Getting rid of a Radeon 4800, need something to replace...

[Shyatic]

I just need HDMI with audio over the same wire. My current 4800 only has DVI out, and for my home theater setup it won't do.

That said, I need a cheap card that will give me equal or better performance to my 4800. I am managing fine with the card, I play Counterstrike, Starcraft 2, and possibly WOW if I decide to resub. Power is an issue obviously, I don't want something crazy hungry. I read the budget system review for the holiday guide and it suggested the 5450 which is perfect for my price range, but I don't know how it stacks up against what I have now.

Any ideas and help I would greatly appreciate.

Thanks!

 

[happy medium]

I just need HDMI with audio over the same wire. My current 4800 only has DVI out, and for my home theater setup it won't do.

That said, I need a cheap card that will give me equal or better performance to my 4800. I am managing fine with the card, I play Counterstrike, Starcraft 2, and possibly WOW if I decide to resub. Power is an issue obviously, I don't want something crazy hungry. I read the budget system review for the holiday guide and it suggested the 5450 which is perfect for my price range, but I don't know how it stacks up against what I have now.

Any ideas and help I would greatly appreciate.

Thanks!

5450 is total CRAP.
A 5770 is = to your 4870 (is that what it is?)

The gtx460 768 is the best deal out there now for you. The 5770 is only like 20$ less but much slower.

 

[Shyatic]

5450 is total CRAP.
A 5770 is = to your 4870 (is that what it is?)

The gtx460 768 is the best deal out there now for you. The 5770 is only like 20$ less but much slower.

Yea, I have a 4870 1GB.

I'll search around for the GTX 460... will the available RAM make a difference? I'm at 1GB now.

 

[Qbah]

Any HD4800 card will destroy a HD5450. You're basically looking at 640 shaders (HD4830) or 800 shaders (HD4850/HD4870) vs. 80 (yep - HD5450). So from 8 to 10 times shader difference. Not to mention a huge difference in memory bandwidth.

Why don't you get a rev.B DVI->HDMI converter from ATi? Works like a charm with passing audio over HDMI (I tested it on many cards, from HD3450 to HD6850 without issues- it's the gray one). No need to change your card and it will cost you almost nothing (you actually probably got it with the card...).

EDIT: HD4870 1GB? 99% sure you got it with your card. And changing to a GTX460 768MB not really a huge upgrade, to a HD5770 is a side-grade at best.

EDIT2: This one:

 

[blanketyblank]

cheapest solution is to get an ATI compatible DVI to HDMI converter. Not sure if the one I linked to will work, but my old 4850 was able to sound via HDMI (it came with the dongle so I didn't need to buy one).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-007-_-Product

 

[Shyatic]

That is the best solution yet. Thanks for that

 

[Shyatic]

One side question... will that transmit 5.1 surround sound? I am looking to pair it with my home theater setup, and it would suck if it didn't.

 

[blanketyblank]

yes 4800s were able to do 5.1, but I think it depends on the source (I think AC3 worked). 5xxx series does bitstreaming so you have more audio options.

 

[Shyatic]

Hrmm.. might be more worth swapping the card for audio options as it's kind of a big deal

That aside, I will buy the adapter and see how it works, else you'll find my card on sale in the FS forum

 

[happy medium]

yes 4800s were able to do 5.1, but I think it depends on the source (I think AC3 worked). 5xxx series does bitstreaming so you have more audio options.

:thumbsup: