HTPC video card

Mad Cow · **HTPC video card -** 10-02-2006, 03:27 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

What is the best video card for an HTPC? I'll barely be gaming with it, so I just need it to have good video processing. It also needs to output 1080i through the DVI connector.

IdentidY · 10-02-2006, 05:53 | posts: 568 | Location: thebloodybox

the only ones i know are ati all-in-wonders..

Mad Cow · 10-02-2006, 21:08 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

Are you sure? So you're saying that only all-in-wonders can connect to a 1080i projector through DVI?

IdentidY · 10-02-2006, 21:12 | posts: 568 | Location: thebloodybox

no no, im saying that i think those are htpc cards..theres probably others, nvidias quatros i thought were ones..just go to www.newegg.com and search some cards...or try googling it!

Joey · *Last edited by Joey; 10-02-2006 at 21:18.*

Are you sure you want to do 1080i?
It's always best to use the native resolution if display device has a proper digital input.
Or are you converting the DVI/putting it through a switching box?

On the card front the X1300 ATI cards or the 7300 Nvidia cards are what you want.
I think they both come with fan-less, quiet cooling.

Mad Cow · 10-02-2006, 21:17 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

I'm just connecting it through DVI. I'm new to this whole HTPC thing, so I really dont know anything about HD resolutions.

But I think I see what you mean. You say to just treat the projector as a normal LCD screen right? Just connect it and set the resolution.

Joey · 10-02-2006, 21:22 | posts: 4,183 | Location: Cambridge, England

Yeah. Find the exact resolution it has and set it to that.
If you put it to 1080i you aren't getting any more detail and with interlaced pictures (the "i") you are giving the projector half the frame rate and making it do some processing to get the frames back up to what the projector needs. (In a simplified explanation of interlaced pictures)

Mad Cow · 10-02-2006, 21:24 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

I know what interlacing is, thanks now I have most of this whole HD thing figured out.

Back to my original question, what's a cheap video card thats does AVIVO or PureVideo?

Joey · 10-02-2006, 21:32 | posts: 4,183 | Location: Cambridge, England

This would do for home theatre.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102001
Depending on if you want 2 DVI connectors you would need to find one which has that.

I think ATI currently have bit better video quality than Nvidia. All the X1*** products have AVIVO. All current Nvidia cards do the Pure Video. Anything above a 6600.

ROBSCIX · 10-16-2006, 13:08 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

You may llok at a Aii in wonder becasue they come with romotes and are designed to be used for this type of thing. Now I won't lie the software can be a little buggy but when you get it going properly it's great. You get FM radio, cable TV..you can record shows and play back..etc. they are farily cheap these days. If your not using for games even better becasue you don't need a card with tons of processing power. IF I was You I would rethink that though your gonna have this nice Projector putting huge picture up and your not gonna want to play a game?...are you sure?

Mad Cow · 10-17-2006, 01:00 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

You may llok at a Aii in wonder becasue they come with romotes and are designed to be used for this type of thing. Now I won't lie the software can be a little buggy but when you get it going properly it's great. You get FM radio, cable TV..you can record shows and play back..etc. they are farily cheap these days. If your not using for games even better becasue you don't need a card with tons of processing power. IF I was You I would rethink that though your gonna have this nice Projector putting huge picture up and your not gonna want to play a game?...are you sure?

I don't need cable tv because I've got satellite, is are there any tuner cards that I can use instead of that huge reciever?
I already have an old PS2 with some games, but if anything I'll get a PS3 of X360 later on.

ROBSCIX · 10-17-2006, 01:16 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

just for your info the cards do have S-Video and RCA inputs so you can hook those to your Sat unit. BUT there are SAT cards,some are free to Air some take smart card this is not a subject I know alot about becasue I use cable.
So I Can't recommend anything like that.

Mad Cow · 10-17-2006, 03:46 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

just for your info the cards do have S-Video and RCA inputs so you can hook those to your Sat unit. BUT there are SAT cards,some are free to Air some take smart card this is not a subject I know alot about becasue I use cable.
So I Can't recommend anything like that.

Thanks anyway. Do you have any idea of where I could buy these?

ROBSCIX · 10-17-2006, 15:17 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

That Sat tuner card? no. I do know they exist because i have seen them. They ar definatley a specialty item. As a local vendor or look around the net.

HanShot1st · 10-19-2006, 19:01 | posts: 1,153

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

What is the best video card for an HTPC? I'll barely be gaming with it, so I just need it to have good video processing. It also needs to output 1080i through the DVI connector.

Mad Cow, if you want to future proof yourself, it is very important that you get a video card with HDCP compliance.

ROBSCIX · 10-19-2006, 19:24 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

YES! that is a very good point. Considering if your gonna be playing blu ray or high Def DVD on your PC you will need HDCP to connect to compatible devices or you won't be able to watch...Such as a high def TV....AFAIK...

Mad Cow · 10-19-2006, 22:47 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

Does HDCP require a compatible video card and tv? If not, do you think it would would be possible to somehow bypass HDCP eventually?

ROBSCIX · 10-19-2006, 23:15 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Your compatible4 player and TV..so there is a solid link there is no way to bypas..in theory. AFAIK it all has to do with copy protection...as for your other question..anything is possible.

HanShot1st · 10-19-2006, 23:43 | posts: 1,153

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

Does HDCP require a compatible video card and tv? If not, do you think it would would be possible to somehow bypass HDCP eventually?

HDCP must be on both ends, the video card and the TV, if you want to use the digital outputs (DVI/HDMI) while watching protected content. So you ask, what is "protected?" Almost everything these days, from upscalled DVDs, to HD from a cable box, as well as HD DVD and Blu-Ray. Remember though, this only applies when using the digital connections.

PC software designed for HD DVD and Blu Ray playback goes a step farther and will not allow playback (even analog) without an HDCP compliant video card AS WELL as a monitor/TV with HDCP compliance. Some software may allow downrezed playback, but not in full HD resolutions. All this stuff is just now hitting the market so things can always change. Very very few people have working HD DVD or Blu Ray playback on their PCs yet.

As far as bypassing HDCP: very difficult at the moment, although there have been products already on the market that claim to do so. The problem is that these products use a "key" (as do all HDCP compliant devices) and that key can easily be turned off. In other words, once a device's key is compromised, that key is added to a revocation list which can be added to all future hardware and in the case of HD DVD or Blu Ray, the disc itself. If your key is on that list, the device refuses playback.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP

ROBSCIX · 10-19-2006, 23:53 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

there you go I knew somebody would give you the long answer...

Mad Cow · 10-20-2006, 00:20 | posts: 1,097 | Location: Canada

Damn that really sucks.

I'm not planning on buying a new projector for a while, so no point of a HDCP video card.

ROBSCIX · 10-20-2006, 19:29 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Well this new HDCP thing has alot of us mad.... You realize that it only pertains to Blu-Ray and HD DVD. AFAIK