HTPC motherboard

[bluesheep3791]

Hello,
I am looking at two mini IDX motherboard with integrated video chips. I plan to put in a CPU at about 3.0 to 3.4 GHz. Ideally i want to be able to not only do 1080p playback but also have a few games, the most demanding being super smash bros brawl on a dolphin emulator. A dedicated card wont work because I need the PCI slot for a tv tuner.

Witch one has the better video chip, ATI Radeon HD 4290 or NVIDIA GeForce GT430?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500063

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500070

Thanks

 

[rwpritchett]

If you're going to play games using integrated video, consider an AMD Llano FM1 setup. Go for the A8-3850, A8-3870K, or A8-3800 for the best integrated video on the market right now (about equal to a Radeon HD 6550). You could also go with the A6 series of CPU's and have slightly less video performance.

Oh, and make sure to get fast RAM for any Llano setup- it helps the video. At least DDR3-1600 speed.

Check out the Llano reviews at launch:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/A8-3850_Fusion_GPU_Performance/
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-a8-3850-llano,2975.html

 

[bluesheep3791]

Ok, sweet

So you saying my best bet is to go with the A8-3870K and lets say an ASRock A75M-ITX (link below) and then I don't need to worry about on board video chips or anything else (new to APUs)? Just put in fast RAM?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157273

 

[diellur]

If you want to bitstream HD audio, you need a 5xxx AMD GPU. You need a 6xxx AMD GPU if you want 3D support. The Llano has a 6xxx GPU onboard, so you're good to go there...just bear it in mind if you decide on another route.

 

[rwpritchett]

Ok, sweet

So you saying my best bet is to go with the A8-3870K and lets say an ASRock A75M-ITX (link below) and then I don't need to worry about on board video chips or anything else (new to APUs)? Just put in fast RAM?


That's]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157273

That's as good as your going to get unless you go for a discreet video card. It will depend on the games you want to play and the resolution you're pushing. From what you've listed it will be plenty. And yes, the HD6xxx series from AMD can do it all: HD audio, 3D blu-ray, 24p, etc...

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

Dont get the wrong impression that onboard video makes a games machine....it doesnt...

You are not going to be playing BF3 on Ultra for example...or even high...

All the best Brett

 

[bluesheep3791]

Best answer selected by bluesheep3791.