I'm planning to pick up a Dell Optiplex 755 (SFF) for a dedicated HTPC this week --- was going to custom build but don't feel that its worth it since it won't be used for anything other than watching ripped/downloaded movies on my TV. Anyways, the only thing I'll be adding to this system is a larger hard drive and a low-profile video card with a an HDMI port. So I was wondering if a low priced video card would be fine for this purpose? Or should I be looking for something a little higher end? Any recommendations? The one I was considering is this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=#scrollFullInfo
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Low budget video card for HTPC?
- Thread starter Teko
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2011
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
that seems like a great choice for what your looking for. For myself you would not really see the difference of a better card.(IMO)
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2009
Not that I think NVIDIA is better (I have an ATi in mine too) but NVIDIA does have the advantage that some of the most popular public domain DirectShow video codecs and renderers you can use right now with open source players like MPC-HC are able to use the CUVID decoders. You might want to investigate that if you think that will be something you might care about.
http://1f0.de/
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=146228
Also if you think you may eventually want to use the HTPC for recorded TV or if you expect to view much in the way of interlaced content I'd suggest going up a step in the ATi series; 6570. The 6450 cards are little underpowered to do hardware deinterlacing plus other post processing like pixel shading at the same time.
s a tad un
http://1f0.de/
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=146228
Also if you think you may eventually want to use the HTPC for recorded TV or if you expect to view much in the way of interlaced content I'd suggest going up a step in the ATi series; 6570. The 6450 cards are little underpowered to do hardware deinterlacing plus other post processing like pixel shading at the same time.
s a tad un
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2011
- Location
- glasgow scotland
i have this in my little htpc http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102882
plenty for hd films
plenty for hd films
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2001
DVI to HDMI adapter. Cheaper way to go.
Stupid question but can you get audio via a DVI adapter?
No
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2008
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
you should be able to. but it will vary from card to card.
my GT430 passes audio over DVI natively. i dont use a DVI-HDMI "adapter", rather a DVI-HDMI cable. (the 430 does have an HDMI port too, but i was never able to get it to work)
my GT430 passes audio over DVI natively. i dont use a DVI-HDMI "adapter", rather a DVI-HDMI cable. (the 430 does have an HDMI port too, but i was never able to get it to work)
- Thread Starter
- #11
I went with the Radeon 6450.
Dell Optiplex 755 (Small Form Factor / Refurb) / Intel Core 2 Duo 3.16GHz / 4 GB RAM DDR2 / 2 TB WD Green (75GB partitioned for OS, the rest for storage) / Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) / Microsoft Wireless Desktop 800 Mouse-Keyboard / MediaGate GP-IR02BK Remote. Running XBMC front end
Dell Optiplex 755 (Small Form Factor / Refurb) / Intel Core 2 Duo 3.16GHz / 4 GB RAM DDR2 / 2 TB WD Green (75GB partitioned for OS, the rest for storage) / Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) / Microsoft Wireless Desktop 800 Mouse-Keyboard / MediaGate GP-IR02BK Remote. Running XBMC front end
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2012
- Location
- Planet Earth
Also take into account noise levels for a HTPC.
Even the fans on graphics cards can get loud when they warm up, so pick something quiet, or a super quiet HTPC case.
Even the fans on graphics cards can get loud when they warm up, so pick something quiet, or a super quiet HTPC case.
I'm running with a 5450 and it works fine. Frankly ingrated graphics usually work just fine for a HTPC. Playing movies doesn't take much in the way of graphics power.
The 6450 should work just fine. Here is one for a bit less. I've owned a couple of XFX cards and they worked well.
$20 AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150581
Ignore the idiot who gave the bad review because this card wouldn't play BF3 well and the one who couldn't manage to download a drive update without doing it 5 times.
The 6450 should work just fine. Here is one for a bit less. I've owned a couple of XFX cards and they worked well.
$20 AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150581
Ignore the idiot who gave the bad review because this card wouldn't play BF3 well and the one who couldn't manage to download a drive update without doing it 5 times.
