So, I'm reasonably well versed on the higher end of GPUs for gaming, but I'm currently looking at putting together a system for media playback mainly using spare bits I have lying around. It'll be running an i3-4150 so not really a CPU capable of transcoding 4k HDR files with its onboard GPU from what I read, so looking at a suitable silent gpu to add to the system. I have an R9 280x lying around, but it's far from silent!
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4k HDR playback
- Thread starter Invertigo
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- 4 Nov 2015
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For what it's worth I use an i5-2500K system with a 1050Ti to decode very high bitrate 4K HDR in HEVC form, and it plays flawlessly. It's not silent though, and I think finding a genuinely silent card might be tricky if not impossible. I built it from leftovers just like you, and I was impressed that the GPU was the only thing I needed to upgrade.
Also, something to be aware of, the AV1 codec is going to be quite popular in the years ahead, so it's worth buying a card that has hardware support for it. Nvidia's 3000 series certainly has it, and I believe AMD's 6000 series will too. A lower end card from either line should be a great media player investment, assuming you can wait long enough for them to be released. Failing that, a stop-gap 1050Ti or 1660 will be fine for a while yet. Take a look at the NVDEC Wikipedia page to get an idea of what hardware decoding support is present in any given generation.
Also, something to be aware of, the AV1 codec is going to be quite popular in the years ahead, so it's worth buying a card that has hardware support for it. Nvidia's 3000 series certainly has it, and I believe AMD's 6000 series will too. A lower end card from either line should be a great media player investment, assuming you can wait long enough for them to be released. Failing that, a stop-gap 1050Ti or 1660 will be fine for a while yet. Take a look at the NVDEC Wikipedia page to get an idea of what hardware decoding support is present in any given generation.