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GPU for HTPC

K

kavorka19

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Joined
Jul 29, 2012
Messages
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I've got an old desktop from a few years back that i've transformed into a fileserver/HTPC for my living room. It's currently connected using the VGA cable to the TV and I've setup a little 3.5mm to RCA out for my audio. I think I'll be getting a new receiver from "Santa" and want to get a GPU w/ HDMI that can easily use for both audio and video.

Can someone suggest an adequate, inexpensive video card that has an HDMI out? (the only thing it will be doing graphically is playing HD movies)

It's running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, in case that matters for some reason.

Please && thank-you!
 
anything that has HDMI and fits your budget. 2xx series and above for Nvidia, 5xxx from ATI
 
keep it under $15 shipped. It's quite easy; just look for the ones on newegg with a rebate. It might be a $20 rebate, but I've never had a problem.

Ditto on the 5450 or 6450. Geforce 210 is the cheapest for nVidia htpc.
 
Warrior said:
anything that has HDMI and fits your budget. 2xx series and above for Nvidia, 5xxx from ATI
Click to expand...

J Macker said:
keep it under $15 shipped. It's quite easy; just look for the ones on newegg with a rebate. It might be a $20 rebate, but I've never had a problem.

Ditto on the 5450 or 6450. Geforce 210 is the cheapest for nVidia htpc.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm looking at this one. I hate to be a boob, but can someone verify whether that little 2 prong 'thingy' is an SPDIF in? I'm pretty sure it is, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
 
+1 on the HD5450/6450 - I'm using a HD5450 on my HTPC and I can play Blu-ray no problem on a Core2Duo E7400. As a bonus many of them are passively-cooled so they are silent and have one less thing to break. Most are low profile and they are dirt-cheap these days. Don't go Geforce 210 - it's a bit weak at 1080p and the HDMI audio implementation isn't as good as AMD's especially if you use software like XBMC.
 
I'm using a 5450 and its been a great HTPC card. Uses a mere 8 watts at full tilt, has all the hardware acceleration needed for HTPC duties, and passively cooled for silent operation.
 
kavorka19 said:
Thanks. I'm looking at this one. I hate to be a boob, but can someone verify whether that little 2 prong 'thingy' is an SPDIF in? I'm pretty sure it is, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

I have nothing to base this on except for that most 2xx series cards have this pinout, but I would agree with you.
 
To add to the pot... I use a passive 5450 as my HTPCs card too. Even though nothing is connected to it. Its just a Plex server right now. Loving Plex to much to hook up a computer. I'd rather use my Roku.
 
Can I assume that all of the GPUs now-a-day will come with an internal SPDIF connector? (Just so I'm not missing anything, this is the proper way to combine my sound card's audio with the GPU's HDMI-out, right?) If not, I might be in trouble because I've spent the last hour looking for them and found ONE on an ebay listing...


P.S. I'm pretty much set on the HD5450
 
No. Cards now provide a chip onboard the card to provide the audio over HDMI. No wires needed. And the quality is normally great.
 
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