HTPC gfx card

LizardKing · 4 Jul 2012 at 11:26

The HD4250 IGP i currently use is absolutely pants at playing HDtv so i'm on the lookout of replacing it. Everything else is fine, just HD channels....

Dont need any gaming performance so as long as its cool, quiet and decodes HD signals, MKV's etc well then it will do.

Tempted by the 5450 but the 6450 is only £7 more, but revies suggest it runs hotter and doesnt bring much else to the table? Unless i'm missing something?

Any comparable Nvidia's? GT610 of GT520 are both similarly priced

Thanks

vintage-x · 4 Jul 2012 at 23:58

I use a 5450 passive in mine with a first gen intel core 2 duo and it plays everything I throw at it including uncompressed blu-ray

easyrider · 5 Jul 2012 at 09:41

5450 job done

LizardKing · 5 Jul 2012 at 09:46

vintage-x said:
I use a 5450 passive in mine with a first gen intel core 2 duo and it plays everything I throw at it including uncompressed blu-ray

Thats what i've gone for, £15 from the b-grade section, if its useless it can just be used as a spare.

Seems to cope with most post processing with the exception of vector adaptive. It would have been nice but no point shelling out £50 for a card capable of it.

Freefaller · 5 Jul 2012 at 14:21

I have a 6450 1gb with passive cooling, and it copes beautifully. The HTPC is running at 1080 without issues either.

lsg1r · 5 Jul 2012 at 16:43

ati 5450 with s939 x2 4200 and haven't had any issues here...
use it with shark codecs and just set h264 to lav and plays everything I've thrown at it so far

ArchAnGeL · 5 Jul 2012 at 19:25

5450 passive. As everyone says copes well but also no messing around with bitstreaming audio or 24p problems - just works.

Only issue I have is loss of hdmi handshake between pc and tv via av receiver when the tv is switched off and results loss of resolution and sound. Switch av reeiver on and off and it is back. There is a fix I believe by editing edid info but not got it to work yet. No big deal though

C.R.A.Z.Y · 6 Jul 2012 at 14:20

I use Asus GT520 passive in my HTPC's, nvidia have far better driver support in linux.

Freefaller · 6 Jul 2012 at 14:22

Agreed with the above. However, running WHS2011, wasn't going to cause me any issues with an ATI card.

andy_mk3 · 6 Jul 2012 at 14:23

I use a 6450 passive too, great little card!

james.miller · 6 Jul 2012 at 18:50

LizardKing said:
The HD4250 IGP i currently use is absolutely pants at playing HDtv so i'm on the lookout of replacing it. Everything else is fine, just HD channels....

Dont need any gaming performance so as long as its cool, quiet and decodes HD signals, MKV's etc well then it will do.

Tempted by the 5450 but the 6450 is only £7 more, but revies suggest it runs hotter and doesnt bring much else to the table? Unless i'm missing something?

Any comparable Nvidia's? GT610 of GT520 are both similarly priced

Thanks

the 4250 should have no problems with HD video. if you want to splash money, get a 5 series card of you dont need 3d, get a 6 series if you do.

LizardKing · 6 Jul 2012 at 19:26

Bah, ordered a ATi5450 16:30 on wednesday missing the next day cutt-off and RM failed to deliver today, meaning i now have to wait till monday

Mini rant over!

james.miller said:
the 4250 should have no problems with HD video. if you want to splash money, get a 5 series card of you dont need 3d, get a 6 series if you do.

It handles it ok but the picture quality is shockingly poor when watching TV so needs post processing applying and thats where it lacks

413x · 6 Jul 2012 at 20:15

Have a 6950 in mine. Does the job