3450 for HTPC. Advice needed.

[bliss]

Up until today i was going to pick up a Gainward 8600GT Silent for my HTPC. But considering all the rave reviews i'm opting for a HD 3450 instead. But i have a few questions.

1. Which out of the two in stock is better? Do any of the two run cooler?

2. I hear even though they're supposed to be supplied with a dongle most of the time they don't. What happens if my card doesn't have one?

3. Is there a way to turn the onboard sound off? Is it a setting in Catalyst Panel?

4. Will this card work with my current DVI-HDMI cable? I don't want to use the onboard sound at the moment as i'm using the motherboards onboard SPDIF.

5. And last, but most important. I've heard a lot of reports that ATI cards hate outputting 1360x768 with DVI/HDMI? Is this true? And the work around is messing with custom timings and resolution in powerstrip? If this is the case still then i'm going back to my original plan and getting a 8600GT. I want a card that i can plug in, install drivers, and set my resolution to 1360x768. It's not much to ask.

Hope someone can reply asap. Going into OcUK tomorrow to pick one up.

TIA.

 

[straxusii]

I went for the sapphire silent one, bear in mind to get the mpg2/4 and h264 acceleration on the card you need supporting software/codecs

 

[bliss]

I'm currently only using my HTPC for HD MKV files, but that's all CPU. I'm getting this new card as i'm going to be adding a BD-ROM drive sometime soon also and my 7800GT won't do anything to help.

Already have Powerdvd 8 installed and ready.

Can anybody answer my questions?

 

[bliss]

Looks like i might aswell ask them in the shop when i get there.

All you 3450 owners are in hiding or something.

 

[ubern00b]

I have no issues running my 2600PRO at 1360x768, dont see why this would be any different on the newer cards.

You could disable the onboard sound via windows sound control panel or disable the device entirely from Device Manager.

The card will work just fine with a dvi - hdmi cable but you wont get any sound (not an issue for you) as you need the ATI adaptor to enable sound passthrough.

 

[bliss]

I have no issues running my 2600PRO at 1360x768, dont see why this would be any different on the newer cards.

You could disable the onboard sound via windows sound control panel or disable the device entirely from Device Manager.

The card will work just fine with a dvi - hdmi cable but you wont get any sound (not an issue for you) as you need the ATI adaptor to enable sound passthrough.

Thanks ubern00b. That answered most of my questions.