Best HTPC videocard

[Team Spicoli]

Hello everyone,

I'm getting closer to gathering the pieces of the puzzle together to craft a very good HTPC, and I'm now researching into the best/or very good HD HTPC videocard to fit into an Antec Nine Hundred case (specs found in link below). The card's sole function for me will be to stream stored media (dvd's, hd-dvd backups, music).

I read a very interesting article (see link below) which compared high-end graphics cards to high-end dvd players, and **spoiler alert** after VERY thorough analysis/benchmark tests, nVidia reigned supreme. So, I'm hoping the consensus here will lean towards nVidia, however I don't want to compromise my build because of one article.

Antec Nine Hundred

(Chose this case for it's cooling capabilities)

Graphics Card Article

Thanks in advance

 

[nosfe]

why would you want an antec 900 for a htpc anyway? it's got way to many fans for that, couldn't you find something quieter?

as for graphics cards, i'd say a radeon 4550 though you could also go with an 9500 gt if you prefer nvidia, by the way, that article you pointed to is hopelessly out of date, image quality is a wash these days no one as the upper hand. Here, anandtechs recent video card recommendation article
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3479

 

[Team Spicoli]

Thanks.
Yeah, I know the 900 is overkill, I just wanted the temperature to remain really cool. . . hey, it's my first build.

Thanks for the link.

 

[nosfe]

the thing is, a htpc is made for watching movies so you don't need powerful video cards or processors. That's why you shouldn't bother with airflow so much and try to use as few fans as possible(weak cpu's and gpu's don't produce much heat anyway). You don't want to hear the fans while watching movies, right?

 

[yh125d]

Originally posted by: nosfe
the thing is, a htpc is made for watching movies so you don't need powerful video cards or processors. That's why you shouldn't bother with airflow so much and try to use as few fans as possible(weak cpu's and gpu's don't produce much heat anyway). You don't want to hear the fans while watching movies, right?

Good information here


And I recommended a G45 board in your other thread for a reason Intel's newest integrated graphics actually has the necessary grunt for HD content

 

[nyker96]

OP for HTPC maybe you want a quiet case like P182 since you will be watching TV when the comp is on. just a thought. A900 is still a good case though but more for gaming crowd.

 

[Keysplayr]

Experimenting with HTPC right now actually. I'm running the Phenom 9550 rig in my sig except with one 9800GTX+.
I'm using DVI to HDMI adapter, and audio over HDMI with the SPDIF cable. Works nice. And it's not even audible sitting next to my TV. I dont' hear the HTPC anyway while watching a movie. Antec 900 though? Yeah, you probably would. Now, I didn't need a 9800GTX+ is this machine. But I'm a gamer and always want that option. CoD4 on a 46" LCD Samsung is quite nice.
And movies are ridiculously beautiful. I'm in awe, actually. I have an LG blue-ray player on the way. See how that goes.

 

[s44]

The key for HTPC at this point is getting a card that will output full multichannel PCM over HDMI.

I believe only ATI separate cards do that now, though some integrated Nvidia chipsets do it also.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Either a cheapo board with HD4550 or HD4670, or the Geforce 9300/9400 nVIDIA IGP should do it.

 

[Team Spicoli]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Oh well, with respect to the case, it's a tad too late, as the case was the first thing I purchased, and the timeframe is way out of a return policy. Again, first build, and learning as I go. I hope the noise won't bother me too much.

Does anyone have any information as to which nVIDIA cards have the integrated chip set that outputs full multichannel PCM audio over HDMI?

Thanks also for the input about the Intel specs being ideal for HD content. Good to know. I will miss the cult-like appeal of AMD though. . . . oh well.

Take care for now.

 

[bobross419]

Couldn't you stick a resistor/pot inline with the fan wires to cut down on speeds/noise?

Would take some electronics skills to implement, but could be fairly cheap and you would still be able to use that case without excessive noise...

Just a thought, I know less about HTPC than everyone that has posted in this thread so far

 

[Team Spicoli]

Does anyone have any information as to which nVIDIA cards have the integrated chip set that outputs full multichannel PCM audio over HDMI?

