Mediaportal Users: What Graphics Card For Forced Upgrade?

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1gkar

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#41412 15-Sep-2009 17:18

My main HTPC's graphics card hung when watching the V8s over the weekend (must be made by Falcon

), then would refuse to start upon reboot, so was running 640x480x4 bit. Swapped it out for an identical Asus EN-8500GT from my client machine, & both worked: for a time. It now won't start in the client unit. So am using the 6150 on-board until I get a replacement for my main unit.

Question is...what. I would prefer to stay nVidia so I don't have to do an OS reinstall. I want a factory silent model & it has to be minimum 9400GT to combat the raised 1080i issue with newer Mediaportal versions. It is also critical for it to fit inside my Silverstone LC-14 HTPC case.

Haven't done any measurements or research as yet. Thought I would post to see what others are using, & incorporate suggestions into my research. Cheers.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

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#255922 15-Sep-2009 17:51

When you say "factory silent" do you mean one with just a heatsink and no fan?
If so I would be weary of them because I was told by my supplier that a very high percentage of those types of graphics card fail eventually.
They get a lot of returns and the few that I have had to send back under warranty have been replaced with better cards with a fan.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

1gkar

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#255923 15-Sep-2009 18:11

CYaBro: When you say "factory silent" do you mean one with just a heatsink and no fan?
If so I would be weary of them because I was told by my supplier that a very high percentage of those types of graphics card fail eventually.
They get a lot of returns and the few that I have had to send back under warranty have been replaced with better cards with a fan.

Yes, I did mean passive with a heatsink. Maybe, that is why my 8500GT failed.

But what options, I don't really want any more extraneous noise being emitted from the HTPC. Which brands have known silent fans without the need for modding?

What are you using? Thanks.

CYaBro

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#256030 16-Sep-2009 09:49

I don't have the problem of deciding which graphics card to get for my HTPC as we can't get Freeview|HD up here in Northland :( so I wouldn't know which one to get.
I am just using an Asus Eee Box as my client.

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sbiddle

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#256032 16-Sep-2009 09:58

I had an Asus 8500GT fail on me as well a few weeks ago, I got a replacement back under warranty.

Mine was cooled well and had no signs of any obvious heat damage on the card.

1gkar

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Ultimate Geek

#256678 17-Sep-2009 22:09

sbiddle: I had an Asus 8500GT fail on me as well a few weeks ago, I got a replacement back under warranty.

Mine was cooled well and had no signs of any obvious heat damage on the card.

I'm assuming the warranty period is 12 months, which I believe mine is well out of: dang

Still, no harm in trying.

I've also noticed that the NZ importers don't appear to be reselling passive cards here, compared with the manufacturers' product lines. Am hesitant about plunging dollars into a fanned card, then having shell out for a good heatsink that costs nearly as much as the card itself.

I understand CYaBRO's reasoning, but why should NZ be singled out. I don't want any more extraneous noise being generated from my HTPC. I can live with the present situation for a while, if I can't find an acceptable solution, I might take the gamble & import from overseas as a matter of principle.

askelon

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#256700 17-Sep-2009 23:31

ASUS do a 9400GT Silent which looks ok.. And their easily available here.. http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=60agdX0HRAPwMyAQ&templete=2

As for warranty, all ASUS video cards have a 3 year manufacturers warranty. Unfortunately this doesnt always mean a replacement in an orderly and quick fashion - I had a customers 8800GTS sent back, which was then sent overseas and either replaced with a refurbished card or had the ram replaced (ram was faulty). Just about to send it back again (lasted a whole 4 months!). On the lower end cards I'd be guessing they'd replace them outright.

Im still using a passive 8400GS for my MP system - my original (a gigabyte) cooked itself within about 6 months - it used to get stinking hot. The new one (an ASUS - cant remember the model) had a much more efficient heatsink and doesnt ever get over being warm. Both were passive.

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1gkar

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#256718 18-Sep-2009 07:11

askelon: ASUS do a 9400GT Silent which looks ok.. And their easily available here.. http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=60agdX0HRAPwMyAQ&templete=2

As for warranty, all ASUS video cards have a 3 year manufacturers warranty. Unfortunately this doesnt always mean a replacement in an orderly and quick fashion - I had a customers 8800GTS sent back, which was then sent overseas and either replaced with a refurbished card or had the ram replaced (ram was faulty). Just about to send it back again (lasted a whole 4 months!). On the lower end cards I'd be guessing they'd replace them outright.

Im still using a passive 8400GS for my MP system - my original (a gigabyte) cooked itself within about 6 months - it used to get stinking hot. The new one (an ASUS - cant remember the model) had a much more efficient heatsink and doesnt ever get over being warm. Both were passive.

Thanks for the post. However, according to what I can determine, a 9400GT could be below the minimum specs for running the later versions of Mediaportal due to the updated method of rendering 1080i broadcasts. A 9500GT appears to be the accepted benchmark. There are plenty of passive 9500GT cards made, but none seem to be imported here

Alternatively, an ATI HD4760, which is what Kiwijunglist is using. But last time I switched between card brands I had glitches which only disappeared when I did a full OS reinstall.

