new graphics card

[stefan]

Hi,

I need a recommendation for a new video card. My old one is a pcie16x one, but with humongous cooling sinks. You can barely make out the pcie1x slot below it in the picture, and there is one above it also that you can't see. Now I need to use one pcie1x slot, so I need a new video card. Could you recommend me one? The computer is only going to be used for playback of videos, so I pretty much have few requirements:

1) It needs to be able to play 1080p without problems.
2) Well, that's it, really.

I have a few more wishes, though.

1) Fanless would be nice. I have no idea if that's possible to get without cooling sinks that are in the way of the pcie1x slots?
2) Hdmi output would be nice. The tv has hdmi in and old fashioned RGB in. My current video card has dvi out only, so I'm using a dvi->rgb converter, but that uses more space behind the computer than I'm really comfortable with.
3) If I'm using hdmi out, I need the graphics card to have a sound in where I can connect my sound output, right? Or can I still connect my sound out directly to the sound in on my tv like I do today when I use the RGB input on the tv?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31259[/ATTACH]

[johnsonx42]

I've always been very happy with my HD4550. the current equivalent of that would be a HD6450 which are readily available fanless. There's also a fanless single-slot 6570, which Anandtech once called the perfect htpc card.

they all have HDMI these days, and yes, they all ouput sound through the HDMI port.

here's a listing from newegg.com, I guess you'll have to see what you can get in Sweden: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis...rchInDesc=

[stefan]

Thanks

You were faster than google+, even though I posted there first. How suprising

So, let me get this straight - they output sound through hdmi without me having to connect my sound card's output to some input on the graphics card?

I saw a picture of HD6450, it seems to have a heatsink on one side only, could that be true? Then I could use the pcie1x slot on the other side. The price is quite ok too.

[johnsonx42]

yes, the card itself outputs the sound signal over the HDMI connection, it has nothing to do with your existing sound card. when you install the drivers, a sound driver for the video card will be installed as well; on my system it's called "AMD High Definition Audio Device".

yes, on these cards the heatsink only occupies a single slot. you can use the slots above and below no problem.

that said, if you're going to use the slots above and below the video card, I'd suggest getting one with a small fan to keep the air moving a little. the little fans on these cards are very quiet - I can't hear mine at all.

[stefan]

Thanks, good info!

[jcjefferies]

I have been looking at Nvidia GeForce 8400GS cards. Several people on here have recommended them for HD as they are quite cheap, support video acceleration and have HDMI output.

[imilne]

And won't do proper 23.976Hz that'll you need for smooth blu-ray playback...

Iain

[johnsonx42]

I tried a GeForce 8400gs w/gb-pvr and XP awhile back, wasn't at all happy with it. I don't remember what the specific problem was, but it went back to Fry's very quickly.

I think from what I've read if you want to run Nvidia in your HTPC, you should be looking at the GT430 or GT520.

[ga_mueller]

I tried a GeForce 8400gs w/gb-pvr and XP awhile back, wasn't at all happy with it. I don't remember what the specific problem was, but it went back to Fry's very quickly.

They are low-end cards but very very cheap (almost free after rebate). The fanless version has worked well for me for QAM HD/SD, but I don't have a BD so can't comment on that. DXVA works well, so you don't need a macho CPU.

[wtg]

I've been very happy with my HD5450. Fanless, hdmi, no prob w/HD and dirt cheap. I've seen then $40 w/$15 rebate many times.