CPU & video card to run 1080p

[CPALIU]

I just recently downloaded some 1080p videos from the apple.com website. When I tried to run them on my PC, I found the frame rate to be unacceptable, however I could run 720P just fine. In terms of a CPU and video card what should I be looking at to run them smoothly? I've been thinking about using my PC as a HTPC but if it can't run 1080p then I may need to reconsider.

Also on a side not, my sound card (sound blaster audigy 2 w/ external drive) has a opticla in and out. Would I be able to pass the audio signal to my receiver (rotel 1057) and have the rotel do all the processing?

[aud19]

That depends on whether it's something CPU intensive like WMV format that requires more processing power than say Mpeg2.

Otherwise, anything above a AMD 64 3000+ (or equivelant Intel garbage : ) plus a decent quality 128MB (or more) video card should be plenty. I'm a fan off the Asus/Nvidia 6600TD 256MB card with fanless heatsink myself It's relatively inexpensive (just over $100 CA), is silent and performs quite well, particularly with video using Nvidia's "PureVideo" and does well with all but the most intensive 3D games compared to higher end $400 and up cards. For CPU's I'd probably go with the AMD 3700+ and it's 1MB L2 Cache at todays price points and wait for the dual CPU chips to come down in price.

Also on a side not, my sound card (sound blaster audigy 2 w/ external drive) has a opticla in and out. Would I be able to pass the audio signal to my receiver (rotel 1057) and have the rotel do all the processing?

Yup :yesnod:

[CPALIU]

I'm not sure about the AMD line, but i'm currently using a 2 yr old Dell computer which has a P4 530 (prescott line @ 3.0ghz) on an ATI x800 w/ I believe 128 megs of ram. I downloaded some of the .mov files from apples site and my computer definitely can't run the 1080p, but it runs the 720P fairly well. On the other hand I downloaded some WMV files from microsofts site and I can run those 1080p files just fine.