Videocard for HD Content - should I go with 8600GT that seems to be referred to around here?

[magomago]

Hi all,

I'm currently building my first HTPC. I've been playing around with the networking aspect for a week or so to get that in order. After that point I sat and waited for deals - Fry's 4200+ combo and cheap ballistix allowed the driving force to overcome my desire to not spend money =)

I know people may mention sound - and I'm trying to not make it obviously loud as hell, but I'm physically isolating this thing quite a ways from the couch (>5 meters away from the couch. Its going to be behind a banister) so it hopefully won't prove too much of a problem.


Now I've done some searching about what type of card I need. I got a 4200+ because I wanted HD content. I could watch some 1080P content on an old athlon 1700+ but it was fairly low bitrate and took a while before it would become "smooth" (but when high action kicked in it would still lag). I know that a video card can play an important role in hd decoding. However, this machine won't be used for games, so I'm trying to pass off with as cheap/low level card as possible that gets the job done. From the threads I've found (one by Sheik was very useful) it seems the 8600GT is a good option and there is a cheap one here (again, from sheik) http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204450333 .

But that said I do have a few questions. This is HARDWARE decoding, right? I don't need to be in windows to get this functionality (the box I'm setting up is going to be Ubuntu...)? That is really my biggest worry...I setup Ubuntu with the smp kernel, load this sucker in anf ind out that I need windows (which I can't afford at this time as I'm trying to stay as low budget as possible) to get the benefit

Thanks =)

 

[hans007]

i think if its between say a radeon 2600 pro and a 8600gt, the radeon generally is the better HD card.

if you can get a 2600 with hdmi adapter its even beter since it has built in audio over hdmi as well.

 

[byronm]

I agree with Hans007, the Radeon has more options, better drivers and depending on which variant you find - HDMI w/audio

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: magomago

But that said I do have a few questions. This is HARDWARE decoding, right? I don't need to be in windows to get this functionality (the box I'm setting up is going to be Ubuntu...)? That is really my biggest worry...I setup Ubuntu with the smp kernel, load this sucker in anf ind out that I need windows (which I can't afford at this time as I'm trying to stay as low budget as possible) to get the benefit

Thanks =)

Yes its hardware decoding, but you still need drivers and playback software for that hardware functionality. And since you're looking to run Ubuntu, I think you'd want to go with NV as last I checked ATI's Linux drivers are non-existent or a mess. I'd probably do some more research on that if you're set on using Ubuntu.

 

[magomago]

Thanks for the replies!

Yes I do know that ATI's Linux drivers have been horrible. That is why I didn't mention them as I've ripped out my hair trying to get some ATI stuff working in the past. And once they got it to work, it was amazing how the cards ran 1/10th the speed of Windows (whereas I never noticed a speed difference between the nvidia drivers).
That said I went to take a look if anything has improved, and it seems it has...but its not at the level of nvidia's ease of use. There are still quite a few problems, and even though audio over hdmi sounds tempting (although I feeling its going to require getting through driver hell to get things done) I know it isn't going to happen anytime soon.

That said I think I'm just going to get a basic card that has TV out for the short run, only because we don't have HDTV yet (I'm planning on hooking this up to just the TV...no monitor). Once that comes, I suppose things can be relooked at again, although I'm sure I'll go nvidia again =) Or who knows, maybe the hd 2600 pro works well and even in linux supports audio over hdmi

Thanks for now