8800 GTS 640MB vs Radeon HD 4870 512MB

[olds]

I am using my desktop for a HTPC while I figurwe out if I need/want a dedicated HTPC.
Right now I have a 640 MB 8800GTS for a video card. I don't have a DVI adapter that works so I am using S Video to component on the Panny 50", 1080i TV. The picture quality is lacking. We sit 8 - 10 feet and if there is some text in a movie like a letter that the audience must read, we can't make it out. TV has two resolutions and one is not better than the other.

I can get a 512MB HD 4870 for about $150 and use DVI to HDMI on the TV.

Would that be a good upgrade or should I just try to find a DVI adapter for the 8800GTS?

We watch DVDs/cable HD movies/Hulu and I play game on it.

Specs
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz
Motherboard: ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP
Memory: 4GB (1GB X 4) CORSAIR DDR2 PC2 5300
Video Card: ASUS 8800GTS 640MB
PSU: Corsair 520 Watt
OS: Vista 32

 

[erwos]

IIRC, you can pipe audio out using the 4870's DVI to HDMI adapter using some sort of crazy trick AMD came up with. That alone could be rather useful.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: erwos
IIRC, you can pipe audio out using the 4870's DVI to HDMI adapter using some sort of crazy trick AMD came up with. That alone could be rather useful.

Yep, even my 3870 does this. Which is why I got it last year.

 

[Trianon]

I bought DVI-HDMI cable at monoprice and everything works great... I have 8800GTS 320mb+Panasonic 1080i. just get the cable, much cheaper then upgrading videocard

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Trianon
I bought DVI-HDMI cable at monoprice and everything works great... I have 8800GTS 320mb+Panasonic 1080i. just get the cable, much cheaper then upgrading videocard

I agree. I'm using this exact cable with my 9500GT with great results. I know it's not the same video card, but as long as your DVI ports work, then the DVI-to-HDMI cable should do the trick.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Trianon
I bought DVI-HDMI cable at monoprice and everything works great... I have 8800GTS 320mb+Panasonic 1080i. just get the cable, much cheaper then upgrading videocard

I agree. I'm using this exact cable with my 9500GT with great results. I know it's not the same video card, but as long as your DVI ports work, then the DVI-to-HDMI cable should do the trick.

But not with audio, which was my point.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Trianon
I bought DVI-HDMI cable at monoprice and everything works great... I have 8800GTS 320mb+Panasonic 1080i. just get the cable, much cheaper then upgrading videocard

I agree. I'm using this exact cable with my 9500GT with great results. I know it's not the same video card, but as long as your DVI ports work, then the DVI-to-HDMI cable should do the trick.

But not with audio, which was my point.

I agree that it won't do audio, but I don't even know what kind of audio setup the OP has. He might not even use HDMI for audio, and the point would be moot.

Anyways, my recommendation was mainly to solve his current issue, which is that the picture looks bad. Rather than spending $150 on a 4870 to "figure out if I need/want a dedicated HTPC" he can spend less than $10 on a cable.

If he does decide to build a dedicated HTPC and can take advantage of the HDMI audio, then I agree that he should definitely get a video card capable of doing that. I personally don't have an HDMI receiver, so it wasn't worth it to me to spend more on a card that had that capability.

 

[olds]

Thanks for the input. I'll order the cable kalrith linked to and try that first.
EDIT
None available.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Thanks for the input. I'll order the cable kalrith linked to and try that first.
EDIT
Oops maybe not, it's not available. Checking for different length.

Yeah, it looks like none of the cheap ones are in stock. Several of them have today as their ETA date, so hopefully you'll be able to order them soon.

 

[olds]

Blue Jeans has it, for $13 more...

 

[s44]

Use this then.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: s44
Use this then.

I bought one of those from Radio Shack. I get no signal with it.

 

[kalrith]

Monoprice has the 3ft, 10ft, and 15ft versions of my cable in stock now.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: s44
Use this then.

I bought one of those from Radio Shack. I get no signal with it.

did you change the setup in the nvidia display to dualview? You don't need an adaptor, just a dvi-hdmi cable.