Searching the best graphic card for my MP (1 Viewer)

[mrspock]

Hi

I'm also looking for a graphics card for my HTPC:

• CPU: Intel Core 2 6600 2.4GHz
• Main-board: Intel DG965WH
• 6Gb RAM
• W7 pro 64 bits (W8 in a near future)
• MediaPortal 1.2.3

Main use will be: SD&HD TV recording and live SD&HD TV, playing SD&HD videos. Playback by a HDMI (audio+video) to a Full HD TV. I'm not going to play games.

The following are my minimum requirements:

• 1080p & 1080i hardware de-interlacing
• HDMI video output and audio 5.1. Best: HDMI 1.4a
• Silent (no fan)
• Low working temperature
• single-slot

To obtain a good performance, I would also like the following:

• low wattage
• memory interface: 128bits
• GDDR5 memory
• good number of stream processes
• updated drivers for W7 64bits & W8
• low price (near 50-75€)

I don't know much about cards hardware, so I am asking your help and your best recommendations explaining them.

Thanks to all of you in advance

 

[kiwijunglist]

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/4_HTPC/HTPC_Hardware/Video_Cards_(GPUs)

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/4_HTPC/HTPC_Hardware/Video_Cards_(GPUs)/AMD//ATI_-_Discrete_Cards

I'd recommend HD6450 / HD6570 / HD7750

Unless you have a passive PSU + CPU, there is not much point in going for a silent GPU compared with getting a quiet GPU.

 

[mrspock]

Thank you. I had already read those links, although not much information is provided. I had read also several posts here and there are so many opinions that I could not make a clear decision about witch card is better for MP.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sapphire-..._Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item2a264b2999&_uhb=1

Should be sufficient for the price and cope with the 1080i TV

 

[mrspock]

Thanks.
Those (7750 and 6570, together with 6670) are the ones people here is speaking better. But, what are the key differences among them?
BTW, the single-slot requirement is not longer required, as I have opened my HPC and see that if I move the TV card, the graphics card can use 2 slots.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

The main difference is 1080i TV playback, the 6450 just cannot handle interlaced nicely, hence the bump up to the next best card which can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlaced_video

 

[mrspock]

Hi.
Finnally I have narrowed my options to just two cards (the others were not silent, or too big for my case, or not available in my local supplier):

• SAPPHIRE Ultimate HD 7750 1GB GDDR5(121€)
• SAPPHIRE Ultimate HD 6570 1GB DDR3 (64€)

I am not sure if the 7750 it's worth the price or if the 6570 will be enough.

• 7750 ultimate
  • Pros: quite new and modern, powerful, DDR5.
  • Cons: price, size (fits in my case but not leaving too much free space)
• 6570 ultimate
  • Pros: price, will fit better in my case.
  • Cons: quite old (will drivers keep udated?), DDR3

More pros/cons?

I could not find reviews for 6570 ultimate, so I cannot compare their working temperatures and watts usage. If anyone have this data, I would be grateful.

In addition, I would like to hear from owners of these cards about its performance with MP.

Thanks to all.

 

[porky996t]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread. I am also looking to upgrade my Lounge PC graphics card from a HD5550 to a HD6570 or HD6670. There is very little difference in price between these two cards, but I would like to know if the 6670 is any better then a 6570?

The HD5550 in the PC at present seems a bit borderline with live HD TV, and I seem to get a lot of pixelation when watching live HD TV, but very few dropped frames. In fact, I get less dropped frames and pixelation from my Zotac ZBox clients running at full HD then I do from the HD5550.

 

[kiwijunglist]

Both will be fine, if they are close in price I'd get the HD6670. Also check the local price on the HD7750 just in case it's the same price as the 6670.

 

[porky996t]

@kiwijunglist

Thanks for the quick response.

The 6670's are >>here<< and start at £47.59 ($86.56 NZ)

The 7750's are >>here<< and start around £70 ($127.41 NZ)

I think I'll go and pick this up in the morning >>6670<<