Graphics card with Intel GMA950 or 945

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glennr

21 posts

Geek

# 42829 12-Oct-2009 12:26

Hi,

I need to get a PC with Intel GMA950 (or 945) graphics to do some testing of a program that I am developing. These seem to be very common as integrated graphics but I'm wondering if this chipset is available as a PCI card. My searching hasn't found anything but I thought I'd ask just in case there is one out there somewhere.

Glenn

vinnieg

2260 posts

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# 263635 13-Oct-2009 10:06

Nah sorry man, i highly doubt it, it's integrated with the old:
775 sockets, N270/280 chipsets and some of the 478 sockets

are you able to use any nvidia or ati cards for testing purposes?
I guess you want a standalone card because your current workstation has something higher in it already? or no integrated graphcis?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vinnieg

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# 263637 13-Oct-2009 10:10

are you able to build say just a basic D945GLY2 with a case and some ram?
total cost would be roughly $200

Case $15-30(i paid this much for a procase with 60w ITX psu)
ram $20 1gb or $37 2gb
Mobo $126 single core N270, $152 dual core 330

Then just Remote desktop in to test the app?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

glennr

21 posts

Geek

# 263646 13-Oct-2009 11:10

Thanks, as I suspected it appears to be only available as part of a motherboard chipset.

I specifically need the GMA950 because users are having issues with the app with that chipset. I have a range of Nvidia and ATI cards to test with and they work fine with up to date drivers.

Looks like the best option is to do as you suggest and build a minimal atom based PC.

Do you know if the atom PC would be any good as a MythTV DVR once I'm done with it?

vinnieg

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# 263651 13-Oct-2009 11:54

um, the atom Pc would be ok as a home media server, feeding files to say a PS3, Xbox or other Pcs in the house/server. But if you wanted a good MythTV, you'd have to add in a PCI card capable of HD decoding(just to help it along)

Since PCI cards are expensive and PCI-E cards are cheaper, you would probably be better off finding a socket 775 ITX or mATX with 950gc onboard graphics and a PCI-E port. Then later on just add in a PCI card as a decoder, something like this:

http://www.einfo.co.nz/shop/product_info.php?products_id=11212
Unfortunately only einfo sells that one, which I don't trust.
Um you could probably find a few mATX boards with PCIe and GMA950 graphcis on pricespy. The GMA950 ITX boards seem to only have PCI slots, no PCIe though :(

So ideally mATX:
mATX Case + PSU $60-100
mATX mobo $140
E7400 $144
2gb ram $38
then later on add in an 8500GT $65
$447+

or ITX:
mITX case + 60-80w PSU $30-120 usually on Trademe you can find one with external power brick
mITX mobo $147 atom 330 dual core
2gb ram $38
later on add in an 2400HD PCI $89 still quite expensive unfortunately)
= $314

do a member search on Trademe for TwoPlusthree. I paid $35 including shipping for a procase CS2677 brand new with PCI riser which retails on PP for $167
http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AGW00143

I'll add some pics up here in teh weekend of it if you want :) I'm also going to run through some testing on my PS3s, Xbox and PCs to see how it handles multiple streams and transcoding
I'm using a 1.5TB Western Digital green HDD for it all

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.