which card for HTPC?

[Ka0ticMind]

Hi guys...i'm looking to build a new system and need advice which would be the best card for my needs.
I've been looking at these cards...Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 3870 XT "Toxic Edition" 512MB GDDR4 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI......

Gainward GeForce 9600 GT "Golden Sample" 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort (PCI-Express)

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB Superclocked "Crysis Edition" GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)

The maximum resolution my monitor handles is 1440 x 900 (WXGA) Optimum..so which card would be best as i do want to play games like crysis / the witcher etc .... ..or any other card you could recommend

The system so far consists of the following.

Antec Fusion Black HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU
Asus P5K-VM Intel G33 Micro ATX Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 LGA775 'Yorkfield' 2.66GHz 12MB-cache (1333FSB)
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PQ PC2-8000C5
Hitachi Deskstar T7K500 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache
Asus Xonar DX 7.1 PCI-Express Sound Card
Scythe Mini Ninja CPU Cooler
LG GH20NS10 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1 64-Bit - OEM

Also will a 43oHE Watt PSU be enough to power the above?

Really appreciate any advice...anyone could give me....thanks in advance

 

[TheCenturion]

ATI cards are supposed to be better for htpc, but seeing as you want to game as well, I'm not sure

 

[Trunks9486]

HTPC? I thought these were meant to be low powered media machines and maybe occasional gaming...

Anyway! For the money, buy the cheapest 8800GT, dont pay a premium for overclocked editions as you are usually approaching next tier cards. i.e. if you wanna spend close to 150 go for 8800 GTS. Avoid 9600GT as it is too close to 8800GT and the 8800 is better overally but slightly more expensive.

Basically, it kind of goes like this.
HD3850512--> 9600GT --> 8800GT --> 8800GTS --> HD3870X2 --> 9800GX2
All cards being 512MB and the last two 1GB of memory. Taken at lowest possible price from here.

 

[Hesky82]

HTPC? I thought these were meant to be low powered media machines and maybe occasional gaming...
.

Yeah, a quad core in a HTPC not really a HTPC machine with his spec lol people are way to broad with the term "home theatre PC" its lost its focus imo.

Anyway I don’t see the point of the 9600GT when you can get an 8800GT for a smidge over 100 bucks.
The HD 3870XT is a quieter and cooler gfx card and as it decodes hd content its a great GFX card for HTPC use. Its not got as much processing grunt as the 8800gt But I would still have it over the GT if I was using it in a Media machine.

 

[mdjmcnally]

Your really asking the wrong question. What you should be asking is what card do I need for the games.

If the HTPC is the main use then I would seriously look at an AMD solution with a 780G based board and a x4850e 2.5gHz 45w processor.

Such a box can handle Bluray/HD-DVD playback at 1080P.

However if you have your heart set on a games rig then just get the card for the games (I would suggest the 8800GT) knowing it will be overkill for the HTPC section but needed for the games. I would also consider upgrading to a bigger PSU, probably the Corsair HX620.

 

[Hesky82]

If the HTPC is the main use then I would seriously look at an AMD solution with a 780G based board and a x4850e 2.5gHz 45w processor.

I like the 780G but the HD3200 IGP is basically just a HD3450, if you go for a 780G board your limiting yourself to am2 only, which isn’t a bad thing but it’s nice to be able to have more choice socket wise, could even run an MoDT with a 30w 2GHz c2d mobile chip if you wanted to save even more power than the energy efficient am2 chips. I’m just not a real fan of IGP.
Non of the above helps the OP though

 

[pumaz]

I have a HTPC based on the same case with Q6600 and 8800GTS and it's very quiet, far quieter than my 360 and PS3 and about as quiet as my Sky+ box. You would have to turn everything off and sit in silence to hear it.

Out of the current cards available i would get a 8800GTS because it as a better cooling solution than the 8800GT and a 8800GTX does not fit this case or you could wait a few weeks and get one of the newer cards.

BTW not everyone wants a HTPC just for media playback, with the advent of big LCD TV's they make formidable gaming machines, I'm currently enjoying GRID on mine

 

[Hesky82]

BTW not everyone wants a HTPC just for media playback, with the advent of big LCD TV's they make formidable gaming machines, I'm currently enjoying GRID on mine

Being the pedantic person I am I think a Home Theatre PC is a system that is used to play and store music and movies only. If its used to play games also its just a full blown PC in a non tower case.

Is your pc really as quite as a PS3 when playing back movies?? My PS3 switches its single fan off completely when its not rendering games and gets away with running passively. Im sure the fan from the PSU, CPU, GFX and also 3.5" HDD drive however slow they spin will not be as silent as PS3 when playing back films, playing games is another thing though, in a hot room the PS3 can get silly noisy!!

 

[Ka0ticMind]

Hi..thanks for all the replies
Well the main use will be music production and gaming....just really liked the look of the antec case hence building a HTPC system... but think i will consider other options now...and go for a 8800GT, how are the drivers now under vista64?

 

[adam2975]

I'm looking to get the Palit GeForce 9600GT Sonic as it comes with a HDMI port and a S/PDIF port and it's a bit cheaper than the Gainward GS, i can't be bothered with adapters and dvi to hdmi cables.

I am told it's pretty quite too, i had a HD3870 Ultimate passive solution but it was just a little big as the heatsink actually had about 1mm to spare between it and the fan on the sythe mini ninja.

 

[Hesky82]

Keep in mind the audio out on that 9600GT is only a 2 channel S/PDIF loop from the motherboard. The onboard audio on the HD3000 series is a much better multi-channel 5.1 output.

 

[pumaz]

Being the pedantic person I am I think a Home Theatre PC is a system that is used to play and store music and movies only. If its used to play games also its just a full blown PC in a non tower case.

In my opinion a HTPC is a PC in a case that blends in with the rest of your Home Theatre equipment and sits under your TV not even looking like a PC, The rest is completely up to the Individual. I chose to have a top spec HTPC because first and foremost i'm a gamer and being able to game on a big screen TV was my main drive for getting a HTPC but i also use it for movies, music etc. although i do tend to play DVD's through the PS3 as It's easier.

Is your pc really as quite as a PS3 when playing back movies?? My PS3 switches its single fan off completely when its not rendering games and gets away with running passively. Im sure the fan from the PSU, CPU, GFX and also 3.5" HDD drive however slow they spin will not be as silent as PS3 when playing back films, playing games is another thing though, in a hot room the PS3 can get silly noisy!!

Yes it is honestly that quiet, I have good quality cooling and quiet fans fitted.
The case is also kept in a cabinet along with the rest of my gear behind glass doors but with a open back which also helps keep things quiet. I also have what i call my main desktop rig (ubber PC) that i've spent a fortune on and i would say the HTPC is also quieter than that although on paper it shouldn't be.

I'm one of those people that couldn't just settle for something that played movies and music, my instinct is to max it out!