HTPC video cards - how do these look?

[AmberClad]

Would any of the following be a good pick for an HTPC card?

- HD3450
- 8400GS
- 8500GT

Any one of those that would be a better bang for the buck?

 

[v8envy]

Considering the new on-board video solutions for both AMD and NV can decode 1080p even with extreme budget (read: under $60) CPUs, what's the criteria for the bang?

The HD3XXX series cards support audio through HDMI so would be my pick of that litter for a Windows-based HTPC. If you're running Linux you're limited to NV offerings for video playback acceleration -- so probably the 8500GT.

 

[error8]

HD 3450 all the way.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: v8envy
Considering the new on-board video solutions for both AMD and NV can decode 1080p even with extreme budget (read: under $60) CPUs, what's the criteria for the bang?

I'm going to be upgrading my current board (it's incompatible with 45nm), so I plan on handing that down to the HTPC and adding a video card to it. I haven't tried the Intel IGP on it, but I don't have much faith in it.

Otherwise, if I went with a brand new DAAMIT or Nvidia chipset board that would be around the same price range as say, an HD3450 (~$60), I'd probably have to make compromises as far as the board features. I don't necessarily need the 4 RAM slots, RAID, eSATA, etc. that the current board has, but I'd rather have them just in case and not have to buy add-in cards later.

So anyways, the HD3450 is looking good at this point.