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I'm looking to build a new HTPC/media server and want to make sure its able to meet my needs. I read through some of the other threads on future-proofing for HEVC and 4k, but I found that often the OP had different goals and thus some questions still exist.
My Goals:
- Play 2D 1080p24/60 10-bit HEVC + HD audio(passthrough) content - lets assume its super high bitrate, I dont want to run into some demanding 1080p HEVC content and not be able to play it perfectly.
- Some console video game emulators
- Media management - the occasional re-encode/remux, downloading, storage, streaming FROM the htpc to other players - basically need to be able to saturate the wifi bandwidth without affecting simultaneous playback.
- 4k is a "would be nice" but low priority - an option to upgrade to 2160p60 would be sufficient.
- I don't need any of it to fit into a small form factor case or mobo.
Basically I need to figure out what CPU/GPU I need to support my needs - sounds like Skylake or Carrizo will support proper hw decoding of HEVC (I can wait if I have to), but is Haswell or Broadwell (socketed desktop chips expected in June) enough to do it all with software/hybrid decoding, and if so, how low can I go?
Additionally, I haven't dug into MadVR yet, but I'm constantly working on improving the quality of my home theater setup and I'm pretty sure I want to be able to handle some of this. How much more CPU/GPU is needed to run some fancy MadVR post-processing on top of the 1080p HEVC decode? Does proper hw decoding of HEVC via Skylake or Carrizo leave more headroom (or less?) for MadVR, thus negating the need for a discrete GPU? Or do I need a discrete GPU to get a lot out of MadVR, making the wait for Skylake/Carrizo a non-issue?
I don't have a lot of HEVC content yet, so if it means adding discrete GPU later to handle the HEVC decoding, I could do that. I also have a 3770k that could be re-purposed (good excuse to upgrade my gaming rig), but I heard there were some refresh rate issues with the older Intel chips and I wouldn't want to use that without a discrete GPU (i think).
The rest of the hardware I either have or can figure out just fine, it's the CPU/GPU requirements that are giving me trouble.
Thanks!
My Goals:
- Play 2D 1080p24/60 10-bit HEVC + HD audio(passthrough) content - lets assume its super high bitrate, I dont want to run into some demanding 1080p HEVC content and not be able to play it perfectly.
- Some console video game emulators
- Media management - the occasional re-encode/remux, downloading, storage, streaming FROM the htpc to other players - basically need to be able to saturate the wifi bandwidth without affecting simultaneous playback.
- 4k is a "would be nice" but low priority - an option to upgrade to 2160p60 would be sufficient.
- I don't need any of it to fit into a small form factor case or mobo.
Basically I need to figure out what CPU/GPU I need to support my needs - sounds like Skylake or Carrizo will support proper hw decoding of HEVC (I can wait if I have to), but is Haswell or Broadwell (socketed desktop chips expected in June) enough to do it all with software/hybrid decoding, and if so, how low can I go?
Additionally, I haven't dug into MadVR yet, but I'm constantly working on improving the quality of my home theater setup and I'm pretty sure I want to be able to handle some of this. How much more CPU/GPU is needed to run some fancy MadVR post-processing on top of the 1080p HEVC decode? Does proper hw decoding of HEVC via Skylake or Carrizo leave more headroom (or less?) for MadVR, thus negating the need for a discrete GPU? Or do I need a discrete GPU to get a lot out of MadVR, making the wait for Skylake/Carrizo a non-issue?
I don't have a lot of HEVC content yet, so if it means adding discrete GPU later to handle the HEVC decoding, I could do that. I also have a 3770k that could be re-purposed (good excuse to upgrade my gaming rig), but I heard there were some refresh rate issues with the older Intel chips and I wouldn't want to use that without a discrete GPU (i think).
The rest of the hardware I either have or can figure out just fine, it's the CPU/GPU requirements that are giving me trouble.
Thanks!