Graphics with HDMI

fonetech · 4 Jun 2008 at 11:00

Once I finish Mozart PC360 I am planning to make my own HTPC system & Case

What graphics card with an hdmi will be the best ?

Andeh · 4 Jun 2008 at 11:02

any modern card should be fine, you can get DVI-HDMI cables pretty cheap. You don't neccessarily need a card with an HDMI port

adam2975 · 4 Jun 2008 at 11:26

I have also been looking into cards with a HDMI connection as my LCD dosn't like DVI - HDMI, the tv fails to recognise something is connected to it and won't display a picture.

So far i have been looking at one of these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-064-GW&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=356&name=Gainward%20GeForce%209600%20GT%20"Golden%20Sample"%20512MB%20GDDR3%20TV-Out/DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort%20(PCI-Express)%20-%20Retail%20(9115)

or

The Xpertvision 9600GT's which i can't link to.

I think the lower end ATI cards have HDMI too like the 8600's

I'm waiting until the new cards are released to see what happens (if anything) to the prices of these though.

RobertN · 4 Jun 2008 at 11:26

newer 9 series nvidia or 3 or 2 series ati will allow sound through the hdmi cable some even come with hdmi on board no need for a adaptor

if this is important to you avoid 8 series nvidia as these do not have the function to send sound via hdmi

fonetech · 4 Jun 2008 at 11:30

excellent, thanks for the advice guys

RobertN · 4 Jun 2008 at 11:31

adam2975 said:
I have also been looking into cards with a HDMI connection as my LCD dosn't like DVI - HDMI, the tv fails to recognise something is connected to it and won't display a picture.

So far i have been looking at one of these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-064-GW&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=356&name=Gainward%20GeForce%209600%20GT%20"Golden%20Sample"%20512MB%20GDDR3%20TV-Out/DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort%20(PCI-Express)%20-%20Retail%20(9115)

or

The Xpertvision 9600GT's which i can't link to.

I think the lower end ATI cards have HDMI too like the 8600's

I'm waiting until the new cards are released to see what happens (if anything) to the prices of these though.

I have a 9600gt and it is a good allround card great picture to my tv plays games fine i use a dvi to hdmi cable with a custom res of 1366 768 set in nvidia control panel 1.1 pin sharp

Alex R · 4 Jun 2008 at 12:13

As pointed out most cards will do DVi to HDMI. But a point to consider if you are going to build a HTPC is audio pass through via the HDMI cable. That way you can hook your HTPC up to your TV or, better still, AV receiver surround sound with a single cable rather than one for video and one/more for audio.

ATI cards pass through audio via the DVI>HDMI.

fonetech · 4 Jun 2008 at 12:38

yes i have decided on an ATI, I have always considered ATI cards give better quality than GeForces

Alex R · 4 Jun 2008 at 13:24

fonetech said:
yes i have decided on an ATI, I have always considered ATI cards give better quality than GeForces

Well I'm not getting into that one, just mentioning the audio pass through available via HDMI on the ATI cards. TBH, it might be available on the Geforce cards.

adam2975 · 4 Jun 2008 at 13:33

I had the HD3870 Ultimate Edition but as i said when using the dvi - hdmi adapter i couldn't always get a picture on my lcd tv, i went for ATI because of the audio pass through.

If ATI did a 3870 with a HDMI port i would buy another but the nv9600gt seems to be the only option i have come accross in that performance/price bracket.

The other reason i went for the Ultimate Edition is it's passive however the Sky HD box makes more noise than my laptop so it isn't such an issue to me now.

Edit: POV and Xpertvision actually do an 8800gt with a HDMI port.

bowza · 4 Jun 2008 at 14:41

i use an old agp 850xt pe to hook up to my tv via dvi-hdmi cable
i too had error no signal, this was due to the refresh rate of the card settings did not match the tv, all was fixed by dropping to 60htz.

looks rather good ona 46" screen

Bowza

adam2975 · 4 Jun 2008 at 15:03

The problem i had is a known issue by ATI which Sapphire confirmed to me, the DVI stops sending the EDID signal to the tv, the tv thinks nothing is attached so no signal (i do not get a no signal error just a black screen)

Anyway i sold the card on and i am using the onboard X3500 intel graphics for the moment so i can use the net and watch Bluerays for the moment at least.

I have never had a problem using the onboard gfx over hdmi to the tv.

BubbySoup · 4 Jun 2008 at 15:08

If you don't plan to game on your HTPC, go for a 780g motherboard.

No need for a graphics card, and with a low power AMD dual core CPU will decode any HD stuff you care to throw at it.

Alex R · 4 Jun 2008 at 15:16

BubbySoup makes a very valid point. It depends what you want to use your HTPC for. Since I wasn't interested in gaming ont he one I built and wanted a very low profile (DVD player size) I went for a board with integrated graphics/audio via hdmi. Plays HD DVD via an Xbox HD DVD player no probs (will have to consider getting a laptop Bluray player now!). Just make sure the CPU isn't actually too puny as it will be called on to do a fair bit of grunt work.

adam2975 · 4 Jun 2008 at 15:32

Some good spec info here if your not gaming on it.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17866006

wolvers · 4 Jun 2008 at 15:32

You might also want to consider HDCP. All parts have to be right for this - card, cable, TV etc.

A good way to be sure that this won't be an issue is to use a vga connection which is what I do as analogue connections don't have to be HDCP compliant to get full HD.

fonetech · 4 Jun 2008 at 16:31

BubbySoup said:
If you don't plan to game on your HTPC, go for a 780g motherboard.

No need for a graphics card, and with a low power AMD dual core CPU will decode any HD stuff you care to throw at it.

this is a very good plan, just looked at the gigabyte one and it looks exactly what I need

I will be getting an LG bluRay / HDTV drive, whats the minimum processor and memory do u reckon

Also whats the quietest hard drive to get ?

BubbySoup · 4 Jun 2008 at 16:55

The gigabyte is the board I have, can't recommend it enough for HTPC use

I have 2 Samsung 1TB F1's in my HTPC and I really cannot hear them.

To decode HD stuff, some review sites have been down under 2ghz with that 780G board and it still flies through blu-ray films. I have a 4850e (2.5Ghz) in mine.

I'm running Vista with 2Gb, 512Mb reserved for the on-board graphics.

Mediaportal is my choice of software, along with PowerDVD.

Hope this helps.

fonetech · 4 Jun 2008 at 17:16

BubbySoup said:
The gigabyte is the board I have, can't recommend it enough for HTPC use

I have 2 Samsung 1TB F1's in my HTPC and I really cannot hear them.

To decode HD stuff, some review sites have been down under 2ghz with that 780G board and it still flies through blu-ray films. I have a 4850e (2.5Ghz) in mine.

I'm running Vista with 2Gb, 512Mb reserved for the on-board graphics.

Mediaportal is my choice of software, along with PowerDVD.

Hope this helps.

You've been a huge help m8

Lanz · 4 Jun 2008 at 20:48

I also use the gigabyte 780G with a Athlon 4050e, its totally silent, cool, fast and does everything you throw at it. Im using Vista64 Media Center and it's rock solid.