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HDMI graphics card for media PC

Big Chris

Big Chris

Big Chris

Soldato
Joined
5 Apr 2004
Posts
5,461
Location
Bloxham
Currently connecting my media PC to my LG LED TV by VGA cable, but I'm getting a new AV receiver and it's been recommened I go for an HDMI graphics card to handle video and audio.

I've got a Lenovo small form factor PC with the following slots free:

One half-length, full-height, 32-bit PCI 2.3
One half-length, full-height, PCI Express x16

What would you guys recommend? I know next to nothing about this sort of thing so treat me like an idiot please :p. I won't be playing any games, just mp4/avi files.

Cheers :cool:
 
Don't know if the PC will take a full height card though:

2e1rg4p.jpg
 
Not sure they'll fit my case? The PC is approx 4" high and the dimensions of the HD 5450 say 5.43".

I've seen cards with low-profile brackets - assuming this is what I'm after?
 
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As Hyperseven said, you can unscrew the current plate and either detach the VGA cable from the board (might just pull/unclip, may need a pair of scissors/pliers) or just tuck it out of the way. You could just pop the card in without using a backplate at all, or purchase a single slot, low profile backplate suitable for that card. The bay are currently listing a "Low Profile Bracket HDMI & DVI for Half Height Graphics Video Cards ASUS PALIT" for £1.69 delivered that would work on either the 5450 or the 210.
 
Confused Stu said:
As Hyperseven said, you can unscrew the current plate and either detach the VGA cable from the board (might just pull/unclip, may need a pair of scissors/pliers) or just tuck it out of the way. You could just pop the card in without using a backplate at all, or purchase a single slot, low profile backplate suitable for that card. The bay are currently listing a "Low Profile Bracket HDMI & DVI for Half Height Graphics Video Cards ASUS PALIT" for £1.69 delivered that would work on either the 5450 or the 210.
Click to expand...
Ok cheers, are they easy enough to swap over?

ScoTTyBEEE said:
Is that a display port on the back? If so you can just get a DP to hdmi adaptor.
Click to expand...
It is yeah but I won't get audio through Display port.
 
Big Chris said:
Ok cheers, are they easy enough to swap over?

Should be. It's usually just a case of unscrew two little screws holding the existing plate on, pop the smaller one on and put the screws back in. Unfortunately, I haven't got either of the cards and can't confirm they are set up the same way (and Google Images has been no help - hundreds of pics of the front of the card, no pics of the back!)

It is yeah but I won't get audio through Display port.
Click to expand...

It might be possible to use something like a StarTech DP2HDS as this can pass audio through the DP port out to the HDMI connector. No personal experience, but that's what StarTech's website says it's designed for. Downside is that at almost £22 (cheapest I can find) it's almost the same price as a new GPU, so it comes down to how capable your current onboard GPU is, would the 5450/210 be an improvement or a downgrade?
 
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