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Computer hardware question for streaming to HD Television

Tags:
  • HDMI
  • Graphics
  • YouTube
  • Dell
  • Streaming
  • HDTV
  • Hardware & Software
  • Graphics Cards
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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July 25, 2014 10:02:05 AM

I plan on purchasing a refurbished Dell Optiplex 960 Small Form model. I also plan on installing an aftermarket video card with an HDMI output to stream movies to my television (PlayOn) . Would this be a decent setup, or should I get a higher end machine? Also, does anyone recommend an appropriate video card?

Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (3 Ghz)
2GB RAM
80GB HDD
Windows 7

More about : computer hardware question streaming television

a b U Graphics card
July 25, 2014 10:27:39 AM

Your deciding factors will be what kind of videocard you are looking at.

Dependent on the card you may need to:

- Get a larger case (some video cards are quite large)

-Get a more powerful PSU (some videocards draw a lot of power)

Do you have your eye on any specific Graphics Card?
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a b U Graphics card
July 25, 2014 11:00:59 AM

The most important factors to consider are the following:

1) What's the power rating (in watts) of the current PSU (power supply unit) in your Dell?

2) Select a video card you'd like to purchase and find out the power it draws.

Unless you get a lower-end video card, you will probably have to replace the Dell's PSU with a beefier one. However, the good news is that you don't need a powerful video card to pipe video to a TV, a very low-end one will work well. Just get a relatively newer low-end card, so that it will be power-efficient and not draw much power. That's the biggest obstacle with adding video cards to old mass-market business PCs like yours, they size the PSU so that it barely handles the equipment it ships with, adding a video card that might draw an extra 100 watts was not in the design and build consideration.
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