Best PCI card to watch Blu-Ray?

It looks like this one is the best: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161238

I am about 80% going to buy it, but I'd like to hear your critics on it. The biggest reason is 512mb VRAM, so I imagine how smooth would it be to watch Heroes on streaming HD video from www.hulu.com/HD at full screen.

Here's my spec:

Pentium 4 3.00GHZ
1gb RAM
128mb VRAM from intel motherboard

Actually, my computer is from HP.

i think he means pci.

if you want hd you need to look into "hdcp ready" cards like this 8400gs pci edition.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814187042

I fixed the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161238

Yes, I do mean PCI. Not Express.

My dad had this build:

P4 3.2HT (LGA 775)
2GB DDR 400 ram
HD 2600XT PCIe 256MB

and it would not flawlessly play BluRay. I doubt any PCI card could handle it. Plus $115 for a 2400Pro is a bit insane.

But, the one I am looking at has 512mb. Your dad has 256mb, which is twice different.

Vram makes little difference. The video would often play flawlessly, but the audio would cut out due to lack of CPU power (even after adding in a discrete XFi card).

Edit: There are multiple PCI cards much cheaper than that on Newegg. Go for a ~$60 2400Pro or 8400GS, if the video won't play you will have spent less. The additional money for a 512MB card is a waste.

AMDs IGP 780 or 790g motherboards can do as you ask. Might be time for an upgrade?

I am not insane because 4850 or 4830 won't fit in the PCI slot. ;-)

Are you implying I should've looked at CPU insteads of video card?

You are using it for 2D acceleration, beyond 64MB of VRAM doesn't matter for this.

The HD2400Pro is capable, but limited, as is the GF8400GS, and that's even when connected to PCIe. These cards aren't bandwidth limited (BR doesn't throw that much at them over the bus), they are simply core power limited for high bitrate decodes.

Forget the link in Zenthar's post for a moment and look at Cleeve's follow-up review that includes the HD2400 and GF8400, it illustrates how at the higher bit-rates you just run out of steam;
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,1711.html

The latest and greatest intergrated chips from ATi and nV are as good at handliing video, but if you want flawless performance you need to step it up a notch, since there can still be issues at high bitrate 1080P with some of the solutions as seen in the next AvP review by Cleeve;
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 030-8.html

But those will do 'ok', just not flawless unless using alot of CPU power to back them up.

I have few problems with my mobile HD2600Pro with 1080P content, but it's significantly more powerful than those options, just like a GF8600/9600 would be.

I have no experience with hulu (or hulu HD for that matter). I'll divert to shoota for his expertice in that area. If an ancient laptop of those specs can play it, something else is definitely wrong with your setup.

Also, HD content does not always mean "bluray", the terms are not always interchangable.

Just go to www.hulu.com/HD and click one of the TV shows (Heroes looks the best). Unless, your computer can't do that for you.