Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
VideoAdapter
Integrated
Video output requirements for our media center system are relatively un-
demanding. We need a video adapter that can output 1920
×
1080 full HDTV
resolution and that has an output connector compatible with our HDTV. The
Intel integrated video provided by the DH55TC motherboard and Core i3-530
processor meets both requirements, with power to spare.
We'll connect our media center system to our HDTV using the
High-Definition
Multimedia Interface
(HDMI) connector on the rear panel of the motherboard.
That HDMI connector also supports
High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection
(HDCP), an Intel DRM technology. Ordinarily, we'd have no truck with any DRM
technology, but having HDCP support may come in handy in the future if we
want to implement Blu-ray or another technology with embedded DRM that
requires HDCP.
The Intel DH55TC motherboard also provides a dual-link
Digital Visual Interface-
Digital
(DVI-D) connector. DVI-D is essentially an older version of HDMI that
is electrically compatible but uses physically incompatible connectors. Most
HDTV units that predate HDMI use DVI connectors, and DVI-to-HDMI adapter
cables are readily available.
Having that DVI-D connector also keeps our options open. It will be useful,
for example, when we're building the media center system and installing
software, because we can use any DVI-compatible flat-panel display in our
workroom. Also, although we may be a bit paranoid, if we ever have conflicts
or compatibility problems with the HDCP DRM on the HDMI output, we can
simply disable it and use the DVI-D output to connect to our HDTV, using an
inexpensive adapter cable.
We'll run Linux on our media center system, but if we were running Windows 7
and wanted to use the system for gaming, we'd install a separate video adapt-
er. The days when serious gaming demanded a $500 video card (or cards)
that drew 120W are long gone (although some devoted PC gamers still in-
stall multiple high-end video adapters). Nowadays, you can play all but the
most demanding 3D games at reasonable frame rates with a $75 to $125 video
adapter. As of summer 2010, the best choice is a passively cooled (for mini-
mum noise) ATI RADEON HD 4670 or 4850 adapter. Obviously, make sure the
card you choose has an HDMI output.
WirelessNetworkingAdapter
ASUS PCE-N13 802.11 b/g/n PCI Express wireless adapter
Although we plan eventually to connect the media center system to our
1000BaseT (gigabit) wired Ethernet network, there's currently no Ethernet jack
near the television. Running that cable will be a major project, because the tele-
vision sits against an insulated exterior wall with no access above the ceiling or
