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View Full Version : Help choosing a decent HTPC video card

cavingman
05-10-09, 07:36 PM
The problem is that, I would like to output directly to component from DVI and, it has to be a half-height/low-profile card. I cant use HDMI as my receiver does not support it.

I got a hardly used dell dimension 4700c and its pretty much perfect for what I need after a few upgrades, the video card is the only thing holding me back now.

thanks!

as a side note, i found one that will work but only does s-video to component. would the quality be worse than dvi to component? im assuming yes...
DavidJa
05-10-09, 07:59 PM
you already looked at 4670 or a low profile 8400gs?
cavingman
05-10-09, 08:11 PM
you already looked at 4670 or a low profile 8400gs?

yes, but, seems everyone i look at (atleast on new egg) wants to convert s-video to component. would that be decent at all? or would converting dvi or hdmi to component look better? and if so could i be done via dongle?
cavingman
05-10-09, 08:21 PM
looking at these, all use s-video to component. really want to take advantage of 1080p if s-video would do it ya know...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121235
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162016
Wicked Klown
05-11-09, 01:51 PM
Thats not an s-video hook up. If you look closely there are 3 more pins then s-video has. You can run an s-video off of it but it's made for HDTV out, meaning component. When I was running my old HD2600xt I ran component to my 61" DLP and the pic looked great at 1080i. I later ran dvi to hdmi to clean up some of the cables.
cavingman
05-12-09, 10:20 AM
Thats not an s-video hook up. If you look closely there are 3 more pins then s-video has. You can run an s-video off of it but it's made for HDTV out, meaning component. When I was running my old HD2600xt I ran component to my 61" DLP and the pic looked great at 1080i. I later ran dvi to hdmi to clean up some of the cables.

ah ok, never knew there was a different version than what was used back in the day. good to know!

I ended up buying a card that only has dvi, vga and hdmi out. my TV has hdmi ports, and the sound will be using toslink through the receiver, so the video from my htpc will be the only thing not going through the receiver. no big deal, and in the future when i DO get a reciever that supports hdmi i wont have to upgrade other things. right now everything uses toslink and components :bang head
Wicked Klown
05-12-09, 10:59 AM
Thats what I did before I upgraded the video card and AVR. I ran a hdmi from my HD2600xt to my Samsung and a Toslink from my Auzentech Xplosion to my Yamaha receiver.
cavingman
05-15-09, 03:42 PM
well its up, running great!
this is the card i chose: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121292
no issues in ubuntu + boxee or anything!
thanks for the help