Cheapest VC For HD Playback With HDMI Port?

This is the place to discuss the latest computer hardware issues and technology. Please keep the discussion ON TOPIC!
Post Reply
User avatar
Major_A
Legit Extremist
Legit Extremist
Posts: 3793
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 2:11 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Cheapest VC For HD Playback With HDMI Port?

Post by Major_A »

I am currently faced with a conundrum. I want to buy a Blu-Ray drive to put in my HTPC but I also want to take out the 8800GTS that is in it. I have the hottest room in the house, thanks to two overclocked PCs. I was looking at ATi cards with HDMI ports but I don't know what is capable of smooth playback. There is the HD4350 for around $30 that has a HDMI port on card. The next card I've seen with a HDMI port is the HD4550/4650. I know that the latter is better at gaming but is it better at HD/Blu-Ray playback? I have no intentions of playing any games just watching television and movies.

HD 4350

HD 4650

I'm looking at the ATi cards because the sound is already built into the card so in essence it's easier to setup.

HTPC
C2D E6750 @ 3Ghz
4GB DDR2 800Mhz
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
8800GTS
Lite-On SATA 20x Burner
Hauppauge PVR-150
250GB OS/Music/Other Drive
250GB Recording Drive
OCZ ModXStream 600W PSU
XP Pro x86
SageTV Frontend
User avatar
dicecca112
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5014
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 10:40 am
Contact:

Re: Cheapest VC For HD Playback With HDMI Port?

Post by dicecca112 »

Had a 4350, it couldn't handle blue-ray or DVDs that well. Get the 4650 or higher.
Image
User avatar
Major_A
Legit Extremist
Legit Extremist
Posts: 3793
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 2:11 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Cheapest VC For HD Playback With HDMI Port?

Post by Major_A »

Well that answers that, thanks.
User avatar
hnzw_rui
Legit Extremist
Legit Extremist
Posts: 604
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:42 am

Re: Cheapest VC For HD Playback With HDMI Port?

Post by hnzw_rui »

You might want to go with an HD4550 if you won't be gaming. It's works pretty good for Blu-ray and available in fanless versions.
File Server/Media Encoder/PVR PC
Antec P182 / Corsair 550VX / Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R / Core 2 Duo E7200 @ 2.53 / Wintec AMPX 2x2GB DDR2 800 / Sapphire 100233L Radeon HD 3450 / WD Caviar SE16 750GB x3 / WD Caviar GP 750GB / Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7190A x2 / XP Pro SP2

unRAID Server
Antec 300 / Corsair 520HX / Abit AB9 Pro / Celeron 430 @ 1.80 / Kingston ValueRAM 2x1GB DDR2 667 / ATI Rage XL / Seagate 7200.11 1.5TB x9 / unRAID 4.3.3
Post Reply