New video card for HTPC

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › New video card for HTPC - single slot

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#67743 8-Sep-2010 08:31

Hi all,

I am wanting to replace my current 2 slot 9600GT so I can use the PCIx1 slot that it is covering up.

I will be running Mediaportal on Win7 with Freeview HD plus playback of downloaded x.264 content.

After any recommendations for a quite single slot card that will handle this workload. Would prefer Nvidia but would change to ATI if needs be. I also have a full size case so it doesnt need to be low profile.

Thanks in advance.

dklong

167 posts

Master Geek

#377761 8-Sep-2010 09:02

Hi GeekieGeek

I am now running the card in the link below with Mediaportal on Vista and Freeview HD etc. I replaced my 9500GT with it to reduce the noise. It is running fine although does run rather hot. Temperature doesn't seem to have affected performance though. Single slot, nvidia and being passive... very quiet!

Cheers

David

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=66969

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#377780 8-Sep-2010 09:54

I was wondering about the 210's from nvidia but was just worried about it handling 1080i.
If it works ok that might be the one to go for.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#377795 8-Sep-2010 10:42

Actually I have an Nvidia EN8500 in one of my other boxes that I could swap over. Anyone using one of these cards with the latest Mediaportal release?

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#378102 9-Sep-2010 08:07

Installed the 8500GT last night and its running fine with MP RC so next step is to install the new HVR2200 (to replace the 500 TD) and upgrade to Win7 from Vista as well as getting the final version of MP installed.

dklong

167 posts

Master Geek

#378110 9-Sep-2010 08:41

Using a card you already own is always the best answer if it works! :-)

Out of interest... why are you replacing the 500T?

Cheers

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#378141 9-Sep-2010 10:05

geekiegeek: Installed the 8500GT last night and its running fine with MP RC so next step is to install the new HVR2200 (to replace the 500 TD) and upgrade to Win7 from Vista as well as getting the final version of MP installed.

Is the 8500GT passive or active cooling? I had a 8500GT which was passively cooled and it used to get VERY hot. I was always careful to make sure it had plenty of space around it to breath.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#378147 9-Sep-2010 10:24

Its passive and has a 120mm fan right next to it pushing cold airover it.

dklong - the 500 TD doesnt work with windows 7. the 500 T is fine just not the TD.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

PANiCnz

990 posts

Ultimate Geek

#378160 9-Sep-2010 11:06

As long as you buy the latest generation of cards from Nvidia or ATI they will all do H264 decoding fine. From memory the 5450 and GT210 aren't powerful enough to do the full range post processing options available but unless your a super HTPC geek your unlikely to notice it.

As already mentioned might be worth avoiding a passive card if using the PCI directly below it as it will restricted airflow. But with a 120mm blowing air right over the card its less of an issue.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#378440 10-Sep-2010 05:55

The ATI HD5570 is an interesting card. Small, low power, but powerful. It is equivalent to the HD4670, but newer generation. Labelled as a mid range card but equivalent to a higher end previous generation card. I got one for $139 (HIS brand). If it was not for price and local supply, I would have gone for Sapphire. Just avoid MSI, not as well designed.

You can never have enough Volvos!

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#379376 13-Sep-2010 17:34

I guess you have worked out that Mediaportal must have sorted the issues with 1080i deinterlacing that was such an issue some months back, on lower end graphics cards. I upgraded to a 9600GT, then found later the EN8500 (passive) worked just fine on recorded H.264 1080i playback on my client machine in my bedroom.

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