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Need a MB for HTPC with onboard HDMI

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retchedone   11-10-2008 at 07:46:14 PM

My current HTPC uses a gigabyte motherboard and a ATI 4650 video card that does a good job on my 55" sony. I want to stick the card abck in my gaming system, so i am looking for a motherboard with an on-board HDMi that can do 1080 on my sony tv, and not have stuttering issues with fast moving pictures.

Any recommendations?

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cantbesure1086   11-10-2008 at 08:14:52 PM
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I would say go with a 780g chipset. Should have more then enough power to handle htpc operations and should be able to play blu-ray without a dedicated video card, all for under a 100 bucks.

Reply to cantbesure1086
clownbaby   11-10-2008 at 09:15:53 PM
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for the price of a motherboard, you can pick up an ati 4830 (~$125) which is a MUCH better gaming card than that 4650. The 780g is a viable option, but it still doesn't do well with blu-ray. Also, ati provides the only 7.1 hdcp support, so you would lose that by removing the 4650.

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rwpritchett   11-10-2008 at 10:55:51 PM
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Everyone is assuming you need an AMD board, is that correct or are you looking at Intel?

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just get a HD4350 as a replacement card for ~$30 than spend $80-100 on a new motherboard? It would perform better than onboard video and still have 7.1 LPCM out.

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retchedone   11-10-2008 at 10:58:16 PM
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This wont be a gamer, just used for streaming netflix, media pc use, occasional web surfing, and BluRay...

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retchedone   11-10-2008 at 11:02:38 PM
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The current cpu is a P4 3.2 dual core. 4 gigs ram.
it doesnt have to use this CPU, I dont mind buying a AMD

Reply to retchedone
tehlexinator   11-10-2008 at 11:40:33 PM
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This is the mobo in my HTPC and it kicks ass. I bought it a while back bundled with this CPU for a total of $140, it also had mail in rebates on the CPU and the mobo, however I did not send them out.

If you can wait a bit, I am sure newegg will have a similar AMD deal, since they constantly toss CPU's in there with mobos.

Reply to tehlexinator
Nik_I   11-10-2008 at 11:57:30 PM
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i'm also going to suggest a 780G or 790GX motherboard. the graphics chip on these motherboards is fairly good. from what i've heard, the 780G has a bit of trouble with 1080p video, but im not sure which cpu was tested with that. i've seen some video benchmarks of the 780G done with a sempron processor. but that 4650 is not really a gaming card. you would be better off overall if you put the money you would have spent on the motherboard into a better video card for your gaming system. a 4670 or even a 4830 would be perfect. or if your budget allows for it, why not get a 4850? you definitely won't regret it.

Reply to Nik_I
rwpritchett   11-11-2008 at 12:30:46 AM
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What is the OP's budget?? That will determine everything. Also, what games are you going to play with the HD4650 and at what resolution?

Reply to rwpritchett
ainarssems   11-11-2008 at 12:52:02 AM
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option 1 - keep 4650 in Your HTPC and buy 4850 or 4870 for gaming PC- You will get better gaming perfomance

option 2 - buy 4350 for HTPC and move 4650 to gaming PC if 4650 can handle Your games fine -save money.

No need to cange motherboard or CPU, less struggle in either case.

Reply to ainarssems
retchedone   11-11-2008 at 01:51:33 AM
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My bad, gaming rig has two 4850's already, pulled one for the htpc for now.

I want my 2-4850's back in my gaming rig.

So i need to find a new mobo/cpu or just buy another 4850 or 4870 for the HTPC.
I DONT game on the HTPC...
It just holds 2 1TB drives (Mirrored) for movies, music, etc.

Budget is not a huge issue.
The case i have only fits a micro ATX board. and my 4850 barely fits.

Reply to retchedone
retchedone   11-11-2008 at 01:54:50 AM
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maybe i should just buy a 4870 for the HTPC...

was just hoping for a smaller form factor card, or no add-on video card...
Would like a optical output...

AMD or Intel, dont matter

the main reason for buying another MB is to take the one in the HTPC now an build a small portable system for a friend in need, with 'spare' parts I have laying around.

Reply to retchedone
rwpritchett   11-11-2008 at 02:09:42 AM
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No need for a HD4750 if you're only going to watch movies. How about the new Geforce 9300 based ASUS P5N7A-VM paired with a low power CPU like the E5200? That will run you about $200 and get you HDMI w/LPCM (if needed) and optical out. If you plan to do video encoding, maybe step up to an Intel quad.

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retchedone   11-11-2008 at 02:12:14 AM
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I'll check that one out!

Is the onboard chip "just like" the add-on card version? Meaning just as good?

Reply to retchedone
rwpritchett   11-11-2008 at 02:12:40 AM
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Also, take a look at the Nvidia 8200 motherboards for AMD. Anandtech's review praises it higher than the 780G for HTPC use. Then you could go with the new Athlon X2 5050e or a Phenom.

Reply to rwpritchett
ainarssems   11-11-2008 at 02:18:50 AM
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If You are bying new m/b anyway then go for a 790GX motherboard with low energy AMD CPU.

Reply to ainarssems
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