Radeon 5450 for HTPC?

[Cr0nJ0b]

I'm getting some parts together for an HTPC version 1.0 build....and I saw a 5450 card on sale for like $29. All I'm going to do with this system is run Media Center for movie and maybe PVR with an infinitv card. Would this graphics card work for me? It's cheap and quiet...

thoughts?

 

[blastingcap]

6450 is significantly better for not much more. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4263/amds-radeon-hd-6450-uvd3-meets-htpc/3

 

[Towermax]

I'm running a 4350 in my HTPC, and it works fine, so a 5450 should do even better.

It's doing 1080p with no problem.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

29 bucks sounds good, go for it. Should do 1080p playback just fine.

 

[KingFatty]

There is an ASUS 5450 at newegg for $9.99 after rebate, but the card is currently out of stock. But the rebate form doesn't expire till 4/30, and it qualifies for purchases made on or before 4/30/12, so you still have the rest of the month to wait for the card to come back in stock.

For $9, I'd go for the 5450 and if it doesn't work, throw it away heh or just resell it for $15 and make a profit?

Here is the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121476

 

[Stayfr0sty]

There is an ASUS 5450 at newegg for $9.99 after rebate, but the card is currently out of stock. But the rebate form doesn't expire till 4/30, and it qualifies for purchases made on or before 4/30/12, so you still have the rest of the month to wait for the card to come back in stock.

For $9, I'd go for the 5450 and if it doesn't work, throw it away heh or just resell it for $15 and make a profit?

Here is the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121476

6$ profit? Thats what ebay would keep just for listing it....
Just spend the 29$ bucks dude.

 

[Binky]

GT430 > 6450 > 5450

Any of them will work just fine in an HTPC.

 

[Termie]

There is an ASUS 5450 at newegg for $9.99 after rebate, but the card is currently out of stock. But the rebate form doesn't expire till 4/30, and it qualifies for purchases made on or before 4/30/12, so you still have the rest of the month to wait for the card to come back in stock.

For $9, I'd go for the 5450 and if it doesn't work, throw it away heh or just resell it for $15 and make a profit?

Here is the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121476

It's in stock. Just ordered one as a spare.

I have never seen a new video card for $10 - just go for it. For HTPC the 6450 wouldn't have any benefits that are worth the cost. But if you just need to have the newer generation, you can actually get the 6450 for $23AR shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150581

 

[Hubb1e]

It's in stock. Just ordered one as a spare.

I have never seen a new video card for $10 - just go for it. For HTPC the 6450 wouldn't have any benefits that are worth the cost. But if you just need to have the newer generation, you can actually get the 6450 for $23AR shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150581

Be careful, I'm not a HTPC expert anymore but do note that the 6450 you linked to is only 32 bit memory bus. My understanding is that the post processing for deinterlacing and noise reduction is pretty memory intensive and that you should at least go for the 64 bit DDR3 cards. When Anandtech did they 6450 test they used 64 bit DDR5 even so 32 bit DDR3 is pathetic.

 

[Termie]

Be careful, I'm not a HTPC expert anymore but do note that the 6450 you linked to is only 32 bit memory bus. My understanding is that the post processing for deinterlacing and noise reduction is pretty memory intensive and that you should at least go for the 64 bit DDR3 cards. When Anandtech did they 6450 test they used 64 bit DDR5 even so 32 bit DDR3 is pathetic.

I definitely saw that, but given that the 64-bit 6450s run about $40, I was listing that as the closest comparison to the 32-bit 5450 for $10. The 64-bit versions may be better, but they're much more expensive. Still, good to point that out (although I've never read anything saying memory bandwidth affects HTPC functions). This review notes that deinterlacing is handled by the shaders, but perhaps memory bandwidth is still a determing factor in performance: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2931/4

Now that I'm reading up on it, it looks like you may be right. Therefore, the OP's question would be answered not just by a model number, but also a memory bandwidth. Like HD5450 64-bit, not just HD5450.

Doesn't matter for me - I bought the HD5450 to throw in an old computer just for monitor output.

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

THanks for all of the resonses. Wow..lots of good stuff.

I ended up going with an HD6450 with 1GB DDR3 -- 64Bit for something like $20AR. I have to wait for the rebate, but I'm ok with that.

We'll see how the rest of the build goes.

 

[jacktesterson]

You made right choice.,

6450 is the best HTPC Card available today. (64 bit version)

512MB would have been lots though, saved you a few bucks.

 

[OS]

6450 is significantly better for not much more. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4263/amds-radeon-hd-6450-uvd3-meets-htpc/3

That 6450 had GDDR5, which i could not find in any of the budget retail products.

the 5450 is about as fast as the HD3000 and the llano A8 IGP is much faster than both.

one would be better off just getting some sort of current IGP.