Onboard vs Video Card

T

thejavabuddha

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I have been reading up on the forums and a lot of people recomend the GIGABYTE GA-MA78GPM-DS2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128341 since it has onboard video capable of handling 1080p and 128mb of "side port" (whatever that means) video memory. My question is would it be better to get a cheaper mobo with a cheap video card and save a few bucks? I like the idea of onboard video since it would save me a precious slot on a mico-ATX mobo, reduce the noise of a video card fan, maybe reduce heat output a bit, and maybe even make it easier to think about a low-profile case. I don't plan on doing any major gaming on this pc, maybe a little World of Warcraft (which my $30.00 video card in my current build handles just fine). Currently only have an SDTV but hoping to upgrade to HDTV after the first of the year.

I do want whatever video solution I choose to handle all of the encoding (or is it decoding...) as this computer will also be performing PVR duties and streaming files to other PCs in the house (and whatever other crazy ideas I can think of it to do).

If you do suggest a seperate mobo/video card combo, which do you recomend?

Oh...one other question. Would I even need the extra 128mb of side port mem? I could save $25.00 just getting the same mother board without the sideport mem here: http://http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090.


Thank you for your advice!

BIll
 
save the 25 and get the one without the sideport memory
 
With the 780G chipset you don't really need a separate video card for HD playback. The integrated video in the 780G chipset is about as powerful as a 2400 Pro IIRC. So it should be better than your 6200 I think.
 
780g is not intel
I would not get a intel chipset for HD video, ATM amd has the 780g chipset and it is the best for HTPC right now.

Plus with this amd chipset you can get a 45w processor and it will run cooler and quieter then an intel setup.
For the time being, in the HTPC realm AMD has the best value
 
nitrobass24 said:
save the 25 and get the one without the sideport memory
Click to expand...
So you guys don't think that the side port mem makes any difference? The only thing I could think of it being useful for was when I was watching something while the PVR was recording. But if you don't think it's necessary then I would be happy to save some cash!
 
emm maybe if you were recording too..but even then I dont know how the Recording stuff works cause I dont do that stuff
I'm not sure if the recording software, would even use the IGP w/ or /wo sideport memory
 
nitrobass24 said:
emm maybe if you were recording too..but even then I dont know how the Recording stuff works cause I dont do that stuff
I'm not sure if the recording software, would even use the IGP w/ or /wo sideport memory
Click to expand...

No, I doubt that the recording software would use the IGP. Just wondering if between the both of them there will be any issues in memory amount/bandwith and if so if it would be worth getting the mobo with dedicated video memory.
 
The only difference it makes is in gaming and even then that's marginal.
 
CrimandEvil said:
The only difference it makes is in gaming and even then that's marginal.
Click to expand...
I guess that kind of helps. I suppose it's worth an extra $25.00 to make sure my WoW excursion isn't going to interfere with anything I'm recording. I hate spending more than I have to as I'm on a real tight budget, but I don't suppose 25 more dollars is gonna kill me.
 
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