Htpc/Openelec/Graphics question

[phillyman36]

Been playing with Openelec on old pc parts. Don't like the video quality using onboard graphics. Heard its better to use a Nvidia gpu so just wondering what cards do people suggest(card series range)? I'm not running windows and won't be playing video games. Would this be ok?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...f_rd_i=desktop


Im guessing there would not be a difference in getting something like the gt 610 vs a 750 right?

celeron 1850
Z87 deluze
8 gigs ram

 

[Binky]

I never suggest any of the Nvidia x10 or x20 parts. They are just too slow. I'd be surprised if they were better than your onboard video. What is wrong with the onboard video?

Per this site, the 610 is almost exactly the same in performance as the HD graphics.
http://www.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu/NVIDIA+GeForce+GT+610/review

If you want to stay Nvidia, look for something at least in the x30 range. You can mostly ignore the first digit down to at least the 4xx series, since even the 430 performs very well for basic HTPC use.

Nvidia and AMD are very similar for HTPC use. The only real difference I notice is in certain driver settings, like overscan. Realistically, there is no perceivable difference between cards of similar performance and quality levels.

 

[phillyman36]

Sometimes(not all the time) I see a little bit of noise on certain episodes of the Strain tv series(blu ray iso). I brought a long hdmi cable and tried the same episode with Kodi installed om my main pc and don't see the noise in the same spots.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I never suggest any of the Nvidia x10 or x20 parts. They are just too slow. I'd be surprised if they were better than your onboard video. What is wrong with the onboard video?

Per this site, the 610 is almost exactly the same in performance as the HD graphics.
http://www.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu/NVIDIA+GeForce+GT+610/review

If you want to stay Nvidia, look for something at least in the x30 range. You can mostly ignore the first digit down to at least the 4xx series, since even the 430 performs very well for basic HTPC use.

Nvidia and AMD are very similar for HTPC use. The only real difference I notice is in certain driver settings, like overscan. Realistically, there is no perceivable difference between cards of similar performance and quality levels.

You are correct about the 430. That is a great HTC card. The 730 is the best ever.

You are wrong about AMD and Nvidia though. In Linux AMD should simply not be used.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Sometimes(not all the time) I see a little bit of noise on certain episodes of the Strain tv series(blu ray iso). I brought a long hdmi cable and tried the same episode with Kodi installed om my main pc and don't see the noise in the same spots.

The best GPU for Linux HTPC use if you really care about image quality is Nvidia.

 

[phillyman36]

The best GPU for Linux HTPC use if you really care about image quality is Nvidia.

So I should stick with a x30 and above. Would there be much difference between say a 630 and a 730?

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GT630...eywords=gt+630

vs

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-P...eywords=gt+630

 

[poofyhairguy]

So I should stick with a x30 and above. Would there be much difference between say a 630 and a 730?

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GT630...eywords=gt+630

vs

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-P...eywords=gt+630

If it is a V2 630 it is practically the same card. If it is a V1 630 it is barely better than a 430. There are 384 Cuda Cores in the V2 so that is a V2 model. So either one is good.

 

[phillyman36]

If it is a V2 630 it is practically the same card. If it is a V1 630 it is barely better than a 430. There are 384 Cuda Cores in the V2 so that is a V2 model. So either one is good.

Ok. Thanks for yours and everyone's help.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Ok. Thanks for yours and everyone's help.

Good choice. That is what I have. If you still see issues you need to put the post-processing setting at 20%.