Passive HDMI Audio HD Decoding Half Height Graphics Card

[Skeeter]

Hi all

Im well aware that passive cooled ATI cards are the bees knees when it comes to HTPC cards, but im after some advice for something that meets my rather specific requirements.

Im looking for a card that
- Is passively cooled
- Is half height and has a half height bracket included
- Has audio over HDMI that is decent, and comes with either a HDMI out or a DVI-HDMI adapter included
- Will be able to decode BluRay well should I stick a BDROM drive in later
- Is cheap, the cheaper the better

I think im right in saying that the ATI 3450s meet most of these requirements, so im interested in the ones that are package specific, like HDMI adapters and half height brackets.

any advice is greately appreciated

Cheers

 

[AbsenceJam]

There's no GPU that will completely satisfy audio requirements, the 48xx support 7.1 LPCM but it gets downsampled if it's high resolution and the 3xxx cards are bascially S/PDIF so it's DD/DTS or 2 channel LPCM.
Otherwise a 3450 is all good.

 

[Skeeter]

Im not after decent sound. If it gets plugged into any decent surround sound system then ill use a proper sound card etc, I just want 2 chanel HDMI audio to use on my possible 23" HDTV purchase, although if its hassle ill just use a cable from the sound out. Would just be neater to only need the 1 lead from HTPC to TV.

BTW, I have no idea what LPCM or DD/DTS is