Options for a 4k Nvidia Card? (HTPC)

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Intellem2

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Feb 5, 2008

• Aug 24, 2016

• #1

I have a business class 8300 Elite Desk SFF that I am using for a media room. What would be the cheapest solution to obtain 4k output with a low profile solution? I'll be using Display Port if possible.

 

Lochekey

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Sep 13, 2015

• Aug 24, 2016

• #2

Don't know the intended usage for this computer gaming vs General usage but here it's a decent middle ground card.

https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?...25680&cm_re=gtx_750_ti-_-14-125-680-_-Product

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Our this one if you are not really gaming. No display port though.
https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16814127851

 

OP

I

Intellem2

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• Aug 24, 2016

• Thread Starter
• #3

My apologies, this is strictly for media playing. i want to play 4k videos, 4k blurays, stream 4k videos and so on. Not for gaming at all!

 

S

SPL Tech

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Nov 28, 2006

• Aug 25, 2016

• #4

Intellem2 said:

My apologies, this is strictly for media playing. i want to play 4k videos, 4k blurays, stream 4k videos and so on. Not for gaming at all!

Click to expand...

Basically the cheapest card that will support 4096 x 2160 will do. Playing videos requires very little GPU processing power and memory. My GPU basically sits at idle when playing videos full screen (in 1080p). If it's PCI-E with at least 1GB RAM and supports 4096 x 2160, it will play what you need.

 

Culbrelai

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Oct 25, 2012

• Aug 25, 2016

• #5

Something like a GTX 950 would do you well

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GTX-950-...e=UTF8&qid=1472111181&sr=1-4&keywords=GTX+950

Haven't seen any lower end cards that support 4k.

 

F

freakdiablo

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Joined

Dec 13, 2005

• Aug 25, 2016

• #6

Culbrelai said:

Something like a GTX 950 would do you well

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GTX-950-...e=UTF8&qid=1472111181&sr=1-4&keywords=GTX+950

Haven't seen any lower end cards that support 4k.

Click to expand...

This might be the better bet depending on how big of a deal the onboard DisplayPort is to you. Looked around quickly and there are a few GT 720s/730s that can output 4K, like the MSI card Lochekey posted, but haven't seen any with DP.

 

Lochekey

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Joined

Sep 13, 2015

• Aug 25, 2016

• #7

The 750ti I posted above had display port and meets the small form factor requirement. I had trouble finding a gtx950 in a small form factor.

But yea if display port is a requirement your choices will be limited.

 

Soulcatcher668

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Jan 2, 2012

• Aug 25, 2016

• #8

This is a small form factor unit. I do not think a standard GPU is going in. Chassis size is 4.0 x 13.3 x 14.9 in

I would also be wary of PSU output on this machine as they are not standard form factor.

 

NiHaoMike

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Mar 1, 2013

• Sep 1, 2016

• #9

A 750 will definitely do it, but if you want something more than basic upscaling (you will!), a somewhat more powerful GPU is nice to have. Something like a 1060 might be cheap enough and be plenty powerful or you can look for a cheap 960 or wait for the 1050. It all depends on how much of a videophile you are.

You can get one of those adapters to move the GPU outside the case so you have more options.
https://smile.amazon.com/Express-to16x-Extender-Adapter-15Pin-4Pin/dp/B01D4U2GYK

 

Tír na nÓg

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Sep 19, 2015

• Sep 1, 2016

• #10

Or a RX470...

Ooops, sorry, NVidia...

 

JrClocker

AKA: JrMiyagi

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Sep 25, 2015

• Sep 1, 2016

• #11

EVGA has a 1060 "mini" form factor card. Its length is just over 1 of the ACX 2.0 cooling fans wide...Amazon has it for $199.99:

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce...&qid=1472740699&sr=1-3&keywords=gtx+1060+evga


Or, you could get an NVIDIA ShieldTV...it's really small...Amazon has for $199:

https://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-SHIEL...ie=UTF8&qid=1472740820&sr=1-1&keywords=shield


I have 2 of these...and they are just ducky!

 

NiHaoMike

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Mar 1, 2013

• Sep 2, 2016

• #12

AMD is a poor choice for high end video playback. They at least support VDPAU nowadays, but I don't think they have implemented the high quality scalers. The real dealbreaker is that the driver quality is still not that great.

The Shield TV is hard to beat especially if you can get it on sale, but it's not going to match a good PC for upscaling quality. Of course, a good PC also costs a lot more.