Looking for a cheap low-profile HTPC card

[amheck]

There's a bunch of 3450 cards that aren't out yet - and I just don't want to settle for Powercooler and Sapphire.

In the mean time, I really want a cheap low-profile PCI-e card to get the TV signal from my HTPC to my TV. Would the x300 or x1300 be fine? I really just need something with component out at the moment.

We're looking to upgrade our RPTV to a plasma and I'll be getting a HDMI receiver and will shop for the best 3450 card then. Just looking for someting temp. to hold me over.

Thanks!
Aaron

 

[angry hampster]

Are you an ATI fanboy or would you consider Nvidia cards? If so, an 8400GS would be plenty for HTPC usage, not just a place holder. Here's a fanless one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814141068

 

[Binky]

ATI cards do extremely well in HTPC machines. You don't have to be a "fanboy" to prefer ATI for this use.

I see a couple of low profile HD2400 cards at newegg for $30 or less. I also used an x1300 pretty successfully in MCE2005. It didn't have the power to run HDTV content smoothly under Vista (oh, how I love/hate Vista).

 

[AzN]

You might want to go with 2600pro. I've heard that 2400pro aren't powerful enough for 1080p.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Azn
You might want to go with 2600pro.

I haven't seen a low profile 2600 Pro.

I have seen a low profile x1650 Pro (Sapphire @Newegg), and a low profile 8500GT (Galaxy @NCIXUS). With the 8500GT I'd say that the OP would not have to upgrade again.

 

[hans007]

the ati cards with hdmi are a lot better for an htpc because they carry the audio, or have a built in sound processor. most of the nvidia cards that have hdmi require at least a spdif pass through or dont carry audio at all. the ati cards are better at vc1 i think also.

 

[firewolfsm]

Hate to back nvidia, but there's a great 8500GT out there, low profile with HDMI and DVI, full 1080P, etc.

 

[amheck]

hey guys,

thanks for the suggestions. Seems like there's a few options out there.

I originally wanted to go ATI cause I thought they drew a little less power than the NVidia counterpart. I think I saw a post (maybe it was over on avs forums) and was surprised at how much more the NVidias card needed.

I did find an Asus 3450 over on ewiz.com. Still trying to determine if I should go fanless or not. The HTPC case is fairly tight and small, and I don't want to go over heating things...