building a HTPC

[theknub]

hey guys,
was thinking about this today. if i wanted to build a HTPC, obviously run of the mill parts aren't enough. i know enough of the processors, ram and that junk but i'm beginning to think of the sound and video card.

first, video card. i have been out of the gaming loop for awhile. i know enough to know about dvi outputs, s-video, and the like. however, if i'm going to hook it up to a t.v., and i have no dvi input (or vga) on my t.v., do i need to go with a dvi > hdmi connector for hi def content? any video cards with hdmi output?

second, is there some cable that would run from the BR drive to the video card to prevent ICT constraints or will you be ok?

third, what about audio cards? obviously you'd either want to output a dts-ma or dd+ signal. however, how would this be done over hdmi? can the system convert this to pcm out instead?

i have been mulling all this recently and if anyone has had any success, or thoughts it'd be nice.

thanks

[Deciazulado]

There's a whole thread of BR playback on PCs https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=28682

Check the thread but I think that to insure the HTPC will play High Definition discs at full resolution always, you'll need a video card and a display that have HDCP. Plus the software player.

[theknub]

weird... i could have sworn i posted back to this last night.

if my memory serves me correctly, this thread basically dealt with playing hi-def content on computer screens, a few projectors, and maybe a t.v. with dvi or vga. in which case, it really didn't apply. i know a lot of the thread also constituted problem solving of the software itself. anyways, i'm looking at this more as a true, dedicated HTPC especially for some of us who have only hdmi or component inputs.