What platform for a linux based media pc?

[bimbo]

I want to build a media/HTPC but since I've grown allergic to Windows, it should be based on Linux. Problem is, as we all know, there is no h.264 acceleration for Linux.

So I need to do it in software for now, I guess. I'm looking for a setup that can do 720P content without any issue.

I'm leaning towards the nforce 8200 and a Sempron LE-1150 but I'm not sure whether the Sempron really is enough? Sadly ffmpeg still has no proper SMP support for h.264 so getting a dual core CPU likely would not help much?

[mlau]

In my experience ~2GHz is sufficient for most common 720p material. With 3GHz 1080p is also possible ;-)

[deanjo]

You can also use the mplayer patch to use CoreAVC to bring down system loads as well.

[bimbo]

I only know about coreavc-for-linux and that only works with CoreAVC 1.3 which is nowhere to be had. Any way to get it running with current 1.6.5?