HTPC Video Card 3850 or 8800 GT 256mb

[bfdd]

Both have hd decoding onboard so I can get away with a slightly overclocked e2140, both are relatively cheap especially since I can get a 3850 for around 160. Just curious which would be better for hd-dvd and blu-ray decoding.

 

[daveybrat]

Both would be a great choice, but since i haven't seen a 256MB 8800GT under $209, i would say the 3850 for $160 is a much better choice.

 

[JustaGeek]

Just get the Best Buy coupon and run to Best Buy - my post should still be on the same page.

BFG 8800GT OC for $221.75 + tax.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Just get the Best Buy coupon and run to Best Buy - my post should still be on the same page.

BFG 8800GT OC for $221.75 + tax.

I thought this expired about a week ago.

I'd go with the 3850.

 

[bfdd]

I was thinking 3850 too because I can get one now for 160. I don't plan on having the thing completely put together till around March or whatever, but I just got a e2140 for cheaper than retail and I got the Abit Fatality F-I90HD for free. So I figured I'd pick up an HD3850 or 8800GT 256mb instead of using the onboard and pick up one of the new dual channel hdtv tuner cards. Wish I could get the one with the cable card in it, but I guess it's OEM only. So *shrug* going to be slowly building this up till I have 4x500gb harddrives collected, nice htpc case, and HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Just get the Best Buy coupon and run to Best Buy - my post should still be on the same page.

BFG 8800GT OC for $221.75 + tax.

Not every bestbuy carrys the 8800GT. In fact no store in my area ever got it in.

 

[bfdd]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Just get the Best Buy coupon and run to Best Buy - my post should still be on the same page.

BFG 8800GT OC for $221.75 + tax.

Not every bestbuy carrys the 8800GT. In fact no store in my area ever got it in.

The one closest to me doesn't which is meh, but the 3850 will do me better.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

3850...

the 8800gt fan is really loud, louder than my Delta 12x38mm fan spinning at 2000rom. its this annoying high pitched whine

and plus, the 3850 is cheaper and can do anything the 8800 can do in a htpc

 

[bfdd]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
3850...

the 8800gt fan is really loud, louder than my Delta 12x38mm fan spinning at 2000rom. its this annoying high pitched whine

and plus, the 3850 is cheaper and can do anything the 8800 can do in a htpc

Yeah, I was more interested in the hd decoding. I haven't seen anything comparing the two only the 8600 and 2600 but I know they both do it I'm just curious which is better. Price wise the 3850 is really drawing me especially since the low power draw and how quiet it is. Plus if I ever felt like not moving from my TV and playing a little WoW I could just load it up and run fine.

 

[lopri]

Another vote for 3850. But to be honest I'm waiting to hear first-hand experiences of G35 / GF7150 / 690G. $150~$200 just for HD playback seems a bit too much if any of the on-board GPUs can actually take care of 1080p. GF7050 was not capable of dealing with 1080p smoothly, but NV will not give a smooth 1080p to their on-board GPUs unless they have to, anyway. (Gotta sell those 8600s, eh?) There is one G35 board out there but the reviews are scarce.. I really hope the G35 can handle 1080p without a hiccup.

 

[bfdd]

Originally posted by: lopri
Another vote for 3850. But to be honest I'm waiting to hear first-hand experiences of G35 / GF7150 / 690G. $150~$200 just for HD playback seems a bit too much if any of the on-board GPUs can actually take care of 1080p. GF7050 was not capable of dealing with 1080p smoothly, but NV will not give a smooth 1080p to their on-board GPUs unless they have to, anyway. (Gotta sell those 8600s, eh?) There is one G35 board out there but the reviews are scarce.. I really hope the G35 can handle 1080p without a hiccup.

My board can do 720p and 1080i, but even on the abit site doesn't say 1080p so I'm looking to get another card in it. 3850 seems like the best buy period atm.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: bfdd

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
3850...

the 8800gt fan is really loud, louder than my Delta 12x38mm fan spinning at 2000rom. its this annoying high pitched whine

and plus, the 3850 is cheaper and can do anything the 8800 can do in a htpc

Yeah, I was more interested in the hd decoding. I haven't seen anything comparing the two only the 8600 and 2600 but I know they both do it I'm just curious which is better. Price wise the 3850 is really drawing me especially since the low power draw and how quiet it is. Plus if I ever felt like not moving from my TV and playing a little WoW I could just load it up and run fine.

yea then the 3850 is a much better choice. and pretty sure WoW isn't a hardcore gpu-killer. i think a 6600 can max it out at normal resolutions a 3850 can def play it at any setting

 

[Butterbean]

Its been hard to slog through fanboi muckupery and find info on the HTPC front but it seems in the AV forums the ATI is held in higher regard. But things like the ATI HDMI is nice but not as nice as it appears due to the standard used. But more people say the ATI run smoother with better image and it seems they work better with muliple monitor configurations. I saved some threads

http://forum.ncix.com/forums/i...count=17&overclockid=0

ATI Radeon HD 3850 - New King of Cards for HTPC Owners?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=941878

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=930275


Some people mention the 8800GT not having hd purevideo offload hardware but that was the old 8800GT - G92 has it.