DVD, but you can see things with the HD you don't notice with the regular DVD at all. Especially with Prince Caspian It looks a bit choppy in those scenes because the CG fills have an un-real look to them. In contrast, Transformers II, shows no signs of that at all. The flaws you do see with Narnia are relatively minor, but also very noticeable. You don't see it at all with the regular DVD. It takes very high detail to even notice it! Like you say, it's the interpolation/extrapolation effect!
Russ
GigaByte 990FXA-UD5 - AMD FX-8320 @4.0GHz @1.312v - Corsair H-60 liquid CPU Cooler - 4x4 GB GSkill RipJaws DDR3/1866 Cas8, 8-9-9-24 - Corsair 400-R Case - OCZ FATAL1TY 550 watt Modular PSU - Intel 330 120GB SATA III SSD - WD Black 500GB SATA III - WD black 1 TB Sata III - WD Black 500GB SATA II - 2 Asus DRW-24B1ST DVD-Burner - Sony 420W 5.1 PL-II Suround Sound - GigaByte GTX550/1GB 970 Mhz Video - Asus VE247H 23.6" HDMI 1080p Monitor
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 15:46 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by theonejrs:
One of the things I don't really like, even with 720p is it's sometimes too good. By that I mean sometimes CG looks very fake.
Good point well made, unfortunately this is very common, (G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra springs to mind, when there was that scene on the way to the Eiffel Tower and the two suited up guys bouncing as high as buildings, i don't mind films with completely implausible plots but when CGI is mishandled it stands out way more than bad acting or silly plots); not always though, i didn't notice this much in Avatar, for instance, will be interesting to see how that one turns out in 720p i mean on DVD.
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 15:48
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 15:49 |
Link to this message
|
I'm sure they did. All I'll say is that the middle one is the size I remember desktop cases being, and the right hand one is the size I see them just as (if not more often) in the last couple of years.
Interpolation/Extrapolation is to blame for not seeing much improvement with definition and bitrate on non-native sources, but overall SD rips cover up shoddy special effects and so on due to the fact there's simply not enough detail there in the first place. The film Casino is a perfect example. Only when you watch the high def version is it immediately obvious Robert deNiro turns into a mannequin just before the car explodes. As far as I'm concerned, this is a good thing, as it also reveals hidden details in films, or clarifies things you wouldn't have spotted before, so you spot them the second time round.
|
AfterDawn Addict
7 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:17 |
Link to this message
|
|
What, does no one use wireless routers?
To delete, or not to delete. THAT is the question! This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 16:17
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:20 |
Link to this message
|
|
Routers are generally evil things. If you've got one that works, you got very lucky, don't push your luck any further.
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:23 |
Link to this message
|
|
Pah! to both of you, wifi routers are fine if you pick the right ones, i have loads in my sig.
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:24 |
Link to this message
|
|
Routers on their own are often fine. Modem routers, however, are not.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 16:24
|
AfterDawn Addict
7 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:27 |
Link to this message
|
|
Here's the thing. Another computer in the house is moving to another location about 30Ft, from the main modem. Rather than run an ethernet cable under the house and up through the floor/wall, why not run a wireless switch/router. I was thinking router, that way I can have that computer share the printers with the main office...
To delete, or not to delete. THAT is the question! This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 16:28
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:34 |
Link to this message
|
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
|
AfterDawn Addict
7 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 16:48 |
Link to this message
|
To delete, or not to delete. THAT is the question! This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 16:57
|
Moderator
|
12. January 2010 @ 17:01 |
Link to this message
|
Buffalo make some great kit. I think that's pretty much the 125mbps version of mine (mine are 54mbps).
That particular model has been around for ages so you'll find it on eBay cheaper i'd have thought. I don't buy routers new anymore, most of mine are off the Bay.
I've just been checking if that one supports WPA2, mine do, so i'd have thought that model would too. It does support DD-WRT, which is always a bonus, i don't buy routers that don't.
Still checking re the WPA2 (WPA isn't secure, WPA/TKIP was cracked a few months back, i use WPA2/AES on all my stuff). I have a funny feeling it only supports a maximum security of WPA-PSK (TKIP, AES), if so i wouldn't bother, but i'll keep googling.
edit- you could first read those links i gave you, i notice you're always keen to jump on Newegg too easily :). It's all in the research, for instance i'll bet you didn't notice the two competely different wifi setups in my sig, and how they work (it's all in the links i posted) :)
For instance my main router, the WRT54GS v6 has WPA2/AES as it's main interface and this model supports a second, virtual interface, which i have set to WEP. Now WEP is utterly crap ie totally insecure (has been for years), but using "Multiple BSSID's" this WEP interface is completely isolated from the rest of my network, all it does is provide an internet connection for Nintendo DSes.
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2010 @ 17:17
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
7 product reviews
|
12. January 2010 @ 17:16 |
Link to this message
|
I did read those links. Im rather intimidated LOL! I tend to just jump into things and figure them out on the fly.
To delete, or not to delete. THAT is the question! |
