Should I upgrade my CPU ? Anything else?

[vorius]

I currently have the following for my HTPC:

ASUS P5N32-SLI Motherboard
Intel Core2Duo 6400 2.13 Ghz CPU
2048 Mb RAM
GeForce 7600 GT Video
HDA XPLOSION Audio
Samsung 250 Gb/8Mb buffer/7200 RPM C: drive (O/S & Programs)
Seagate 500Gb/16Mb buffer/7200 RPM D: drive in 64K blocks for video

Windows XP Pro
SageTV 6
Verizon FIOS TV via R5000 Modded STB

I am noticing some difficulty sometimes playing HD TV, like stuttering and video skipping. It seems to happen only on certain channels though.

I am now going to update the video card to a GeForce 7950 GT which I pulled out of my current desktop (replaced with a newer one) so I was thinking while I am in there I might buy a new CPU if it will help with my HD playback.

What do you think? I was thinking of buying the Intel Core2Duo E8400. I dont want to go too crazy as the bigger ones start taking up more power and hence more heat.

[Wheemer]

you should get hardware decoding using powerdvd, so that takes away processor cycles... skip the processor upgrade I'd say

[cychou]

Make sure DXVA is working for you, and this involves Nvidia driver and proper decoder. Download DXVA Checker to help you determine this.

In my experience, NOT all driver from Nvidia works properly for HTPC purpose. Latest driver is not necessarily the best, but start from there and go back to older one until you find a stable one.

I have the best experience with Cyberlink video decoder so far (for both Mpeg2 and H.264). For audio, AC3Filter is almost mandatory for stutter free playback.

It is also a good idea to install the latest DirectX runtime from M$.

Your Hardware should be plenty enough (compared to mine)!

[Djc208]

Have to agree, you'd be better off picking up a low end current generation GPU and some good decoder software than a faster CPU.

Other than the switch to the HD extender, upgrading the GPU on my original HTPC was the biggest improvement I made in video quality, and this was on my old P4 setup.

[PVRPhreak]

I agree with what the others have said, your CPU is well up to the task. I can play HD content with no issues (and very low CPU utilization) on our Athlon XP3000 machine which is about half of the CPU power of a single core on yours!

An entry-level GPU with good hardware acceleration is the answer. Start with an ATI 2600 and work your way up from there, depending on your gaming needs, if any. I'm not sure how the 7600 will fair, overall you really are better off with a card that has been designed with on-board hardware decoding in mind.

A quicker CPU of course will speed up transcoding/converting as well as improving the ability to work with more placeshifters at once over the internet. If either of these appeal to you, then I overclock the CPU before buying a new one. Easiest way to do it with with a pin/pad mod, and to be honest, with the Core2 chips its almost foolproof.