If I don't use hardware acceleration can I get cheap vidcard

shaolin95 · Post by **shaolin95** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:47 pm

Hi!
I was wondering, with my current rig I dont use the hardware accelartion just the Opteron 165 dual core @3GHZ to run the mkv 1080p files (8800GT card). I am building a similar rig to be HTPC only with a E2160 (Oced as well) , Crucial Tracer memory. Can I use a cheap 8400GS or 2400 PRO without issues?

Vicotnik · Post by **Vicotnik** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:24 pm

Yes, no problem. If you get a motherboard with onboard graphics even that would be good enough.

spookmineer · Post by **spookmineer** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:37 pm

The 8400/8500/8600 uses PureVideo HD technology to offload the CPU of doing the movie encoding.

For a HTPC, one of these cards will be the choice, as they don't get really hot and they will lessen the CPU load (I don't know if ATI similar cards which do the same - Avivo?).

The same processing capabilities are not included in the higher end 8800 series cards (it uses the previous generation of PureVideo HD).

http://www.nvidia.com/object/purevideo_hd_faq.html

shaolin95 · Post by **shaolin95** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:51 pm

Cool thats what I thought. I can buy the 8400GS with passive cooling by XFX for $35 shipped....sounds like a winner for HTPC. I know some people claim ATI has better IQ but I think most people is carrying that from the old days when it was a reality. I have compared ATI more recently, at least for gaming, and they are pretty much on par.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:06 pm

ATI cards tend to have color that is more accurate than Nvidia.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:08 am

HD 3450 is very good for HTPC's. Image is sharp and colours are excellent.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:51 am

thejamppa wrote:HD 3450 is very good for HTPC's. Image is sharp and colours are excellent.

Completely passive? I know I could look it up, but feeling kind of lazy right now...

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:01 am

Wedge wrote:
thejamppa wrote:HD 3450 is very good for HTPC's. Image is sharp and colours are excellent.
Completely passive? I know I could look it up, but feeling kind of lazy right now...

i have one. it only has one big heatsink and takes one slot.