Shuttle Gfx card reqd

[marcus2704]

Im building a media centre PC for my SG33 Shuttle, and want to be able to run Blu-Ray & HD-DVD files. Ive a C2D 6750 CPU, 2GB ram, but I need a suitable graphics card.

Bearing in mind the size of the shuttle limits many cards, I thought about the 2600Pro - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-155-SP.

As I wont be playing games on this, I dont need the high-end cards, and wanted to spend less than £50 if possible.

Would this be sufficient, or are there any other recommendations?

 

[marcus2704]

Id really like to buy a card, but need help making that final decision - anyone..?

 

[Cyber-Mav]

48quid inc delivery will get you a 8600gt, deffo worth going for it since it has very low power consumption and very low heat output, and the purevideo HD processor works in window xp as well as vista, where as ati's uvd decoder only works in vista.

 

[marcus2704]

Thanks for the reply, it *looks* like its slim enough to fit into my shuttle - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-058-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912 -
Longer term I may use my shuttle as a HTPC, should I be looking for a card with HDMI out (as opposed to this one which has 2 x DVI)?

And sorry for the probably obvious queston, but HDCP means that it wont be compromised for non-compliancy when I get round to playing HD discs or HD media from the HDD, even if its not a HDMI output?

 

[Stephen B]

I have a 512 meg 8600gt in my sd37p2, and I am still undecided if it genuinely has enough grunt to play large 1080p files, on paper it should, but I have a few 1080p films that do struggle.

I generally use Vlc player, have tried others and even the latest fddshow with dual core support with no apparent improvements.

I could be down to the method in which the media was re-encoded from source, but I am not too keen on locating the source and re-encoding myself tbh

With all other material it seems absolutely fine, and you may be underestimating the available room in your SG33, I just installed an 8800GT in my 250w SG31g2 and it seems to be running fine with respectable heat levels.

I realise that particular card is well outwith your budget, but maybe the info will give you alternatives to consider, albeit the 2 previously suggested would seem to fit the bill adequately