HTPC upgrade from XPMC to Win7?

[trdrjeff]

I built a pretty stout at the time HTPC about 2 years ago. It plays Bluray and HD files without issues. Would a Win7 upgrade be worthwhile for an HTPC? Is the interface much better for music, photo and video playback?

Thanks

[Cholly]

Run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor on your computer. I did that on my small form factor HTPC running XP MediaCenter 2005 and decide it wasn't worth doing an upgrade.

[Hansen]

The Win 7 Media Center is light years ahead of XP Media Center. If you use MC, then it's worth it.

[Cholly]

The Win 7 Media Center is light years ahead of XP Media Center. If you use MC, then it's worth it.

To begin with, you have to do a clean install of Win 7, then reinstll all your applications. In my case, there were several hardware incompatibilities, including video card. Being a small form factor computer with AGP8 vido card slot, upgrade options are small. Further, the space between the video card slot and PCI slot on my motherboard is limited. At the time I built my computer, my best choice was an ATI Radeon 9550, which is in the computer. Further, my tuner card is an Avermedia MCI 1500, which doesn't support HD. Still, the computer, which is in my den, can be used with my 31 inch Sony CRT HD monitor as a PVR to time shift or save shows. Good enough, since I have HD DVR's (TiVo's) in my bedroom and family room.

[trdrjeff]

I finally ran the upgrade adviser and everything checks out but the Video Card is not up to snuff for the "Aero" interface. Wow, PC plays HD content, Bluray disk without issue, but it can't run the W7 eye candy!

[CCarncross]

Win7 eye candy has to do with 3D graphics, playback of HD doesnt, although it has its own challenges as far as system performance is concerned.