Thanks

 

[ther00kie16]

Do you mean which motherboards? I believe 8 series a newer so for Intel, it'll be a 9 series motherboard. Just find one that has all the inputs/outputs you want. A G43 would be considerably cheaper but I don't know what that's missing compared to the G45.
If you aren't gaming or doing any heavy work or editing videos and such, you might want to consider AMD + nvidia 8200 mb because both parts would be cheaper. Oh and upgrade to Deneb wouldn't require changing platforms.

 

[Dadofamunky]

For Intel HTPC microATX boards, I would stay away from Gigabyte. All their current microATX boards only support 4X on their PCIE slot! Check out NewEgg. Asus has a better selection, as I'm sure others do.

Anything other than microATX isn't really an HTPC. But any good PC can be made to do the same job...

 

[Team Spicoli]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
Do you mean which motherboards?

Sorry, I thought the poster above was referring to a videocard.

Should I go with ATI or nVidia for the videocard? I need something to get the best picture quality from my stored HiDef content.

Thanks.

 

[ther00kie16]

No need to get a dedicated video card for HD unless you are upgrading an older machine. So just get a G45 or nvidia 9000 northbridge motherboard. Both integrated graphics will output HD just fine.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

In regards the the Antec 900, if you set the tri-cool fans that come with it all to low, it is quite hard to hear them at all. Honestly, the most annoying part about it will be the blue LEDs, which can be fixed by either hiding the case or snipping the LED power

 

[SLU Aequitas]

*ACK* Stupid double post. Please delete me!

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Team Spicoli
Hello everyone,

I'm getting closer to gathering the pieces of the puzzle together to craft a very good HTPC, and I'm now researching into the best/or very good HD HTPC videocard to fit into an Antec Nine Hundred case (specs found in link below). The card's sole function for me will be to stream stored media (dvd's, hd-dvd backups, music).

I read a very interesting article (see link below) which compared high-end graphics cards to high-end dvd players, and **spoiler alert** after VERY thorough analysis/benchmark tests, nVidia reigned supreme. So, I'm hoping the consensus here will lean towards nVidia, however I don't want to compromise my build because of one article.

Antec Nine Hundred

(Chose this case for it's cooling capabilities)

Graphics Card Article

Thanks in advance

Your article is 3 years old been a few changes for the better since then

Originally posted by: Team Spicoli

Should I go with ATI or nVidia for the videocard? I need something to get the best picture quality from my stored HiDef content.

Thanks.

I believe this has been answered in one of your other threads. There are multiple 'onboard' options from AMD, Intel and nVidia which off-load h.264 processing from the cpu and do not require a discreet video card.




And may I suggest you PM a mod and consolidate your threads?

 

[Team Spicoli]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: Team Spicoli
Hello everyone,

I'm getting closer to gathering the pieces of the puzzle together to craft a very good HTPC, and I'm now researching into the best/or very good HD HTPC videocard to fit into an Antec Nine Hundred case (specs found in link below). The card's sole function for me will be to stream stored media (dvd's, hd-dvd backups, music).

I read a very interesting article (see link below) which compared high-end graphics cards to high-end dvd players, and **spoiler alert** after VERY thorough analysis/benchmark tests, nVidia reigned supreme. So, I'm hoping the consensus here will lean towards nVidia, however I don't want to compromise my build because of one article.

Antec Nine Hundred

(Chose this case for it's cooling capabilities)

Graphics Card Article

Thanks in advance

Your article is 3 years old been a few changes for the better since then

Originally posted by: Team Spicoli

Should I go with ATI or nVidia for the videocard? I need something to get the best picture quality from my stored HiDef content.

Thanks.

I believe this has been answered in one of your other threads. There are multiple 'onboard' options from AMD, Intel and nVidia which off-load h.264 processing from the cpu and do not require a discreet video card.




And may I suggest you PM a mod and consolidate your threads?

Thanks.

Multiple options as you put it, doesn't narrow down the field. That's the point of this thread, to narrow down the "options" to just a few, or two.

 

[badnewcastle]

I want to second the cry's about the Antec 900 which will be way loud and annoying for an HTPC implementation.

 

[Team Spicoli]

Too late to do anything about the case, I will just have to live with it. Sorry to have offended the HTPC Case Gods