Single slot HTPC/old school gaming card

[dkm777]

I had some parts lying around and going to build an HTPC using an Athlon 64 3000+ and an Asrock 939A790GMH board. This machine will be used with a 1080p TV for watching videos and playing games no newer than 2002. I'm not sure the integrated GPU can decode 1080p H.264 content properly and looking at low power PCIe cards for this task. What would you guys suggest? It would be best if the card was single slot as I would like to use the PCI slots for a Wireless card and a FireWire controller. I looked at Zotac GT440 Synergy, but saw that it has GDDR3 memory. Oh, and this contraption will be running XP, so good XP drivers are a must.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Oh, and this contraption will be running XP, so good XP drivers are a must.

 

[Jaydip]

U can check this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121442

 

[T_Yamamoto]

low profile 6670

 

[dkm777]

U can check this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121442

Somehow the link didn't want to open so I tried decoding it in a text editor. It's a HD6670, right? It's dual slot unfortunately. now the biggest question - how bad is DDR3 memory in graphics cards today? For what I'm trying to achieve I don't need more GPU power than is available in a GeForce 9600GT, I just need good HD content decoding hardware and HDMI on top of that. One of the candidates besides GT440 and GT430: http://www.quietpc.com/products/vga-cards/sap-hd657-ult
It's a shame there is no benchmark database for low end/HTPC cards like we have here at AnandTech.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Memory type wont affect HD video decoding. Any cheap integrated GPU will work fine.

For your purposes, I would even consider something used or older than a 6670. Not sure how a 6670 is going to work in XP. Do AMD/Nvidia still support XP?

 

[Jaydip]

Sorry for linking to the dual slot card.Here is something for u
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161397

 

[Jaydip]

Memory type wont affect HD video decoding. Any cheap integrated GPU will work fine.

For your purposes, I would even consider something used or older than a 6670. Not sure how a 6670 is going to work in XP. Do AMD/Nvidia still support XP?

Yeah they do.

 

[dkm777]

Sorry for linking to the dual slot card.Here is something for u
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161397

This one is noo good as well - it's dual height, but low profile. I need something like this, since I want to use a PCI slot right below PCIe:

http://www.zotacusa.com/geforce-gt-430-zt-40608-10l.html

But which company offers better hardware video decoding - ATI or Nvidia?

 

[Jaydip]

They are more or less same.

 

[dkm777]

Found an XFX single slot HD6670 with DDR5. Worth a shot?

 

[Jaydip]

Yup absolutely.