HTPC questions Options

[priorax]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at setting up a HTPC and wanted to check by people who know what they are doing about a few specs.

Mostly, could an AMD x2 245, 2gb DDR3 ram with a motherboard with an on-board ATi HD4200 graphics chipset run 1080p? If not, what is the cheapest cpu/graphics card I could add to make it run 1080p?

EDIT: Currently thinking of using of putting on Ubuntu with XMBC if I go with a nVidia graphics card, then multi-task it as a file server and unplug the dodgy NASrun

[Saars]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at setting up a HTPC and wanted to check by people who know what they are doing about a few specs.

Mostly, could an AMD x2 245, 2gb DDR3 ram with a motherboard with an on-board ATi HD4200 graphics chipset run 1080p? If not, what is the cheapest cpu/graphics card I could add to make it run 1080p?

EDIT: Currently thinking of using of putting on Ubuntu with XMBC if I go with a nVidia graphics card, then multi-task it as a file server and unplug the dodgy NASrun

if your going to have a media centre, you might want to put a graphics card in it, the onboard will struggle with 1080p video. you can get a 5450 for about $60 wich should handle full HD fine

the processor is fine

try to get some high quality ram, something from corsair or OCZ and 4gb is probably going to be better if its going to be a media centre and a file server

xbmc has problems with linux, your best bet is to go with windows 7

i have done a few htpc's, usually works well to have wmc autostart and use it for live tv, and then use xbmc to manage tv and movies, using xbmc integration
http://xbmcwmc.teknowebworks.com/

i got a lot running through my sleep deprived head right now, written as little as much as possible while trying to keep it short and simple, let me know if there is anything else you might be unsure about.

hope i covered everything