Do I need an external GPU for 1080P playback?

[Zappza]

Hi!
I am upgrading my HTPC now, and I'm going to buy a new MB and perhaps a GPU if I need one.
The thing is that after some research I have ended up with the Abit I-N73HD mobo. This has a Geforce 7100 integrated, and I'm wondering if this GPU, combined with my Intel C2D 6320 will manage to play 1080P H264 movies?

If it is not enough, will the 8400GS do the job, or do I have to go up a group?

[Spooky]

Only the Radeon HD and GeForce 8 series have HD acceleration capabilities (though not all models).

[cybrmage]

The integrated GF7100 will work adequately for most situations, even HD content at 720P... but not at 1080i/1080P.

As for the (affordable) nVidia based add-on cards...
GF 7600GS/GT - 1080i - ok, 1080P - no.
GF 8400 series - 1080i - no, 1080P - no.
GF 8500 series - 1080i - ok, 1080P - no
GF 8600 series - 1080i - good, 1080P - good.

As for the (affordable) ATI based add-on cards....
Radeon X1600 - 1080i - ok, 1080P - no.
Radeon X1600pro - 1080i - ok, 1080P - no.
Radeon X1900series - 1080i - ok, 1080P - ok.
Radeon HD2400series - 1080i - no, 1080P - no.
Radeon HD2600series - 1080i - good, 1080P - ok.
Radeon HD3400series - 1080i - no, 1080P - no. (The HD3400 series is an updated HD2400)

NOTE: These assessments are based on my personal testing... Your results may differ...

Beware of the the "marketing techniques" used to disguise the capabilities of the different cards... Just because the model has a higher number than the last model does not mean that it is a more capable card (ie: HD2400 vs HD3400).

visit GPU Review... they provide specifications and comparisons of many different graphics cards and chipsets...

[Zappza]

Yeah, I am well aware of that, but will 1080P videos play without stuttering on my E6320?
It does run on my current setup, so I guess it will be allright?
I have a Geforce 7800GS, so I guess it doesn't have anything to say?

Also, what is more important, Dual Channel Memory or Optical S/PDIF out?

[Paranoid Delusion]

Also, what is more important, Dual Channel Memory

Your always better off getting a matched pair, if using xp 1Gb will suffice (2x512), Vista 2Gb (2x1024), especially if you want to do any encoding work with videos.

Most motherboards these need to be inserted in either slots 1 - 2 or 3 - 4 to work in dual channel mode.

[Zappza]

Originally Posted by Paranoid Delusion

Your always better off getting a matched pair, if using xp 1Gb will suffice (2x512), Vista 2Gb (2x1024), especially if you want to do any encoding work with videos.

Most motherboards these need to be inserted in either slots 1 - 2 or 3 - 4 to work in dual channel mode.

Just got to the same conclusion myself, thanks though.

I have a matched pair of 2x2048 RAM pieces, so I guess I'll manage ^^,

Well, back to the original question.

Will the E6320 manage 1080P playback?

edit:

Just found out that I have to choose between Dual Channel Memory and the Intel GMA 3100 GPU, or non-Dual Channel and Geforce 7100. Now, if I have to buy an external graphics card anyway, it doesn't matter. But if I'll manage with the 7100 I'm not sure... Trying to keep the costs at a minimum...

[Paranoid Delusion]

Just make sure you have a spare pci-e x16 slot available, if onboard with cpu oomph don't work

[cybrmage]

Your E6320 CPU should be able to handle HD 1080P just fine.... I am able to play back 1080P using an 8600GT paired with an Athlon XP3800+ (a much slower single core processor) just fine...

Given the choice between Dual Channel/Intel GPU and Single Channel/nVidia GPU.... I would forgo a board with integrated video and find a similar board in the same price range with Dual Channel support without integrated video... The boards with integrated video have all tended to have poorer performance than similar boards without video. And if you are putting a system together specifically for HD playback, you want all the performance gains that you can get.

[Spooky]

Well, with a GeForce 8600 you would be able to playback 1080p even with a Sempron 2800+ or something of that sort

[Zappza]

Originally Posted by Paranoid Delusion

Just make sure you have a spare pci-e x16 slot available, if onboard with cpu oomph don't work

Yeah, no worries ^^,
I have yet to find a mATX mainboard with (LGA775, GbLAN, 4GB DDR2, IEEE1394) that doesn't have one :p

Originally Posted by cybrmage

Your E6320 CPU should be able to handle HD 1080P just fine.... I am able to play back 1080P using an 8600GT paired with an Athlon XP3800+ (a much slower single core processor) just fine...

Given the choice between Dual Channel/Intel GPU and Single Channel/nVidia GPU.... I would forgo a board with integrated video and find a similar board in the same price range with Dual Channel support without integrated video... The boards with integrated video have all tended to have poorer performance than similar boards without video. And if you are putting a system together specifically for HD playback, you want all the performance gains that you can get.

Hmm, the thing was if it was possible to watch 1080P x264 content without having to buy a graphics card, I could save 110$. And for my poor ass student life, that is a couple of bottles of beer ^^,

By the way, is 1080P h.264 the same as 1080P x264, and can both be played with GPU acceleration?

Okey, here are the setup for my new HTPC:

Case: Antec Fusion 430 Black (new)
CPU: Intel 6320 (1.86 GHz)
RAM: GeIL Black Dragon 4096mb (2x2048mb) DDR2-800
MB: MSI G33M-FI (new)
GFX: Gainward GeForce 8600GT 512MB SilentFX (new)
Sound: Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic (S/PDIF Out)

Thanks for your help guys!!!