Bit streaming HTPC

[GoodToGo]

Can anyone please help me out with building a HTPC that bit streams instead of decoding? No components bought yet so very flexible. I plan on using the same machine for gaming as well. Right now I am interested in getting the 4870 GX2 as it is one of the most powerful and best value cards out there.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by GoodToGo

Can anyone please help me out with building a HTPC that bit streams instead of decoding? No components bought yet so very flexible. I plan on using the same machine for gaming as well. Right now I am interested in getting the 4870 GX2 as it is one of the most powerful and best value cards out there.

That video card won't bitstream you need the XONAR HDAV1.3 sound card and as of right now - you need to use Windows XP SP3. Here's where you can get it and how much it cost.
Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Blu-Ray w/HDMI 1.3 Sound Card $255.52 - PartsPc
Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe Blu-Ray w/HDMI 1.3 ... $292.50 - Bzboyz
Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe Blu-Ray w/HDMI 1.3 ... $292.50 - PartsPc

http://www.partspc.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProdID=13661
http://www.bzboyz.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProdID=16882
http://www.partspc.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProdID=16882

A Canadian online store also has just the card without the breakout analog daughter card for $229.00

The card comes with a special version of TMT.

Later this month another hdmi audio card is being released that works with PDVD.

[GoodToGo]

Hey, thanks for your reply. I am suprised there is only one card that bitstreams Can you tell me which the other card is? Can I use the 4870 GX2 with this? I remember reading somewhere that only nvidia cards work with this one....

[prerich]

Originally Posted by GoodToGo

Hey, thanks for your reply. I am suprised there is only one card that bitstreams Can you tell me which the other card is? Can I use the 4870 GX2 with this? I remember reading somewhere that only nvidia cards work with this one....

Thre are some problems with the Xonar card that still need to be worked out. The other card (not available yet) is this one http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...ics-specs.html The PS3 can't bitstream either. They're working on the Xonar and the Auzentech's hold up maybe the fact that the Xonar didn't get everything right when it came out. You will begin to see a flood of HDMI audio cards in the future with bitstreaming capabilities. I think you start seeing this in '09.

P.S. on the AVS forum people have used the 4870 with the Xonar and TMT (TMT used to be Nvidia approved only - it now works fine with ATI). You should check that forum out to see the problems that exist. I was in a rush to buy one but now I'm going to wait and see - I know my HD audio is downsampled to 48khz/16bit, but I also know how to upconvert in Vista. My audio sounds great - better than most HT's in my area - let me take that back, better than all HT's that I have heard in my area - even those with PS3's, I'm pretty satisfied - and I will exercise restraint and watch with wisdom right now.

[GoodToGo]

Its like I almost read your mind I went over to avsforum and read the reviews about it after your first post. Well all I can say is that the picture is not pretty. People are cursing ASUS big time and might not even consider the next card released by them. As of now I have not doubt in my mind that the Xonar is a very bad buy. If it doesn't bitstream the codecs as it should, there is no point in buying this card.

Auzentech card looks promising but they have delayed it for a very long time ; was supposed to come out in Q1 2008 then September, now we are in middle of October Still no concrete date for release of the card.

I like how my PS3 works and there is no problem as such but I thought with a HTPC it would be a good idea to get a bitstream option going as well.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by GoodToGo

Its like I almost read your mind I went over to avsforum and read the reviews about it after your first post. Well all I can say is that the picture is not pretty. People are cursing ASUS big time and might not even consider the next card released by them. As of now I have not doubt in my mind that the Xonar is a very bad buy. If it doesn't bitstream the codecs as it should, there is no point in buying this card.

Auzentech card looks promising but they have delayed it for a very long time ; was supposed to come out in Q1 2008 then September, now we are in middle of October Still no concrete date for release of the card.

I like how my PS3 works and there is no problem as such but I thought with a HTPC it would be a good idea to get a bitstream option going as well.

Give it a little more time - unlike the PS3 the PC industry is working on bitstreaming solutions. The Xonar will only bitstream DTS-HD-MSTR correctly and only in XP SP3. They are working on the TrueHD bitstream problem and the Vista bitstreaming problem. I wouldn't trade my HTPC for 3 PS3's (4 would be a different story) - I'm very satisfied and looking forward to what else is coming out. Asus just bombed trying to beat Auzentech out the box, but if it doesn't work properly - what's the point?