Which of one these video cards would you buy?

[her209]

Criteria:
- low profile (going into a Dell Optiplex 755 Desktop case)
- PCI-e x16
- DVI-D
- HDMI w/ audio out
- ability to play/decode Blu-ray movies
- sub $50
- would prefer video card to take up only one slot but two is okay

I've narrowed it down to the following 4 cards:
$34.99 After Rebate
ASUS EAH4650/DI/512MD2/A(LP) Radeon HD 4650 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile
ASUS EN9400GT/DI/512M(LP) GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile
$44.99 After Rebate
ASUS EAH4650/DI/1GD2/A(LP) Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile
ASUS EN9400GT/DI/1GD2(LP) GeForce 9400 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile

Feel free to suggest others.

 

[Kingbee13]

The 4650 is a faster card for the same price, and has built in LPCM audio support on the card. I beleive consumes less power than the 9400gt, I dont think you need the extra ram on such a slow GPU. The 512 should work well assuming it is for a HTPC setup. I can't see any reason to recomend the 9400GT over the 4650.

 

[alyarb]

the radeons are just better for HTPC in every way. no need for a 4600, though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/..._-14-121-310-_-Product

 

[frozentundra123456]

Galaxy makes a low profile 9600GT that does not need any external power connector. However, I think it is more expensive than the cards you are looking at, but would be much more powerful if you decided to do some light gaming in the future. Also a DDR3 4650 or a 4670 would be faster than the 4650 DDR2 that you are looking at. I would not recommend the 9400GT, it is less powerful than the 4650.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

If you don't need it to display in 24Hz then get an ATI 4xxx. NewEgg has an ATI 4350 for $17 AR. scroll to the bottom:http://promotions.newegg.com/N...est/index-landing.aspx

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
If you don't need it to display in 24Hz then get an ATI 4xxx. NewEgg has an ATI 4350 for $17 AR. scroll to the bottom:http://promotions.newegg.com/N...est/index-landing.aspx

That card doesn't look like it comes with a low profile bracket.

 

[alyarb]

the 9400 isn't low-profile, but at the bottom of that promo page, there is an MSI 4350 for $17 AR. red with gold sink.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: alyarb
the 9400 isn't low-profile, but at the bottom of that promo page, there is an MSI 4350 for $17 AR. red with gold sink.

Yeah, that's the one I'm referring to.

 

[alyarb]

oh i see what you're saying. the PCB is low profile but the bracket isn't. as you can see, all radeon 4350's are low-profile cards with full-height brackets:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...esult=True&Order=PRICE

so you're going to have to remove the bracket and the RGB connector. it's not going to fall out of the slot, don't worry.