Ok, so here’s the heart of my new HTPC system.  I realised that IGP (integrated graphics) are finally at the point where I can ditch my graphics card (and get good money on Ebay!) and still get top Media Centre performance – this thing will do HD MKV and Blu Ray decoding smoothly with its built-in ATI HD3200, and uses less electricity and generates less heat.  All good for the living room HTPC!

Dan

Again, does it count when I don’t actually get the thing out of the box?!  It’s a processor and a heatsink – what’s the point?!  This is going into my new HTPC build.  It’s the perfect CPU – 2.6ghz so plenty of horsepower for Vista HP for now, and Windows 7 once it’s stable enough for the living room.  The other benefit of course is that it’s 45nm, so runs very cool, sips lightly at the electricity, and requires very little cooling (therefore very quiet).

Dan

Does it reallycount as an ‘inboxing’ if all it comes in is a Jiffy Bag and antistatic wrap?!

I picked up this Pinnacle 7010ix dual 2x DVB-T / 2x DVB-S tuner from an Ebay seller, as they don’t seem to be on the market any more.  In fact, it seems to be quite the sleeper card.  The only decent information about this card seems to come from an AVForums post.  Pinnacle seem to have forgotten that they ever sold it on their website.

I’m excited, because in Windows 7 this card should give me four tuners, including the opportunity to take HD from Freesat, all for free without any subscriptions.  It is also one of the few multi-tuner cards that doesn’t suffer from incompatibility with the currently available builds of Win7. Given that it was also cheaper (£37) than my original dual Hauppauge Win Nova-T, then it’s win/win situation!

More information as the new HTPC gets built.

Dan