need a card for a htpc

[quakefiend420]

needs to handle hd 1080 video on a p3 700, 384mb of ram...have a dvi output, and be a low profile card...o yeah agp also...i think the board supports 2X

now that i've given you an impossible task

anything meet that criteria?

thx in advance

 

[quakefiend420]

bump

 

[JokerRulez]

We've had posts in here before about the basic requirements of a HTPC card based on the need of the person. You might dig a bit to find some info that is already here.

However, I see nothing wrong with an older GeForce card for your needs. A buddy of mine put a 5250 (?) into his new HTPC and is pretty happy with it although he is still working out DVD output issues.

I have a Radeon 9800 in my HTPC and love the ability to play Madden or MVP Baseball with very good quality. It handles all of my needs and beyone and is running around $130. Yet, the GeForce 6600 series of cards is perfectly suited for HTPC's so you should look hard at those. Plus they are a better price/performance than the 9800.

Another buddy of mine was strictly interested in the video out, not concerned about 3D performance at all so he picked up a $50 Nvidia card and it does everything he wants. He plays his Nintendo emulator day and night with that card.

To my thinking there are two major considerations for the card:

1. Do you require DX9 to play the latest games?

1. What video output do you require?

Answering those two questions should help you narrow down your choices. If you don't want to play the latest games then any old sub $100 card with the right video outputs should suit you.

Good luck, and happy HTPC'ing,

Joker

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: JokerRulez
We've had posts in here before about the basic requirements of a HTPC card based on the need of the person. You might dig a bit to find some info that is already here.

However, I see nothing wrong with an older GeForce card for your needs. A buddy of mine put a 5250 (?) into his new HTPC and is pretty happy with it although he is still working out DVD output issues.

I have a Radeon 9800 in my HTPC and love the ability to play Madden or MVP Baseball with very good quality. It handles all of my needs and beyone and is running around $130. Yet, the GeForce 6600 series of cards is perfectly suited for HTPC's so you should look hard at those. Plus they are a better price/performance than the 9800.

Another buddy of mine was strictly interested in the video out, not concerned about 3D performance at all so he picked up a $50 Nvidia card and it does everything he wants. He plays his Nintendo emulator day and night with that card.

To my thinking there are two major considerations for the card:

1. Do you require DX9 to play the latest games?

1. What video output do you require?

Answering those two questions should help you narrow down your choices. If you don't want to play the latest games then any old sub $100 card with the right video outputs should suit you.

Good luck, and happy HTPC'ing,

Joker

thanks for the info...i have a gf4mx440 in there right now...it doesn't have dvi output though...i don't game on that computer at all...so 3d performance isn't an issue...the main problem is hd video is extremly laggy...is that going to be mostly cpu dependant? or can i get a card that will hardware accelerate it making the cpu not so much of an issue?

 

[bookman]

There is a wealth of information on this at www.avsforum.com Just go to the HTPC forum there.

 

[HDTVMan]

Buy this and shove that PC in a closet somewhere.

Its $250.00 and you can stream Video, Photo, and Audio to it from that PC.

http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/prod....php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&pId=AVLP2%2FDVDLA

It looks better than your PC and plays High Definition files to 1080P but only outputs at 1080i. I know I own one.

Or wait for the X-box 360 and hope it does HD movies.

Whatever you do dont get tricked into buying a XGI video card because they say it does HD output and come in low profile you will be greatly dissapointed.

 

[HDTVMan]

This is a pretty cool option to consider.

http://shop.iodata.com/shopping/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&pId=AVLP2%2FDVDDX

The AVLP2/DVDDX is a DivX® starter kit for DivX® MVWire Music Video Contest. This special offer is from the official supporters, Plextor and I-O DATA for the limited term (until Oct 10th 2005). This package has Plextor ConvertX? PX-M402U and I-O DATA AVeL LinkPlayer AVLP2/DVDLA.

Looks to be a $20.00 rebate offer too on it through the reading.

If you cant tell I really like this DVD player since its TRUE HD not Upscaled Trick.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: HDTVMan
Buy this and shove that PC in a closet somewhere.

Its $250.00 and you can stream Video, Photo, and Audio to it from that PC.

http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/prod....php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&pId=AVLP2%2FDVDLA

It looks better than your PC and plays High Definition files to 1080P but only outputs at 1080i. I know I own one.

Or wait for the X-box 360 and hope it does HD movies.

Whatever you do dont get tricked into buying a XGI video card because they say it does HD output and come in low profile you will be greatly dissapointed.

the product you linked does look pretty cool...but i need the functionality of a pc as well...browsing, mainly

that's why i was hoping to find a low-profile vid card that would hardware accelerate hd content

 

[quakefiend420]

ttt

 

[quakefiend420]

bumpity

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: HDTVMan
If you cant tell I really like this DVD player since its TRUE HD not Upscaled Trick.

It's true HD for the media files, but it still has to upscale DVDs or play them at their native 480i or 480p if you go progressive, right?

This does look interesting, I imagine it should be able to natively play recorded replay files. You'd probably still have to pull them off the replay box and onto a file server before you could access to them though.

As to the posters question, I think they make low profile fx5200 and radeon 92x0 cards. Either should work, although you might want to check the direct x support for MCE2k5 if you plan to use it. I have a 9200 card that runs fine on an older tyan mb with 2x agp.

 

[Crescent13]

???

 

[JokerRulez]

Quakefiend, you've bumped this thread three times looking for someone to tell you what to do. You need to take the advice presented in this thread, combine that information with what you already know, see how it best applies to you and make a decision.

My post gives you good guidelines for finding the right card along with some specific recommendations.

Good luck and happy HTPC'ing,

Joker