HTPC help setting up my htpc with HDTV

Alright folks, I need some help.

Here is what I need to be able to do.

I have a HDTV (toshiba colorstream).
I have StarChoice satilitte
I also have a dolby surroun sound amplifer wiht optical input

I need to be able to :
watch satelitte on the HTPC
record programs off the satelitte to the HTPC
watch DVD's, record DVD's
have optical input and output for sound

and the video card needs to support High Definition both output and input.

thanks guys

 

Sounds like you need an HDTV tuner and a video card with component-out (unless your TV has DVI-in). Get a sound card (or motherboard) that has optical audio out, and a fiber cable going from that to the reciever. If you need pass-through for optical, you're going to limit your sound card choices quite a bit. Make sure you set software accordingly - "use S/PDIF out" or something to that effect should be checked. Recording HD content is kind of iffy right now, as most HD tuners that I know of only let you watch over-the-air content, and nothing you actually have to pay for.

As for DVDs, just buy a DVD burner. It should come with software for both watching and burning, preferably Nero and some sort of player. Set the player software to "external s/pdif decoder" or similar for output.

 

I assume the satelite receiver outputs in DVI/HDMI or Component for high def? If so then you are going to need a TV Tuner or a Video card with component in and i don't even know if you can get those. I have never seen one. Component out isn't that rare so you would be covered to the TV.

Main problem here is that the UK doesn't have high Deffinition TV yet so no-one has come accros this problem. We would use the composite or s-video in on cards which isn't a problem.

You're also goign to have to spend quite abit of money getting optical in and out. Thats high end territory.