Video Card Suggestions... (1 Viewer)

[FantaXP7]

I have been testing out media portal and getting as much knowledge as I can to set it up how I would like it before I go purchase new parts for a HTPC. I currently own a Sapphire X1600 pro with HDMI in my computer. I am looking at the Radeon 4550. I would go with the 4670, but I need a low profile card because I have chosen this case:

Newegg.com - LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - HTPC / Media Center Cases

My question is this, with my current card being low profile, capable of h.264 decoding, and has an HDMI output, will I see any changes with the 4550? I realize the 4550 has 7.1 audio out, which I want, but unfortunately I won't be owning a 7.1 receiver for awhile. Will the 4550 outperform the 1600 in terms of processing video? Will it maybe be easier to work with as far as custom resolutions?

Just trying to find out if the $50 is worth spending.

thanks

 

[drealit]

Man low profile really messes you up... I hope it is worth the sacrifice for you (and the extra cash on that pretty pretty case - I have a Antec Fusion Black... only gripe is that it is too wide).

Bottom line, yes there will be a significant improvement with the 4550 over the 1600. Not only is the HD (h264/vc-1) playback going to be better due to UVD 2... but the SD playback will also improve. I believe this is due to the 4550's shader model 4.1 support and also the amount of stream processors it has (80). Mpeg2 content (SD media) is decoded through the shaders not through the UVD 2 as a lot of people might think (it's not the same process as with decoding HD material).

I'm not positive but I bet the 4550 uses a significantly less amount of energy also... many benefits for you.

Here's a great article about the modern GPU's available right now http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/media-playback_6.html#sect0 . I have the HD 4670 and I couldn't be happier with it (now that I have all my settings adjusted). I would have been fine with a 4650 most likely but didn't bother researching that card enough until after I had placed my order :/.

 

[RobNorthcott]

I'll jump in on this thread rather than create a new one...

I'm thinking of replacing my old FX5200 PCI card, mostly to free up the PCI slot (the mobo's got PCIe so I may as well use it!)

My machine is a dedicated HTPC, so doesn't get used for games. The card needs to be quiet (preferably passive cooled) and not too power-hungry (and preferably not too expensive either!). At the moment I'm leaning towards GeForce 8500 but I'm open to suggestions. I've always kept away from ATI cards (just prefer nVidia), but if a Radeon would give better picture quality or something then I'll give it a go. At the moment I don't watch any HD, but that may change if I get a different tuner later. My case fits normal size cards (not low profile).

Let me hear your thoughts

Rob

 

[etheesdad]

I have a 4550 (passive cooled) and its absolutely brilliant. Plays blu-ray without a hitch, and high-def tv is smooth as silk. There are plenty of reviews around about it, all of which give it very high scores as an htpc card, with several significant advantages over similarly priced nvidia models. For more info google "HD 4550 review"

 

[FantaXP7]

Man low profile really messes you up... I hope it is worth the sacrifice for you (and the extra cash on that pretty pretty case - I have a Antec Fusion Black... only gripe is that it is too wide).

Bottom line, yes there will be a significant improvement with the 4550 over the 1600. Not only is the HD (h264/vc-1) playback going to be better due to UVD 2... but the SD playback will also improve. I believe this is due to the 4550's shader model 4.1 support and also the amount of stream processors it has (80). Mpeg2 content (SD media) is decoded through the shaders not through the UVD 2 as a lot of people might think (it's not the same process as with decoding HD material).

I'm not positive but I bet the 4550 uses a significantly less amount of energy also... many benefits for you.
Here's a great article about the modern GPU's available right now High-Definition PC Experience: Graphics Cards vs. High-Definition Video Playback (page 6) - X-bit labs . I have the HD 4670 and I couldn't be happier with it (now that I have all my settings adjusted). I would have been fine with a 4650 most likely but didn't bother researching that card enough until after I had placed my order :/.

