Best video card for new non-gaming, graphics / video editing and HTPC PC?

[MrNeutrino]

I'm about to start building a new Core 2 Duo based mATX PC using the Asus P5B-VM (G965 chipset).

I can't seem to pick the graphics solution and would like to request fellow ATers' help in picking the best solution out there / soon to be out there.


Main purpose:
- graphics editing (gimp / photoshop / photostitch / HDR image creation etc.)
- video editing and encoding
- HTPC tasks etc. on Vista.
- MAYBE... just maybe a short period of non-GPU intensive gaming once in a blue moon (read: frame rate not at all important).

Budget: $100... at most around $150.

MUST features:
- fan-less or VERY low-noise fan solution
- at least one DVI output, very much would like a dual-DVI solution

HIGH WANT features:
- single slot solution (so i don't waste another slot in the already cramped mATX setup)
- DX10 compatibility (to make this future / Vista-proof)
- H.264 HW decoding capability (is this even available?)

WANT features (good to have):
- HDCP compliant video out to make this setup Visata DRM infection proof
- HDMI output
- H.264 HW encoding capability (is there even such a card out there / on the horizon?)
- GPGPU utility to enable use of GPU for video encoding


Questions:
* Given this, what options do I have at present?
* Do you recommend I live with the G965 video solution for now, and wait for some R600 / 8xxx series cards soon to come in coming months?

 

[MrNeutrino]

Bump

 

[krotchy]

At the moment there are no DirectX 10 cards under 200 bucks, and definitely none single slot. However the Nvidia mid range cards should be out soon, dont know if they will fit into your 150 dollar budget.

You dont need HDMI out unless you know for sure you plan to route sound out of your video card. Otherwise a simple DVI->HDMI cable will suffice (see monoprice.com)

H.264 hardware decoding is available, but its not really in the best state yet. However I think Nvidia said to get 1080p h.264 decoding you need the best of the 8600 series cards when they come out. I suspect this card will be around 180 dolalrs or so.

 

[gsellis]

You have asked for unobtainium. The only video editor to use the GPU extensively is Pinnacle Studio/Avid Liquid (ATI is the best solution for those - 256MB if planning HDV editing). Your budget is up to $150, but you want HDMI, DX10, HDCP, quiet, single-slot.

What can you compromise on?

Edit - with DX10 and HDMI/HDCP, you can get an nVidia 7800/7900 or ATI 1900 chipset that will do most of what you want. Some decisions are still application driven as some apps may specify Quadro/FireGL.

 

[gsellis]

Update - The GForce 8500 is previewed on AT main page. It may fit the bill when it ships. Note that the 8800 STILL has issues with Pinnacle Studio and Avid Liquid. Don't know if this is a family thing or just the 8800 as no one has one yet.

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: MrNeutrino
I'm about to start building a new Core 2 Duo based mATX PC using the Asus P5B-VM (G965 chipset).

I can't seem to pick the graphics solution and would like to request fellow ATers' help in picking the best solution out there / soon to be out there.


Main purpose:
- graphics editing (gimp / photoshop / photostitch / HDR image creation etc.)
- video editing and encoding
- HTPC tasks etc. on Vista.
- MAYBE... just maybe a short period of non-GPU intensive gaming once in a blue moon (read: frame rate not at all important).

Budget: $100... at most around $150.

MUST features:
- fan-less or VERY low-noise fan solution
- at least one DVI output, very much would like a dual-DVI solution

HIGH WANT features:
- single slot solution (so i don't waste another slot in the already cramped mATX setup)
- DX10 compatibility (to make this future / Vista-proof)
- H.264 HW decoding capability (is this even available?)

WANT features (good to have):
- HDCP compliant video out to make this setup Visata DRM infection proof
- HDMI output
- H.264 HW encoding capability (is there even such a card out there / on the horizon?)
- GPGPU utility to enable use of GPU for video encoding


Questions:
* Given this, what options do I have at present?
* Do you recommend I live with the G965 video solution for now, and wait for some R600 / 8xxx series cards soon to come in coming months?

ATI HD 2400 Has every thing you want. HDMI , HDCP , H.264/VLC/Mepg 4 offloading/encoding/decoding , Vista Ultimate ready, AVIVO 2 Encoder. Card comes out soon.

 

[MrNeutrino]

Originally posted by: krotchy
At the moment there are no DirectX 10 cards under 200 bucks, and definitely none single slot. However the Nvidia mid range cards should be out soon, dont know if they will fit into your 150 dollar budget.

You dont need HDMI out unless you know for sure you plan to route sound out of your video card. Otherwise a simple DVI->HDMI cable will suffice (see monoprice.com)

H.264 hardware decoding is available, but its not really in the best state yet. However I think Nvidia said to get 1080p h.264 decoding you need the best of the 8600 series cards when they come out. I suspect this card will be around 180 dolalrs or so.

Interesting, didn't know there were DVI to/from HDMI type adapters. Yeah, this will most likely just be for some video editing + HTPC (display finished movies / slide shows etc.) hookup to HDTV. I can use the optical output of my soundcard (SB Audigy Platinum EX) for digital output.

Sounds like the upcoming mid-range Nvidia cards are what I should be keeping an eye out for. Cool.

Originally posted by: gsellis
You have asked for unobtainium. The only video editor to use the GPU extensively is Pinnacle Studio/Avid Liquid (ATI is the best solution for those - 256MB if planning HDV editing). Your budget is up to $150, but you want HDMI, DX10, HDCP, quiet, single-slot.

What can you compromise on?

Edit - with DX10 and HDMI/HDCP, you can get an nVidia 7800/7900 or ATI 1900 chipset that will do most of what you want. Some decisions are still application driven as some apps may specify Quadro/FireGL.

Originally posted by: gsellis
Update - The GForce 8500 is previewed on AT main page. It may fit the bill when it ships. Note that the 8800 STILL has issues with Pinnacle Studio and Avid Liquid. Don't know if this is a family thing or just the 8800 as no one has one yet.

Depending on the feature I get in return, I'm not stuck upon the $150 figure. If somehow magically tomorrow, there were to be a card out there that did (AND had great software support for) HW based video encoding, I'd shell out the extra 50-100 relatively quickly. However, the sorry state of software support around any such GPGPU hosted video encoding features - if they exist - makes me think I / we will be waiting for a while for this to become a 'practical' reality.

I don't think any of the apps I'll be using, require the professional family of video cards - just your usual photoshop & premiere elements, Virtual Dub etc. for extensive video & graphics editing. HTPC apps definitely won't require these pro level FireGL type cards.

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
ATI HD 2400 Has every thing you want. HDMI , HDCP , H.264/VLC/Mepg 4 offloading/encoding/decoding , Vista Ultimate ready, AVIVO 2 Encoder. Card comes out soon.

Awesome! I've mostly ignored video card details from a gaming standpoint for the past few years while monitoring any HTPC and other general benefits or features. It sounds like I need to start digging deeper into the latest Nvidia 8xxx family and ATI HD 2xxx family of cards.


In short then, it sounds like I'm a lot better off waiting around for these next-gen. card wars to start, benchmarks galore to make rounds on the net and prices to drop, before I start seriously considering an external card that 'has it all'.

Cool, I'll use the poor (due to lack of DVI output for graphics work) G965 based solution until then.

The wait is quite painful but I guess patience is a virtue.