Graphics for HTPC

[DiCe!]

New TV on order, HTPC is ready to go minus a graphics card so.....

HDMI to a 37" 1080p TV, without breaking the bank if possible.....what you got OCUK!

 

[JeffyB]

Whats your budget? Are you looking to use uncompressed hd audio over hdmi?

 

[cmndr_andi]

I would go for a hd 5570 like this (or a 6450 if they turn up soon).

You could go for a 5450 and manage - but it doesn't save you much money and it is a much slower card than the 5570.

 

[DiCe!]

Budget about £150, if i can get away with a slim card i would like that so i have room for a TV Card in the HTPC, im not looking for uncompressed at the moment but may in the future

 

[JeffyB]

Are you looking to play any games on it or is it soley for media? If not a cmndr andi hit the nail on the head

 

[DiCe!]

I was thinking about a bit of pro evo and maybe GRID but thats about it...

 

[cmndr_andi]

Ah, if you want to play some modern games at 1080p then I would go for something more beefy than the 5570 or 6450.

For your budget you can get the plenty fast and rather quiet ASUS HD 6850 (looking at this review it is a very quiet card indeed). This will handle your gaming and video needs rather well. However, may I ask what PSU you are using with your HTPC and can it accept a dual-slot, full-height card?

 

[DiCe!]

At work at the moment cant remember off the top of my head, it will take the height cant remember about dual slot, if it does it will mean i can add a TV card, im not so worried about gaming in HD just that it will fit the 37" res

 

[DiCe!]

Decided to use a double slot card, keep my TV card in my pc and then if i record etc i will play it in WMC and just transfer over the network to the shuttle

 

[pinkpotato]

if you've got £150 then i would say a 6850. Or if you can fork out an extran £25 you could get a 6870. Although theyre not slim...

 

[DiCe!]

The more i think about it the more i would like to use my TV card in the shuttle so....

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-239-AS

Will that be able to play GRID, Pro evo on my 37" tv? from what i can see thats the most expensive low profile card OC do, im taking that as a good thing?
Or does anyone know of a good single bay card?

Any advice GFX gurus?

 

[cmndr_andi]

If you are limited to a single bay, but can do full-height then this card is the best bet imho. It is much more powerful than the GT 430 so will play games much better.

This review compares the GT 430 and the 5770 in the racing game Dirt 2. Please use the drop-down menu to look at the performance difference in other games.

 

[DiCe!]

That is exactly what im after you sire are a champion , is that a mini HDMI? havnt seen one of them before? if it is ill be snapping that up sharpish

 

[cmndr_andi]

I think that product description might be incorrect - looking at this review it has two DVI ports and one mini Display Port.

To convert the DVI to HDMI you will need an adapter like this. If you are relying on the HDMI for sound, then your best bet is to find an AMD/ATI DVI to HDMI adapter - as I'm not sure if these generic adapters do the pin-swapping that the ATI adapters do to pass through sound to a HDMI cable via the DVI port. If you are connecting the sound separately, then the generic adapter will be fine.

 

[DiCe!]

Grrrr i wanted the HDMI to do it all, Beginning to wonder if it will just be easier to split my aerial and then get a duel slot one for the HTPC and use the TV card in my main PC when i want to record.
Well, i have plenty to think about, cheers for the help one and all

 

[DiCe!]

In the end i went for the 5570 for my HTPC....and got a GTX 460 for my main rig to update my 8800GT, will get a longer HDMI and just play through the main rig when needed ....bad bad dice!