What video card for an HTPC?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

We're going to have a home theater PC and I need to know what video card to put in it. This will eventually be used for a projection system, not a projection big screen, but the ones with 100+ inches size screens. Since we won't use it a lot, we are just going to use component video and a cheap video card. I'm looking for an SVGA to component video adapter/wire to use.

My gut choice was Matrox but their cards are too d*mn expensive. I'm really looking for something under $100.

 

[Schadenfroh]

rendition vertie 2100 w/tv out

 

[DaveSimmons]

Most people recommend ATI for both S-video TV-out (though you apparently won't need it) and as the second-best 2D after Matrox. You can get several models, including silent passively-cooled, in that price range. Look at Sapphire brand at newegg.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
rendition vertie 2100 w/tv out

Lol... you know they still make drivers for the 2200? I found XP drivers for it at google... hehe

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Most people recommend ATI for both S-video TV-out (though you apparently won't need it) and as the second-best 2D after Matrox. You can get several models, including silent passively-cooled, in that price range. Look at Sapphire brand at newegg.

Yeah, I was thinking ATI as well after Matrox. I think I'll check out Sapphire and ATi and find a good one in the price range. Thanks.

 

[Goi]

Check out the ATI Radeon 9500(non Pro). It has all the image quality/video quality goodness of the R300 chips, but can be found much cheaper, and perhaps even fanless(which makes it very attractive as a HTPC video card). It will cost you quite a bit more than $100 though, but there's a definite difference. If you're on a tight budget though, the 9000(non Pro) is another good choice.

Are you using a projector? I don't quite get what you mean...is this a front projection system, i.e. with a digital/CRT projector to a big screen? If so you'd want to use either the DVI or RGB(D-15) connectors instead of component, since they offer higher quality.