At CES, AMD/ATI announced two OEM CableCARD solutions, ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner and AMD Live! Home Cinema, that allow OEM buyers like Dell, HP, etc., to create CableCARD Media Center PCs.

While we don't normally talk about OEM systems, we thought this one was important because it illustrates that it's still not the time to buy a Media Center PC destined for the home theater. We wrote about the importance of CableCARDs for HD in September.

We're getting close to seeing a bevy of new Media Center PCs with CableCARD capability. The two AMD reference designs give OEMs the ability to deliver that.

Read more for details and photos.

 The two AMD OEM designs are:

1. ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner
   AMD is working with a few partners on implementing this CableCARD reference, to be connected via USB with Vista-based Media Center PCs. Since this is bundled with other PCs, no prices were available. AMD will not provide this as an upgrade to end-users.
   • Supports single CableCARD per device. Two devices are required for two CableCARDs.
   • Based on ATI Theater 550 Pro design
   • USB port to connect to PC
   • Supports S-Video/Composite video and analog audio inputs support external devices.

   Photos

   

   ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner
   

   ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - Cable Card
   

   ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - Top - Auxilary Input
   

   ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - USB Out & Coax In

    

2. AMD Live! Home Cinema
   AMD expects OEM partners to deliver a solution based on this reference design in 2007 at prices competitive with existing Media Centers. While these specifications are subject to OEM-specific designs (the reference design is an all-in-one solution), the AMD Live! Home Cinema is a Media Center-capable PC with:
   • Front display, potentially Vista Sideshow compatible
   • DVD slot: HD-DVD, Blu-ray, or combo could be specified by OEM
   • Hard disk (OEM specified)
   • AMD/ATI video (while not the killer game system, something respectable)
   • RAM (OEM specified)
   • AMD dual-core processor
   • 100 watts per-channel 7.1 audio amplifier with speaker outputs
   • Sub-woofer audio output
   • HDMI video output
   • VGA video output (x2)
   • Component video output
   • RCA analog audio output
   • RCA analog audio input
   • Dual digital audio out (coax and optical)
   • ESATA external expansion
   • Home theater designed with a quiet fan
   • Coax input
   • S-Video input
   • Coax output
   • CableCARD slot
   • SCART (European)

   Photos

   

   AMD LIVE! Home Cinema - Front
   

   AMD LIVE! Home Cinema - Back
   

   AMD LIVE! Home Cinema - Screen

AMD.com

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