Looking for a good HTPC Video card with HDMI out.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
W

winhac

Distinguished
May 25, 2008
18
0
18,510
I'm looking to build a budget HTPC and looking for a a good HDMI out video card that can also handle Blue ray. Having a hard time finding a video card that has HDMI at 1080P and that can play the sound from a blu-ray disc. Been looking at some on Newegg and they seem to all have issues and the built in ones on the Shuttle cases seem to have issues as well.
 
S

Shez

Distinguished
Jul 10, 2004
296
0
18,780
I'm not sure, in fact I'm positive after I post this that someone will correct me, but remembering back to when I was looking for HTPC vid cards there aren't any that specifically have HDMI out. More disappointing is the fact that cards with converters to HDMI lack audio.

The work around that worked well for me was something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882339123. However, it'll depend what inputs your TV has. On my TV the computer input was broken up into VGA and audio in, so that I can get video and sound from the computer.

Hit us up with more information on your TV and budget.
 
aevm

aevm

Illustrious
May 18, 2007
11,974
0
41,960
Cards with converters to HDMI lack audio because ATI and nVidia are in the video card business, not the sound card business. The idea is to use the onboard audio (or buy a sound card if you're picky, like me), and keep the video cards as cheap as possible.

 
G

godless

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2007
624
0
18,990
you can get the ati hd3650. this has the dvi/hdmi adater. this way you can use hdmi cable. now ati card have built in sound cards so they are able to transfer both video and audio through the dvi/hdmi adapter. most ati card come with the dvi/hdmi adapter. my 3870 did. i tried to connect it to the 42 lcd tv that i have and it worked flawlessly. both sound and video. ati cards aalso have built it high definition decoders, so it will not use the cpu. comp will stay cooler.

now there are nvidia cards, whcih i think they can do similar thing. but most nvidia cards don't have built it audio.

here are some cards for you to take a look at
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121237

this one even has hdmi port built in:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103053

 
G

godless

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2007
624
0
18,990
now if these are too expensive, i doubt that. you can even look at the 3450 and up cards. just make sure that in the bundle, there is the dvi/hdmi adapter.
 
A

Ancient_1

Distinguished
Oct 18, 2006
319
3
18,815
The ATI HD2400 pro to the 3870 will do what you want. They have on board hd audio chip and do play sound over HDMI and also have hardware video decoding of both vc1 and h264.

I have used both the 2400 and 3870 in this puter (specs in my sig) which is only connected to my 47" 1080p lcd tv. I have not played HD-DVD or blu-ray tho. I gave played some 1080p x264 and lots to 1080i and 720p mpeg2 tv tho without any issues on either card (but my cpu has enough power to play any video without help from vid card). The most cpu usage I have seen is in the 13~15% range(except some 1080i mpeg2 that can go 25%+ because no real decoding on the cards for mpeg2 HD).
 
K

knotknut

Distinguished
Aug 13, 2007
1,218
1
19,310
G

godless

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2007
624
0
18,990


WHY THE HELL ARE YOU PROPOSING A 500 DOLLAR CARD TO PLAY BLUE RAY. ARE YOU STUPID? AND A SECOND CABLE FOR AUDIO? IT'S WELL KNOW THAT FOR HTPC ATI CARDS ARE BETTER.
 
aevm

aevm

Illustrious
May 18, 2007
11,974
0
41,960


Well, you did suggest the most expensive gaming card ever for a "budget HTPC". You have to expect a little criticism after that.

For one thing, video players will never support SLI, which means half of that 9800GX2 would never be used.

 
K

knotknut

Distinguished
Aug 13, 2007
1,218
1
19,310
There are many options.

Who needs a $150,000.00 car to commute to work, but some people do!
Some people fly private jets to work.

If you need to blow off steam go out side and get some excersise.
 
G

godless

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2007
624
0
18,990



yeah i've had a bad day. had to deal with some morons and it revved me up.
 
S

San Pedro

Distinguished
Jul 16, 2007
1,286
12
19,295
Just build an AMD machine and use the new 780G or 790G chipset, the one with HDMI out, which also has acceleration for hi-def playback via the integrated graphics. Then you can go ahead and plop some memory and dual core processor in there and you're ready to go.
 
K

knotknut

Distinguished
Aug 13, 2007
1,218
1
19,310
Well here goes.

You are right about the 9800GX2.

My choice would be the GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM for a HTPC. It has everything the OP wants and crossfire if he wants to add up to a HD3450.
And, as I read, some interesting stuff with the SB700.

 
W

winhac

Distinguished
May 25, 2008
18
0
18,510
Antec Minuet350 Piano Black Steel MicroATX Slim Case Computer Case 350W 80PLUS Certified Power Supply - Retail
Model #:Minuet350
Item #:N82E16811129039
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$109.99 $109.99
1 GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-MA78GM-S2H
Item #:N82E16813128090
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock

$89.99 -$10.00 Instant $79.99
1 AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH4850DOBOX

AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH4850DOBOX - Retail
Model #:ADH4850DOBOX
Item #:N82E16819103255
Return Policy:processors (CPUs) Return Policy
In Stock

$82.99 $82.99
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Model #:F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
Item #:N82E16820231098
Return Policy:Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
In Stock

$84.99 -$40.00 Instant $44.99
1 LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GGC-H20L

LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GGC-H20L - Retail
Model #:GGC-H20L
Item #:N82E16827136133
Return Policy:Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock

$199.99 -$35.00 Instant $164.99
1 COOLER MASTER RR-CCH-P912-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler

COOLER MASTER RR-CCH-P912-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #:RR-CCH-P912-GP
Item #:N82E16835103041
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$22.99 $22.99
Subtotal: $505.94

Already got a hard drive , This is what I came up with so far , might change the case this one is ugly.
 
aevm

aevm

Illustrious
May 18, 2007
11,974
0
41,960
Sounds good. I also like that it supports Phenoms. If you're going to edit high-def videos you'd benefit from a quad.

Edit: I hadn't seen your last post, above this one. OK, if you're just watching videos that CPU is perfect.
 
W

winhac

Distinguished
May 25, 2008
18
0
18,510
whats the best software for playing both Hd-dvd and blu-ray??
Edit : Looks like windvd 9 plus is my best bet for blu-ray and hd-dvd playback.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom