Ideal Graphics card for HTPC

[Verbium]

Hi guys,

I'm scratching my head at the moment over the choice of graphics cards for my HTPC at the moment. I can't seem to find anything in the nvidia range that supports CUDAs (for core avc hardware acc) that's passive or a practical single slot card.

Any suggestions?

 

[95thrifles]

a 220 would do you, but not sold here
link to NVidia page, maybe stick a product suggestion in, most gfx card sold here are high end for gaming purposes, but HTPC becoming more common so Im sure there should be enough demand for them to stock cards tailored to this market
Edit: sorry just been reading round and apparantly theyre only avaiable to OEMs?

 

[alex24]

If you could get hold of an 8600 GT that'd be a fairly good bet. Second hand shouldn't be a problem, and quite cheap, plus it can do CUDA. Not sure if nvidia have renamed it more than once, but a 9600 would do the same job. There are single slot versions around, and ones with nice quiet coolers that you'd never even hear in the machine. Gigabyte offer some passive cards, one of which that might be suitable is this one. They're not single slot though, as they need a big heatsink.

 

[lepercorn]

Can I suggest looking at the HD4670. Not the best graphics card for gaming - I am going to get one to keep my old computer going for one more year, but then I was going to use it in a HTPC. In particular looking at the Sapphire Ultimate HD4670 which is slightly overclocked and has a passive cooler (so will be silent essentially) and dosen't use a ton of power. It also has a HDMI output already built in to the back and will do most of the stuff that you should need - Blu-Ray, upscaling, eyc

Nice review here http://www.bigbruin.com/2009/sapphire4670_1

 

[Biffa]

HD4670 sort of misses out on a big requirement for the OP, CUDA