I thought CPU was the driving factor in the ability to play 1080p, and that GPU was not all that important? If that is not the case, then I think I will go with a board without onboard video and instead get a standalone 8600 or something like that, just to be safe. Money is not exactly no object, but if a few extra $$$ will ensure that the machine can play everything up to and including the killa sampla, so be it.
The EVGA board has gotten terrible reviews on newegg, and I generally trust in those reviews (if there are enough of them). gzusrawx, have you been able to get 1080p content with digital surround using that board?
With respect to the Gigabyte board, I thought that IBM video was not ideal? I want to use a touchscreen in a dual monitor setup, so I think it would be best if I stuck with nVidia, no? I also read somewhere in this forum that the GMA 3100 is not OpenGL 2.0 and therefore probably not great for XBMC (problems with Xorg, I think -- although I am just paraphrasing what I recall reading elsewhere and probably getting it wrong).
The problem I have been experiencing is finding good, solid micro-ATX boards with onboard S/PDIF optical and/or coaxial outputs. Does anyone have any experience with the
HT OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card Perhaps a little pricey, but has great feedback, including two users who have it installed on a Linux system and say it works great.
That sound card, together with an 8600 and an E8400, should be able to rock the killa sampla and thus, virtually everything out there.