1. I saw an article linked on HardOCP yesterday about building a 'dream' HTPC (Home Theater PC) and from there did a little reading on XP Media Center Edition. And to be completely honest, I'm sold. It supports all of this cool stuff: TV (including PVR functionality and a TV guide combined, so you can search for a show and decide you want to record it), PiP, FM radio, MP3/WMA audio, DVD/CD playback, and some other stupid stuff like My Pictures/My Videos functionality (although that could potentially be very cool for stored movies on the HD, and collections of comedy gold pics / movies). More importantly, the integrated remote and the slick interface are huge bonuses. It's easy to use with a remote from the couch with all of that stuff, and that's what's important in the end. Moreover, it still functions as a normal WinXP box, so I could install that on a small secondary box (the tiny box I've always planned) and be able to surf, play music, and generally entertain with an extremely quiet box.
2. My Ti4200 needs a step up the minute Half-Life 2 goes gold. Here are some interesting options on PriceWatch:
$160 Radeon 9600XT 128MB (31000 marks in AquaMark3 (a DX9 benchmark)), 95.7 frames in 1280x1024 in Wolfenstein Enemy Territory)
$200 Radeon 9500 Pro 128MB (identical to 9600XT 128 in AM3, 89% the performance in ET)
$200 Radeon 9700 (stock) 128 (no benchmark data, but will assuredly run slightly faster)
$250 Radeon 9700 Pro 128 (135% the performance of a 9600XT in AM3, 142% the performance in ET)
$65 Radeon 9600 Pro 128 (85% the performance of a 9600XT in AM3, 96% the perforformance in ET)
$145 Radeon 9800 (stock) 128 (no benchmark data, but will assuredly run faster) It's looking like the stock R9800 128 is a really good call, assuming I won't need the extra 128MB in HL2. The stock 9800 with 256MB is still insanely expensive (well over $400). Any thoughts, techies?
$160 Radeon 9600XT 128MB (31000 marks in AquaMark3 (a DX9 benchmark)), 95.7 frames in 1280x1024 in Wolfenstein Enemy Territory)
$200 Radeon 9500 Pro 128MB (identical to 9600XT 128 in AM3, 89% the performance in ET)
$200 Radeon 9700 (stock) 128 (no benchmark data, but will assuredly run slightly faster)
$250 Radeon 9700 Pro 128 (135% the performance of a 9600XT in AM3, 142% the performance in ET)
$65 Radeon 9600 Pro 128 (85% the performance of a 9600XT in AM3, 96% the perforformance in ET)
$145 Radeon 9800 (stock) 128 (no benchmark data, but will assuredly run faster) It's looking like the stock R9800 128 is a really good call, assuming I won't need the extra 128MB in HL2. The stock 9800 with 256MB is still insanely expensive (well over $400). Any thoughts, techies?