I'm not sure if they would let the sale go through intitally without a monitor, but they allowed me to return the monitor that came with the system for credit when i told them i wanted a bigger one.
If you connect your monitor to this system via DVI, your display must support HDCP in order to play back 'premium' content that you record using media center. the same applies for playing back a BluRay disc. This is probably why they require a HDCP compliant monitor purchase.
Interestingly, when you build the system, they will allow you to buy TWO 24 inch monitors or a 30 inch that requires DVI dual link. A BluRay disc will not play back if you have two monitors connected to your system. You have to disable one of them (or use AnyDVD) to play back the disc. I am told but have not confirmed that the same is true with a dual link monitor.
One of my tuners was DOA, and it was a bit difficult for the dell reps to find out how to send me a replacement, possibly because the system is new and the tuners cannot be bought outright. the replacement did arrive very quickly once they figured it out.
Aside from the above, the tuners/media center have worked perfectly, including when used with an xbox 360 as a media center extender over a wired network.
The X-Fi3 keeps with the company's commitment to audio fidelity, thanks to the apt-X codec, which supposedly offers audio quality similar to a wired connection when streaming. On that front, the device also handles FLAC files.
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I'm not sure if they would let the sale go through intitally without a monitor, but they allowed me to return the monitor that came with the system for credit when i told them i wanted a bigger one.
If you connect your monitor to this system via DVI, your display must support HDCP in order to play back 'premium' content that you record using media center. the same applies for playing back a BluRay disc. This is probably why they require a HDCP compliant monitor purchase.
Interestingly, when you build the system, they will allow you to buy TWO 24 inch monitors or a 30 inch that requires DVI dual link. A BluRay disc will not play back if you have two monitors connected to your system. You have to disable one of them (or use AnyDVD) to play back the disc. I am told but have not confirmed that the same is true with a dual link monitor.
One of my tuners was DOA, and it was a bit difficult for the dell reps to find out how to send me a replacement, possibly because the system is new and the tuners cannot be bought outright. the replacement did arrive very quickly once they figured it out.
Aside from the above, the tuners/media center have worked perfectly, including when used with an xbox 360 as a media center extender over a wired network.