Flogging a dead horse!

[didgemaster]

Evening all,

I have a pc in the front room that is used for surfing the web, playing music and writing the odd document.

It is an old PC its a P4 2.6 with HT, 512MB RAM (dual channel) on a Gigabyte 865GBF mobo. It uses the onboard graphics and is currently is attached to a 17" TFT.

I don't know if its possible to use this for connecting up to a 32" TFT TV. My thoughts are to put another gig of RAM and a graphics card (AGP).

Is there any point doing this or going totally the other way buying an ATI HD 3650 or is there just too much of a bottle neck?

The other thought is that I run the F@H project and could use this card to boost my PPD output

 

[thegoonden]

Any card can drive a TV.
Huge screens or not, they are still usually low res, and even when the screen isn't, the video is. I only upgraded my Gefore4 in my media machine by default, it was still wotking a treat.

Might be different if you plan on playing bluray and stuff.

 

[TheCenturion]

if it's a dead horse you want to flog, cut off its head, and stick it in someone's bed

 

[didgemaster]

will be watching some HD stuff via mkv files

 

[thegoonden]

will be watching some HD stuff via mkv files

HD stuff from MKV files overloaded my athlon1800+, vid card seemed OK though. Your CPU should do a wee bit better.
Not sure if a better video card would cause more or less strain on the CPU for video playback......gut feeling is that it'll have little effect because video is usually done by overlay.

 

[rounddodger]

I would forget it, my girlfriends PC can barely cope with 720p episodes of Lost in .mkv format and that's a P4-3Ghz. Jerks about all over the show, you won't have a hope with 1080p stuff.

 

[The_Abyss]

On that mobo you really need dedicated graphics. Get a 3850 or similar.

 

[didgemaster]

Do you really think that I will need a 3850?

 

[thegoonden]

On that mobo you really need dedicated graphics. Get a 3850 or similar.

Video playback uses GPU on ATI cards?

Well, you live and learn.

 

[MR.B]

Do you really think that I will need a 3850?

A 3650 or 8600GT would cope with 1080p. GPU's do most of the work these days at decoding video, you just need something around £40 - £60, and another GB RAM.

 

[ACESHIGH]

3650 or X1950pro (slightly quicker) would be good choices imo.

 

[didgemaster]

OK so OCUK offer 3650 (512MB) or x1950pro(256MB) is the x1950 quicker even though its got half the memory?

any idea of energy consumption?

 

[The_Abyss]

Sorry - meant to say 3650 instead of 3850.

More than enough power, and should be able to be passively cooled as well, normally a pre-requisite for an HTPC.

 

[didgemaster]

OK so OCUK offer 3650 (512MB) or x1950pro(256MB) is the x1950 quicker even though its got half the memory?

any idea of energy consumption?