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Looking for a good HTPC Video card with HDMI out.

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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.

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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/Prod [...] 6882339123. 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.

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.

Reply to aevm

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/Prod [...] 6814161220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121237

this one even has hdmi port built in:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814103053

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.

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).

Message edited by Ancient_1 on 06-12-2008 at 08:44:05 PM

Reply to Ancient_1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814261001
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814261002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814261010
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814500026

You need S/PDIF out on your MB to send HD audio to card and out through
the HDMI.
Enable digital audio @sound device properties.

Or motherboards with intergrated graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128090

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by knotknut on 06-12-2008 at 08:27:21 PM

Reply to knotknut

knotknut wrote :

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.

Reply to godless

Why are you yelling?

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by knotknut on 06-12-2008 at 08:44:16 PM

Reply to knotknut

LOL. Godless, I agree with you, 9800GX2 in an HTPC is stupid, but stay calm, don't give yourself a heart attack. It's not worth it, really....

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to aevm

knotknut wrote :

Why are you yelling?

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.

Reply to aevm

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.

Reply to knotknut

aevm wrote :

LOL. Godless, I agree with you, 9800GX2 in an HTPC is stupid, but stay calm, don't give yourself a heart attack. It's not worth it, really....

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

Hi,

visiontek 3450 built in hdmi fanless.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] tek%2b3450

Brad

Reply to djbrad007

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.

Reply to San Pedro

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.

Reply to knotknut

I think somebodys medication is wearing off.

Reply to rsetter1

great suggestions thanks guys.

Reply to winhac

The Reviews on this motherboard say the built in HDMI handles blu-ray without a hitch at 1080P. Maybe i'll give that a shot. Can always get the a video card if it blows. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128090

Reply to winhac

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

Reply to winhac

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.

Message edited by aevm on 07-07-2008 at 06:41:02 PM

Reply to aevm

ya just watching blu-ray and hd-dvd's and dl'd videos

Reply to winhac

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.

Message edited by winhac on 07-07-2008 at 09:06:51 PM

Reply to winhac

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