Graphics Card for Steam Streaming...?

[Freddie1980]

I have a HTPC with a Gigabyte E45M1-I DELUXE motherboard and whilst it works for Steam streaming from my gaming PC I have to run at 720p and even then the sound breaks up. I'm pretty sure this is down to the AMD APU not being able to decode the stream quick enough so have been considering adding a GPU to try and improve things. Can anyone suggest a half decent GPU for max £50? Or am I barking up the wrong tree...?

Thanks

Are you streaming over wifi? Do you what wifi standard your using?

 

[pandem0nium]

I'd attach it with an ethernet cable to your router and give it a test there. That way you can rule out wifi speed / signal strength issues.

 

[trickynickyuk]

if running via the WIFI you will get slow streaming it is best to have it rigged up via lan so you are able to get full bandwidth over wifi my games were depixing so i put it through lan and it was Crystal clear

 

[David Bisset]

That's a very low-end mobile APU you've got there, aimed at low-end netbooks. Pairing it with a discrete GPU would be a weird combo. Unfortunately as it's part of the mobo you can't even swap it out (By the way I'm assuming you've got the ASUS E45M1-I DELUXE not Gigabyte)
I'd certainly give a wired connection a go as others have suggested, anything to reduce the amount of work - though I'd probably lean more towards replacing it with something better.

While it's tiny TDP makes it easy to cool in your HTPC you've enough space you can cool a significantly better chip basically silently anyway, so I'd get a proper board and a sub £50 APU.

Edit: Ah, that case doesn't take micro-atx boards might make what I just suggested a bit more pricey! Cheapest mini-ITX FM2 on OCUK is nearly £80. Hopefully someone else will have a more cost-effective way of solving the problem. Sorry

 

[Telecaster]

Definitely try wired connection before spending any money, it's a no brainer and an easy way to rule out one potential issue.