Need advice re: new video card for HTPC

[DingDingDao]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a new video card for my HTPC, which is connected to a Panasonic 42" HD Plasma unit. I've decided to buy ATI, mostly because it has a component video output dongle, and I've used ATI cards in my last 3 computer builds.

The question I have concerns my future uses for this card. Obviously, I want to be able to watch DVDs, and having PVR and time-delay capabilities would be nice (but not essential). More importantly, I want to game with this card, and it's important that this card be capable of playing high performance games in the future (Doom 3, HL2, etc. etc.)

I'm considering 3 options right now:

1) AIW 9600XT
2) AIW 9800Pro
3) 9800Pro, 9800XT, or X800XT + HDTV Wonder :Q

Obviously, the first option is by far the most inexpensive, and so it is my first choice, but I'm concerned about the chip. Can the 9600XT run a Doom3 or HL2 at high resolutions (1280 x 720 at the least) at playable frame rates? Or should I just give in to my wallet-destroying desires and get the X800 and HDTV wonder? I'd like to spend less, if possible. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks all.

 

[Keysplayr]

I am always a fan of getting separate cards. Gaming card + HDTV Wonder would be my suggestion. As for which gaming card, thats up to you, although I would steer clear of the 9600 series at this stage of the video card game.

 

[sumrtym]

Personally, I'd steer clear of HDTV for now.

Go with the AIW 9800 Pro.

 

[rbV5]

The x800pro cards (that I've seen) all have native YPbPr output out of the box and is pretty close to AIW 9800 retail price and much faster. You can add a tuner down the road if you'd like for PVR stuff. TV Wonder USB 2.0 looks nice if it ever comes to retail, as well as HDTV Wonder. There are plenty of other TV cards available.

AIW 9800pro has the remote and tuner, but slower and half the memory, still a good value.

The NV 6800 cards could be nice with the onboard programmable video processor. I'm not familiar how well they support HD output, or which models support YPbPr. NVTV with Forceware Multimedia suite when its finally released might be a good combo. The Personal Cinema cards based on the 5700 and perhaps the 5600 have YPbPr output, but I doubt they'll cut it for gaming. Haven't heard anything about 6800 Personal Cinema.

AVSforum is a good source of info.

 

[DingDingDao]

yeah i put a similar post up in the HTPC forum at AVS.