Need a PCI card for HD video

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
I recently got a couple-year old Dell for free, it's got a P4 2.something (think it.s a 2.6) and PCI slots. I'm going to turn it into an HTPC for my parents, and I need a video card capable of HD video playback (It'll be OTA encoded as x264 720p).


I was looking at the Diamond X1550PRO256PSB X1550 Pro PCI for about a hundred from Newegg. My googlefu failed me today, and I can't fine any reviews on how the PCI version performs for HD video. Anybody have/used this card or one similar?

Thanks
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
9,640
1
0
Very probably this is going to fail, for lack of bus bandwidth, regardless of the card you choose.
 

daveybrat

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jan 31, 2000
5,807
1,021
126
It will be fine for HD playback...............as long as you don't mind 4 Frames per second :D

Nothing on the PCI bus will be able to play HD, the bus is far to slow for that.