Minimum GPU for HTPC

[lifeblood]

I am going to build a HTPC for my mother. What is the minimum GPU needed for HD content? Or should I actually ask what is the minimum CPU/GPU needed for HD content? I have bought nothing yet. Would a Llano A4-3300 suffice? Or a Sandy Bridge i3? Or a whatever CPU with a NV/AMD discreet card?

She has a 40” 1080P TV, no external speakers or stereo system, but wants headphones so she can listen without disturbing others. A pretty plain Jane setup actually.

The biggest thing I’m looking for is reliability. That means good drivers. I’ve heard Intel fails in this area. Is that correct?

 

[ss284]

The integrated video in recent processors should suit your mom's needs just fine. 2.0 channel audio with hardware flash and h.264 acceleration is supported on the processors you list.

I would go with the llano due to driver concerns.

 

[Claudius-07]

I've used the integrated Intel HD video and also an ATI 4550 and recently built a system using XBMC and an nvidia 430 GT. In all cases, 1080p, audio pass-through, no issues. Choose your poison.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Go with an AMD APU

 

[DaveSimmons]

Since this is not for gaming, if you don't care about 24 fps vs. 23.9999 fps playback (the main failing of HD2000 drivers) I'd get a cheap sandy bridge dual core Celeron G530 at $52 and a H61 motherboard. 4 GB (2 x 2 GB or a single 4 GB stick) is enough. For non-gaming you don't really need dual channel.

The CPU is fast enough to software=decode anything that the HD2000 graphics can't hardware-accelerate.

 

[infoiltrator]

What you find on sale or in combo price?

 

[birthdaymonkey]

What does your mom need an HTPC to do? Have you considered an HTPC-like appliance?

I recently built a dedicated HTPC with a G620 on an Asus P8Z68M-Pro, and getting to work flawlessly has been a nightmare (although I am quite picky). I've tried a 6670, a 550Ti, and the onboard GPU and have had endless issues with audio sync. I've used numerous players, decoders, filters, etc. I've reformatted the computer. The issue persists. Previously I had a P8P67M-Pro and 2500k (combined HTPC/gamer) with a 6870 and it never had any problems.

TLDR: HTPCs can be a pain in the ass. I haven't even gotten into the refresh rate issues they present. I also have a WDTV Live and it's played back everything I've thrown at it flawlessly and smoothly, plus it requires ZERO tinkering.

 

[AtenRa]

If you only want it for HD video etc, i would get a Bobcat mini itx mobo with an 80-120GB ssd.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128468&Tpk=GA-E350N-USB3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130568

I have used the following mini iTx case, nice with a 200W PSU and it can take a slim DVD-RW or Blu-Ray.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121115

Also consider the following Logitech keyboard, it is wireless with a touch pad to use as a mouse 😉
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126264&Tpk=Wireless Touch K400

 

[superjim]

birthdaymonkey has a point. I built an AM3/880G HTPC because I wanted the horsepower to play-back 1080p/60fps raw video files from my camcorder (with no conversion). The integrated 4250 handles everything but this, however with the help of LAV codecs, my CPU brute-forces the conversion rather easily for smooth playback. If I was building something for my mother, I'd take a long hard look at the existing lower-end solutions that don't require all the codecs/settings/scaling BS. If you're dead set on a custom build, then a mini-ITX Llano build is hard to beat.

 

[Hubb1e]

I wouldn't touch a HTPC for anyone but myself. They are a PITA to keep running in top shape. You are making a huge mistake.

That said, I would get one of the dual core or tri core AMD APUs. That's plenty fast enough, and the AMD drivers are better than Intel. On anything slower than an i3 Intel disabled their image post processing.

 

[lifeblood]

What does your mom need an HTPC to do? Have you considered an HTPC-like appliance?

A Tivo would be perfect but she refuses to pay for a subscription based service. I've not found an appliance that takes analog cable service. The WDTV Live would be perfect except it does not appear that it takes a analog cable feed. She gets Cox basic cable and wants this to record NCIS, etc., and to play the occasion DVD or Blue-Ray.

 

[Golgatha]

A Tivo would be perfect but she refuses to pay for a subscription based service. I've not found an appliance that takes analog cable service. The WDTV Live would be perfect except it does not appear that it takes a analog cable feed. She gets Cox basic cable and wants this to record NCIS, etc., and to play the occasion DVD or Blue-Ray.

Get this an a cheap Bluray player then.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-MDR-513H-F7-320GB-DVR-and-DVD-Recorder/14291489

We get OTA HDTV broadcasts and this should record any analog signals as well.

I also agree with the above posters regarding HTPC maintainence. I wouldn't build a HTPC for anyone but myself due to the headaches involved. Even for myself I went the brute-force method and put enough horsepower to software decode all the way up to Bluray content. Running an i3 530 socket 1156 with a GT 520 that's passively cooled in one machine and an i7 920 with a GTX 768 in another (it a HTPC + Folding@Home cruncher).