Video Cards With 3D?

[bore_u2_death]

What video cards in the current state of affairs can output 3D Blu-Ray movies? I understand the GT430 has HDMI 1.4 so it can.

I know the Radeon HD 5550 and up and the GeForce GT 240 and up can do dual 1080P decoding, so does that mean they support 3D too?

Basically I want to spend around $300 in the near future for an HTPC and want it to have a GPU that can do 1080P hardware acceleration and preferably 3D.

TY

 

[heatlesssun]

You're going to need glasses so you're looking at closer to $400 for something like a 460 and the glasses. AMD really doesn't have much 3D support at this time so if 3D is a must nVidia is the better bet. You'll also need a player, I use ArcSoft Total Media Platinum 3, about the best there is for Windows right now.

I've played a lot of games in 3D but I've not yet watch a 3D BD. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[kllrnohj]

You're going to need glasses so you're looking at closer to $400 for something like a 460 and the glasses. AMD really doesn't have much 3D support at this time so if 3D is a must nVidia is the better bet. You'll also need a player, I use ArcSoft Total Media Platinum 3, about the best there is for Windows right now.

I've played a lot of games in 3D but I've not yet watch a 3D BD. Any suggestions? Thanks.

If he just wants 3D movies why would he need a 460? 430 seems like a better option thanks to HDMI 1.4. Also if he is doing it with a TV the card must have HDMI 1.4 and the TV will have come with it's own glasses, so he won't be using Nvidia's 3D solution anyway.

 

[heatlesssun]

If he just wants 3D movies why would he need a 460? 430 seems like a better option thanks to HDMI 1.4. Also if he is doing it with a TV the card must have HDMI 1.4 and the TV will have come with it's own glasses, so he won't be using Nvidia's 3D solution anyway.

Good points, I didn't think about a 3D TV. And if this is only for BD playback then yes, the 430 is a good option as DVI connections only work on a few TVs for 3D. He'd still need the software player but I just saw this: http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-tv-play.html

Not sure eaxctly what nVidia is pushing with this, 3D Player software is a bit vague.

 

[bore_u2_death]

I have a new question specifically for the Radeon HD 5550+ and GT 240: what does the dual 1080P decode mean if it cannot output to a television with HDMI 1.4? And what capabilities does that give the GPUs in 3D in any way whatsoever then?

To clarify, I would want to use this HTPC connected to a TV that does 1080P and maybe 3D if I splurge. Sorry if it wasn't obvious but I would use an HDMI connection since it's for a TV.

So the GT 430 is the only GPU with HDMI 1.4 then. Thanks a bunch already everyone.

 

[heatlesssun]

I have a new question specifically for the Radeon HD 5550+ and GT 240: what does the dual 1080P decode mean if it cannot output to a television with HDMI 1.4? And what capabilities does that give the GPUs in 3D in any way whatsoever then?

While you would need HDMI 1.4 for 3D with an HDMI connection you could use DVI on a compatible TV.

 

[bore_u2_death]

Would the absence of HDCP cause the resolution to be halved? How could one circumvent HDCP otherwise if it does? I'd really like to make use of 3D without shelling out for a more expensive more power-hungry GT430 when a 5550 will do the job fine.

 

[heatlesssun]

Without HDCP you won't be able to play any Blu Rays without decryption.

 

[bore_u2_death]

While you would need HDMI 1.4 for 3D with an HDMI connection you could use DVI on a compatible TV.

Hey hey that's it. If I connect through DVI then the Radeon 5000 series will be able to do 3D. Perfect!

 

[Revdarian]

1.4 is for 1080p 3D as far as i know.

1.3a allows you to output 1080i 3D, so the difference is minimal for some.