HTPC Video card?

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

MKV is just a container, it can contain virtually any combination of video/audio/subtitles. The problems I'm talking about don't have anything to do with the graphics horsepower, but are due to bugs in DXVA software that prevent proper playback of certain files. I haven't encountered any such problems with any of my files using CUDA.

I see what you're saying...

Yeah, I know mkv is a container. I believe most of my stuff is H.264.

I saw an open box GT 440 that should do the trick.

[Shocker003]

I guess I can go passive and get a 6450 like this.

I'm just worried it'll be too hot during 1080p playback.

Edit.

Any articles describing the difference between UVD 3 and VP3 (AMD & nVidia respectively)?

Edit again.

Maybe this sapphire card? SAPPHIRE 100321DDR5L Radeon HD 6450 $55, and has GDDR5, which should be a tad better.

what you needs is just a HD 6450. It indicates 50°c during Blu-ray play back and i still use it for light gaming(NFS carbon or most wanted) all settings at high.
You can play 3D Blu-ray movies and it´s passively cooled. The worst thing that will happen to you in your build is unwanted fan noise when you turn down the volume of the music or movie, unless you have an extremely low db fan which will be had to get in stock vga cards.

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

I ened up going nVidia after comparing playback and driver stability. AMD/ATI has really rubbed the wrong way. I've had driver issues at work w/ 4000 series cards and couldn't find a better price to beat.

I bought a Galaxy GT 430 for $40 AR. Can't really beat that.

[Darxide]

It's amazing how little you can get away with in an HTPC.
I've seen people using quad cores, mid range video cards, etc etc....complete waste!
My HTPC has an AMD Sempron, yes single core!
And onboard Radeon HD3200, and it can play HD DVD, Blu Ray, H264 etc etc....and it's super silent.
If I get a 3DTV, I'll need HDMI 1.4 support, but I would go for a 6450 fanless card. Thats more than enough.

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

It's amazing how little you can get away with in an HTPC.
I've seen people using quad cores, mid range video cards, etc etc....complete waste!
My HTPC has an AMD Sempron, yes single core!
And onboard Radeon HD3200, and it can play HD DVD, Blu Ray, H264 etc etc....and it's super silent.
If I get a 3DTV, I'll need HDMI 1.4 support, but I would go for a 6450 fanless card. Thats more than enough.

I agree 100%.

I just know I won't get enough for my 760 & itx board to cover the cost of a of say an i3 2100 & itx board (If I want to add features later, I don't want it to bog down).

The sempron set up is a good idea. I just already own hardware and my i5 doesn't support onboard video.

[trn]

Good pick, I use a GT430 in my HTPC also and its been good. Team Green's drivers are usually better and if you ever want to linux that HTPC then you have working drivers available (linux + XBMC = HTPC heaven.)

[TV Addict#2]

software renderers can run smoother on a quadcore being more universal still at this point,less setup time is still nice

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

Good pick, I use a GT430 in my HTPC also and its been good. Team Green's drivers are usually better and if you ever want to linux that HTPC then you have working drivers available (linux + XBMC = HTPC heaven.)

What's the difference running XBMC on Linux vs Windows?

I've always throught about running it, but never had a dedicated PC for it till now.

Btw, does linux support TRIM yet? I'll probably throw a 64gb SSD in it.

[chinaguy]

I just put this system together for a Bedroom HTPC, 1*4GB Kingston DDR3 1333 PC10600, Asrock 880GMH U3/S3 Micro ATX, Athlon 255, WD Black 1TB SATA III and the HIS 5450 512MB I mentioned.

It is running most of the video files and formats the wife wants at 720/1080 no problems. All powered by a Silverston 350W psu, very quiet! The MoBo comes with a 4250 card onboard so it can even run without the HIS 5450. But I always like a dedicated graphics card. The HIS is passive and does get hot so make sure there is some airflow into the case. I will make a plastic wind deflector to channel so air from the CPU fan down over the gpu heat sink.

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

Sounds good chinaguy.

I wasn't sure if the top fan on the SG07 would push air over the card, so I got a 430 that is reported to be basically silent. I would have gone with a low profile passive otherwise.

[chinaguy]

Well it should keep the wife happy and she will be able to rip DVDs to her Itouch. Its running very quiet especially at night when sleeping. The new WB 1TB replaced an old 150 Raptor that was TOO NOISEY to sleep in the same room.

Need to go to the local Street Market and pick up a $5 HDMI cable, the only ones in the 'Big Shops' are the GOLD Plated version at $100...... Then that should give the 42inch Philips a workout!

What should be the first Movie at 1080........Fifth Element???

[zalbard]

What should be the first Movie at 1080........Fifth Element???

Too old, won't look quite as good. Try one of the more recent titles such as Inception.

[HiJon89]

What should be the first Movie at 1080........Fifth Element???

How's your sound setup? For just picture quality Deja Vu always impresses, but if your audio setup is up to it the opening sequence in Top Gun will knock anyones socks off

[TerroH8er]

I admit that I've only done a little research on this, but I don't understand why it would be better to run it on Linux. Linux doesn't support hardware acceleration and doesn't do Netflix. XP also doesn't support hardware acceleration and XBMC didn't run well at all on it.

You made a good choice with the 430. I'm an ATI person myself, but the Nvidia cards are great for this.

Edit: I was wrong on the Linux part. It does use HW acceleration

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

I admit that I've only done a little research on this, but I don't understand why it would be better to run it on Linux. Linux doesn't support hardware acceleration and doesn't do Netflix. XP also doesn't support hardware acceleration and XBMC didn't run well at all on it.

You made a good choice with the 430. I'm an ATI person myself, but the Nvidia cards are great for this.

Thanks.

I'm waiting for a 64gb SSD to arrive next week before I set up XBMC. I'll probably use Win 7 pro as I have a few liscenses sitting around.

I might also try XBMC on a hackintosh (depends on how my ASRock 1155 RMA goes) for kicks.

[Donnie27]

Thanks.

I'm waiting for a 64gb SSD to arrive next week before I set up XBMC. I'll probably use Win 7 pro as I have a few liscenses sitting around.

I might also try XBMC on a hackintosh (depends on how my ASRock 1155 RMA goes) for kicks.

Maybe its because I came from the old days when PC's sold for more than the Family car. I see NO REASON to skimp on parts or complain that folks have more than they need. I'd rather have too much than not enough considering how cheap most of this stuff is.

Things like XMBC can and will show some of the folks with this just good enough to get by on stuff isn't just good enough. I run Windows Vista 32bit, MCE, XMBC, Songbird, Money Audio and other crap because each has a little some thing I like better than the others. I saw XMBC use up to 70% CPU resources on a i8400 (left over from a i9550 upgrade) that's using 3.2GB of 4GB since its a 32bit OS.

I used to worry about making DVD Backups smaller. Now with folks being able to store TB's of data, I find myself wanting HQ IQ and Hi-Fi better than yester-year crappy compressed stuff.

I wouldn't use a Celeron, Pentium, Duron or any Budget Processor to Trans-code, Parse, Convert and or etc... for my Media sources now. I use only a GT240 video and Auzentech Prelude for ANALOG sound. Built in Blue Ray and even a Separate LG 370 BD Player bought before my HTPC was upgraded.

There's something else over looked here. Network Card. Funny how my DLink USB 2.0 Dongle rated at only 150Mb (yes, bits) runs faster than my cheap Realtek based "N" that was rated for 300Mb. I've also never NEVER had a signal lost and only have slow downs about once a week. Netflix, Hulu, LastFM, Pandora, HQ You Tube Videos and many others means I've been storing less anyway.

I have plenty of other plans meant for this system.