Gfx card for HTPC

[ANDARIAL]

Thinking of a 1050 ,but which one?2GB or 4GB
Which make?
Only used for watching video/listening to music 1080P but may go for a 4K tv in the future

There are loads of different ones,its making my head spin
Using onboard with a z97 mobo and a 4670 cpu onboard atm and after a few hours I get a load of `sparklies`in the dark sections of the films
Did have a gfx card in this a few years ago with no `sparklies`so thinking onboard is not up to the job although temps on everything is `ok`

 

[jeff83nz]

Cheapest. All you want is 4k HDMI 2.1 + HDCP output and both 1050 have them. Until you get 4k you can just use onboard graphics tbh, and even then only worth getting them if you get Netflicks which should work with nvidia 10 series in the near future.

 

[ANDARIAL]

4GB not needed then?

 

[hornetstinger]

Nope. I'm using a ATI 5450, hyper memory. 1080p works fine.

You just want something similar, but more upto date GPU. Low power, low heat, passive

 

[ANDARIAL]

Cheers
Want a fan on it,even though case has loads of fans and is cool I prefer a card with active cooling
Me calling it a HTPC is a bit misleading i suppose,this has about 9 HDDs in a Fractal Design Define XL

 

[hornetstinger]

If your case has enough cooling, then that should be suitable cooling for the GPU, and case fans are quieter and shift more air than a GPU cooler.

I'm running my CPU (tower heatsink) and GPU passively, with just a single 12cm low RPM Noctua case fan and PSU fan.

Typical loads on CPU are low, so don't need high CFM.

 

[ANDARIAL]

Ended up getting this
ASUS EX-GTX1050-O2G OC Edition NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 2 GB
Should be here today

 

[MagicBoy]

GT 1030?

 

[IT Troll]

Yep, passive 1030 would be a better match for HTPC.