Have looked for my receipt but seems I have discarded it believing it out of warranty. Will double check over weekend.

WaffleMakerMan

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#256988 19-Sep-2009 11:11

Im the same I dont want to risk getting a 9400GT only to find its underpowered! From the mediaportal forums "1080i material not deinterlacing under 1.0.1.0 " it seems the N9500GT worked well, It only needs one slot (which I need) I just wonder what the fan noise would be like... Does anybody have a GPU with a fan in a HTPC that can comment on what the noise is like?

The other option for me might be to somehow use a raiser to fit a larger card in...

EDIT: This would be perfect if you could get one in NZ MSI N9500GT MD512Z http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=130&cat2_no=136&prod_no=1532. Should probably fit into your LC-14, I have a LC-17 which looks about the same size and mines got heaps of room hight wise

Edit 2: Another Option is the N9500GT-MD1G-OC/D2 which has a fan but apparently it dosen't make alot of noise http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814127425 , around $120 on pricespy.

Mutly

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#257046 19-Sep-2009 15:51

This thread has made me all nervous now. I am running a 8500GT silent (passive cooling) in an LC-17 case and it has been running perfectly for over a year (touch wood). I hadn't read about the issues with 1080i under newer MP versions. I assume you mean 1.1 or later? Will have to go and have a read. I dont want to upgrade my hardware again if I dont have to.

Edit: Read the relevant MP threads. I am running MP 1.0.2 on the 8500GT and don't have the stuttering issues, but i am beginning to wonder if this is what is playing a part in the Audio/video sync issues I am having with TV3??? I wonder if I can borrow a 9500GT from somewhere...

I can't brain today. I have the dumb.

1gkar

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#257056 19-Sep-2009 17:08

Update: I found my card's receipt. Took it back, along with said receipt & a copy of Asus' warranty (3 years) conditions. The seller said they would RMA it back to Asus & I should contact them in 7-10 day's time.

I had already decided to bite the bullet & upgrade as I installed the latest beta version of Mediaportal in my bedroom client, & it is quite a bit better because of the plugins I use.

Went & bought an Asus EN9500GT card from here for under a $100. It is considerably quieter than the EN9600GT that I tried from my desktop & is about the same length as the EN8500GT card. Have upgraded Mediaportal. Just have to remember how to setup for media upscaling

@wafflemakerman -the new card's fan noise is relatively minimal. A bit more noise than when I was running my passive EN8500GT. Hard to guage with adverbs/adjectives like "relatively minimal" & "bit more noise", eh.

Also, it does take up the neighbouring slot: in my case, a PCI-E x1

@mutly -are you sure you arne't getting video stutter watching TV3's 1080i broadcast. You can check with shift+! to detect any issues. Also, I would be surprised if it was causing your sync issues -but not impossible. More likely a codec issue. Have you tried the SAF codec pack that one of Mediaportal's users collated?

Thanks again to sbiddle & askelon for advice on remitting the failed card

Mutly

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#257060 19-Sep-2009 17:39

@mutly -are you sure you arne't getting video stutter watching TV3's 1080i broadcast. You can check with shift+! to detect any issues. Also, I would be surprised if it was causing your sync issues -but not impossible. More likely a codec issue. Have you tried the SAF codec pack that one of Mediaportal's users collated?

Yep, no stutter at all. As others are suffering the same TV3 audio/video sync issues on other non HTPC hardware I am assuming there is something else at play. Just trying to rule everything else out.

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1gkar

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#257069 19-Sep-2009 18:14

Mutly:
@mutly -are you sure you arne't getting video stutter watching TV3's 1080i broadcast. You can check with shift+! to detect any issues. Also, I would be surprised if it was causing your sync issues -but not impossible. More likely a codec issue. Have you tried the SAF codec pack that one of Mediaportal's users collated?

Yep, no stutter at all. As others are suffering the same TV3 audio/video sync issues on other non HTPC hardware I am assuming there is something else at play. Just trying to rule everything else out.

Have you tried using other players, like GOM, for playback to see if it is localised or an issue with directshow merits? Could determine if the issue is with playback or the media capture.

kiwijunglist

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#257556 22-Sep-2009 13:33

if 9500 is similar to 8500 then i would of thought it would be a bit borderline for new version of MP.

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1gkar

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#257624 22-Sep-2009 19:08

kiwijunglist: if 9500 is similar to 8500 then i would of thought it would be a bit borderline for new version of MP.

I bought based off posts on the MP 1080i not deinterlacing thread. It works without shudder or jitter on the latest beta version.

Would have gone for similar to your upgrade if it was certain I would not have to do a full reinstall.

kiwijunglist

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#257633 22-Sep-2009 19:50

oh thats good then. some users state that 8500 is not fast enough.
im pretty happy with my HD4670 makes a big difference cf HD3200.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

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