Yea, I just had to have this Lian Li case once I saw it. I was considering a bunch of cases but chose this one for several reasons. Mostly the style and size, but the biggest I think is that I know Lian Li and there fit and finish is one of the best. I'm going to list the other parts I have chosen at this point because I would like your opinion as you state that there's some sacrifice and I would like to know where I can maybe improve. Isn't the Antec Fusion around the same price?

Thank you for that break down on the playback ability. You actually posted that link for me after a different post, and it definitely helped me to narrow down the video card choice. I really want that 4670 because of the difference in video game performance. I have a 360 though and I would be happy enough to use the 4550 with just emulators. The 4550 should have about the same video processing ability I would assume? Would I maybe be better off with a 4650?

Here is what I have selected so far

Case: Newegg.com - LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - HTPC / Media Center Cases

Again, choice it because of it's appearance and brand name. I wanted something sleek that would maybe be around the size of other devices around the tv. Most mid size cases look to be around the size of a receiver. I figure if I am using the ever so sexy mediaportal, might as well build an almost as sexy htpc .

Motherboard: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

I don't do a whole lot of encoding now, but I figure a decent cpu would be good for the foreseeable future.

Video Card: Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100252HDMI Radeon HD 4550 512MB 64-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Low Profile Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

I wish they would make that damn 4670 low profile!

Power Supply: Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ400MXSP 400W ATX12V V2.2 Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

went modular because I want this thing tight and clean inside.

Memory: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Can't go wrong with this stuff

Blu Ray Drive: Newegg.com - ASUS Black 6X Blu-ray DVD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal 6X Blu-Ray DVD Combo Model BC-06B1ST - Blu-Ray Drives

might hold off on this for a little bit to cut initial cost.


I figure that is a pretty decent configuration. I would like to hear what you guys think. Like I said above, I am trying to keep this thing tight and clean, so I will also be getting short Sata cables. I found some on the internet that are just 4 inches long.

Here is the only piece I've bought so far

Wireless Vista Remote Control RC-2400 Trust UK 49 Butto - eBay (item 400032886715 end time Mar-24-09 13:00:00 PDT)

Thought the retro design was real cool.

etheesdad, glad you to hear you like the 4550. I will most likely be purchasing this.

 

[drealit]

Looks pretty solid to me and as I said before (in previous post heh) the 9600 performs very well for me inside my server. I've been encoding my mkv's with 4.1 level h264 and a CQ setting of 20 (following in the footsteps of the late great EuReKa encoding group... file size is not of my concern ) lately... takes about 14-15 hours for each 2 hour encode.

 

[RobNorthcott]

I have a 4550 (passive cooled) and its absolutely brilliant....

Thanks - sounds ideal, and the right sort of price. I'll give one of those a try.

Rob

 

[osxfreak]

I just purchased the below card for my first HTPC. I've got this hooked up at 1920x1080 to my Plasma TV and it looks great.
My PC is not that great either, it's a P4 3.0ghz Processor with 1gig of ram. So with that said although I'm NEW to HTPCing and I'm sure it's not the saem model your looking for, for the Money it's well worth it. Also I know it's not low profile, was more giving you this info based on the 4550 chip

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-R455D3-512I Radeon HD 4550 512MB 64-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Good Luck.

Chip

 

[RobNorthcott]

I've just bought a Gigabyte HD4550. Arrived today at work, so I'll give it a try in the next couple of days when nobody's wanting to watch telly.

Rob

EDIT: Installed it last night - absolutely superb. Everybody should buy one

 

[FantaXP7]

I just received in the mail the radeon 4550. So far I am pleased with this over my old x1600 pro. I can easily select 1360x768 and adjust to fit my television with the scaling option, which for some reason with my old card was grayed out...This brings me closer to a 1:1 ratio. One other feature in the catalyst control center that I had read people talking about, pixel format, is now visible.

SD quality is looking nicer. I am not sure yet about HD. I was using Core AVC but switched over to MPC (because it is better to have the video card decode rather than the cpu? Thats what I am assuming MPC does and why everyone uses it). Anyways, thanks to you all for your input and I am very pleased with this purchase.

Just edited this because when I switch inputs on my tv to the hdmi where the htpc is connected, my screen flashes just like with my old card...