Will this video card be good enough for a HTPC

[dabuddha]

Hey, I'm trying to build a "budget" Home Theater PC and I was looking at this barebones system

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=56-101-207&depa=1

Will that video card be good enough for the TV out feature? Because I plan on putting a better soundcard in the one PCI slot.
TIA

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's not up to the level of ATI cards, based on every review I've seen and comments in the sudhian.com froums. Comments also say the SV25 isn't that quiet (whiny fan for PS).

For that price you could get the Cooler Master 620 mATX desktop case and a mATX mobo, though you'd also need a (full size) power supply like an ultra-quiet Seasonic. But with PCI and possibly AGP slots you'd have better card options as well as more drive bays (for making it an MP3 jukebox too, for example).

If you went with P4-celeron instead of P3 you could also get one of the nifty new MSI mini-desktop barebones with intel chipset, TV-out (haven't sen a review yet) and both analog and digital audio. (newegg > barebones > MSI)

 

[dabuddha]

wow thanks for the info. I'll take a look into it. I'm also considering just trying to fix my old computer. P3 700. I think the motherboard is toast in it and I just never got around to fixing it.
I could throw in a good video card and I already have the wireless keyboard/mouse/ethernet connection
and a sblive xgamer 5.1 lying around somewhere

 

[Goi]

Well, S3 graphics chipsets used to be 2nd in video processing only to ATI cards. Howver, they've been out of the race for a long time already. The Savage3D line is definitely not something you wanna keep around if you're building a HTPC.

 

[bluemax]

The Shuttle SK41G and SS51G are only $25 and $30 more respectively... both give you access to faster CPU's and include the much quieter "ICE Pipe" cooling systems!

I just bought myself the SK41G AMD system for a few good reasons - one, it has TV out from its internal video so you can start using it even before you get a video card. When you do want a video upgrade, you have an AGP slot! AMD CPU's are cheaper than Intel, and if you go for a lower-clock CPU like an 1800+ it still runs nice and cool. (Higher clock AMD's run hotter than higher-end P4's.)

But both are good systems. Much better (and quieter!) than the SV25.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: bluemax
The Shuttle SK41G and SS51G are only $25 and $30 more respectively... both give you access to faster CPU's and include the much quieter "ICE Pipe" cooling systems!

I just bought myself the SK41G AMD system for a few good reasons - one, it has TV out from its internal video so you can start using it even before you get a video card. When you do want a video upgrade, you have an AGP slot! AMD CPU's are cheaper than Intel, and if you go for a lower-clock CPU like an 1800+ it still runs nice and cool. (Higher clock AMD's run hotter than higher-end P4's.)

But both are good systems. Much better (and quieter!) than the SV25.

How good is the TV out in the SK41G?

 

[dabuddha]

How bout this one?

http://www.excaliberpc.com/product_info.php?cPath=213_408&products_id=1941

 

[bluemax]

Both systems would have decent enough TV out, neither notably good or bad I guess. Not many reviews have covered that... most seem to agree the internal TV out is "good".

The systems from Chyang-Fun (the real maker of the system you quoted) are a bit noisier than the Shuttle but also a little cheaper (though not in this case because it's a newer model.) You can't go very wrong in either case... the Shuttle is a bit nicer-looking and has a better/quieter cooling solution. The system you found can handle hyperthreading for future-proofing and has a neat handle on top if you plan to carry it around. Some models have PS/2 ports on the front though and it looks terrible IMHO.

Can't go wrong either way... choose the one you think looks nicer.