I'm considering purchasing a Studio Hybrid as HTPC. I have a LCD TV that accept HDMI, so that will be the link between the TV and the Hybrid. Since the TV speaker sounds lousy, I want to connect the Hybrid's SPDIF to a speaker (Edifier S2.1D) that accept digital audio signal. I also have a karaoke amplifier that only accept analogue audio signal, which I'd connect the Hybrid's analogue audio out to it.

Hybrid HDMI --> LCD TV
Hybrid SPDIF --> Edifier S2.1D
Hybrid Analogue Audio --> Karaoke amplifier

So these are my questions:

1. When HDMI is connected, can I still have audio signal out from either SPDIF or analogue?

2. If I want to switch audio signal output from SPDIF to analogue (and vice versa), do I need to reboot the PC? (I have no experience with Vista), or is it just a few clicks in the audio properties?

Base on info from forum, Dell Studio Hybrid uses GM945 chip set motherboard.

Thanks.

hi,
im planning to build cheapo htpc
izzit a good choice to buy mobo biostar TA780G M2+?
fyi, im only use LCD monitor (not planning 2 use LCD TV)
could u guyz recommend me a chepo htpc case?
tq

790g quite expensive.. just bought gigabyte 780g as my sign.. suit my needs..
m-atx, passive cooler.. got a good review of it.. ---> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-78...ipset,1785.html

Hi Guyz, after doing some research over the net i have come to this decision.
If you wan ur HTPC purely for movie, you choose either nvidia 8200 or nvidia 9200.

An onboard graphic is good enough to cater for your need.....from the research it is proven that 8200 can playback hi-def movie such as blu ray more smoothly compare to 780G. if you are up to some gaming you can choose 780G. Graphic in 780G is betta but video is betta in 8200/9200 series.

for the heat issue, some of the 780G do suffer this problem but is not all...

This is my recent built, it is pretty cheap but is more than enough.

AMD X2 5200 = RM 195
XFX nvidia 8200 = RM305
4GB ram = rm120 (ram is too cheap so decide to grab another 2 GB)
Casing = rm150 (if you are building a HTPC go for small form factor)
HDD = Free

if you see here it is pretty cheap to built a solid HTPC....

Actually, for new graphic cards, like the ATI 4000 series, it has onboard Realtek soundchip, so it can decode audio as well and does not need to connect to a discrete soundcard.

SHARP56:
I would suggest you to get a M-ATX board with latest AMD chipset..i think 790xx something. It's sufficient for your purpose and has everything built in, optical digital out, coaxial digital out and HDMI. The one thing about HTPC is to look small and sexy. Get a small matching casing as well.

Playing 1080p files should not be a problem as long as ur CPU can handle it. Decoding 1080p MKV does not depends on the GPU.

I've just built a similar specs PC for my relative..(Gigabyte MA78GPM-DS2H). I think this will suit ur need fairly well...as long as u don't try to do hardcore gaming on it ( u can always add a better GPU latter).

780G chipset comes with ATI  HD3200 already which is ok for mkv. I just bought an Asus M3A78 and with Phenom X3 8450, 4gb kingston value ram, 500GB hdd and a new casing for around RM1.2k. I use back my existing ATI HD3450 and SB x-fi extreme music. I got the 3450 for RM100 only and it carries 5.1 Audio over HDMI. Cheap HTPC solution Output to my 720p projector using DVI-to-HDMI converter and everything is well.

Actually you don't really need a fast CPU to watch MKV, you can always make use of ur GPU for video processing. Make use of DXVA and you can watch 720p mkv files with less than 5% cpu power. I use ffdshow paired with MPC HC and cpu usage is around 20%.

I would've gotten a board with 780G chipset if it weren't because it's m-atx. Nowadays you can pair the onboard ATI HD3200 with say my HD3450 and you get a HYBRID CROSSFIRE. Good enough for lot's of games out there

Sori to hijack this post but have some noobie questions:

1. What kind of cable to connect SPDIF? Years back when I 1st got my soundcard no1 in LYP seems to know, all sales ppl just asked me to connect analog jack.

2. Crossfire - will it work for 2 Nvidia card? or only applicable for ATI?

coaxial jack & toslink cannot fit, the size is similar to the component jacks (analog)

SLi requires same GPU e.g. currently I'm using GF6600 but make no sense to buy another 6600 to SLi since the card is already obselete. Intend to upgrade to a 9800GTX+ but don't wanna throw away the 6600 so thinking of getting a mobo with 2 PCI-e slots and put 2 GPUs

That is nice. Was looking for one media center keyboard. Would definitely buy this if I see it earlier.

how does it looks like? where's the location of the kb?

my HD Ready Plasma rawks!

web browsing at a distance is fine...but up close... abit blur...
me using cheapo Edifier R501....bang for buck