Which Graphics card for Media PC??

[rigsby]

Hi
I was thinking of building a pc to use as a media system connected to my plasma in my lounge. Do the current graphics cards give the same sort of picture quality as each other for things like playing DVD's or off a tv tuner card, or Hi Def video via windows media player etc or are some better than others?

[XA04]

I'd imagine something inbuilt to the mobo would be perfectly fine for watching DVD's, HDTV, etc.

Maybe 8mb minimum?

[directhex]

depends on the TV's inputs, the input media, and the OS.

[rigsby]

Plasma has HDMI, source will be the pc's DVD player, a tuner card, or downloaded video played via Window Media, will run Window Media OS.
I want a very good quality picture if I was to go down this route!

[MSIC]

Both ATi and nVidia have done great things recently regarding video quality, so if you get a discrete video card with either of these companies chips you will be fine.
That said, one of the single biggest issues over the past couple of months is about HD-TV, and in particular HDMI connectors.
I have yet to see a readily available graphics with a HDMI connector, pretty necessary for "HD-Ready" televisions and Blu-Ray or HD-DVD based video (well actually latest news is that Blu-Ray may not require, but that's a different story).
You may therefore be best advised not to buy any graphics card right now, as the situation will almost certainly change over the next month or two.
A DVI connector can of course display high res (and will be fine with DVD as a source), but just not HD-DVD because of the encryption side of things.

Beyond that, pick a bottom of the range (ie cheapest) card from either of these two companies, unless playing current 3d games is a priority.
Make sure that it doesnt have a fan on it (which generates extra unwanted sound).

I'd personally recommend you spend around £40 to £50, no more.
Currently, a passive GeForce 7300 costs £43, or £45 for a similar ATi card. Be aware neither of these have HDMI connectors, but do have "S-video/TV-out" for standard resolution TV's.

[directhex]

i think there's a shipping radeon with hdmi connector