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Hi
Can you guys recommend a passive PCI-E graphics card for HCPC use
It would need to be HDCP compliant
I could just stick with my water cooled 7800GTX and purchase AnyHDDVD for get around the HDCP issues - But I've read that HDMI cards provide for a better picture over VGA
Many thanks
RON
Hi
I should have mentioned that I intend to use a Zalman Reserator to cool the card - So a actively cooled card that doesn't get to hot would also be OK
It would also need to output 1080i/p as native resolutions
Many thanks
RON
how about something like this
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=661341
or maybe the 2600xt.
Hi
That looks good (I didn't think I'd be able to get something suitable so cheap)
Will it be able to handle HD-DVD / Bluray through PowerDVD Ultra?
Or are do hi-def movies draw more from the CPU than Graphics card
What cards are you other HCPC users running?
Many thanks
RON
http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/produ...gpid=186&grp=3
quite a bit of info there.
I will be using the 2400/2600 for mine.
I went through the same dilema a few months back as i was buiding a media pc for my new house, with a view of using it with Vista Media Centre. I settled for the 2400XT - but the Sapphire version. This too is passive and works fine. A couple of things...
You *should* be able to get hardware acceleration through the correct version of PowerDVD, although they dont make it as simple as it should be. You have to get a specific version - but once you do, then its meant to work fine and offload a ton of work to the GPU.
High def movies will ONLY draw from the GPU if the right drivers and application are present - in effect there to tell the system to process through the GPU instead of CPU. I have a lowly X2 3600+ (Only because its a low power/heat version - perfect for my shuttle) and that would max out usage with 1080p clips through software.
Do you want it for gaming too? As the 2400XT will struggle at native HDTV res (1366x768) and after hearing the sound of the 2600XT, i dont think that i would have heard it much over the fan cooling the CPU in my shuttle. So unless you absolutely NEED passive, have a thought (Also, I could only use a single slot card. You CAN get passive 2600XT, but the copper on them intrudes onto another slot).
Either way, as i am using Media Centre, I havent been able to get harware acceleration working - as it doesnt natively support it (Basically, the card is capable, Vista Media Centre doesnt know how to utilise the power). I had to settle for a software option, CoreAVC. This is more or less fine, as am only running x264 clips which are still 720p and 1080i - but dont have as high a bitrate as true HD-DVD and BRD discs.
You should check some looong threads at AVS formums and aforums.com for more, but until I can afford that dual HD-DVD/Blueray drive, its not that big a deal. But just to confirm that the HDMI output works fine too - carries audio and video.
Hope any of that rabble helps!
JP
Hi Guys
Thanks for all your help
My gaming needs fall in 2nd place to HCPC but I do spend quite a bit of time playing games like Guild Wars So I can't rule that out
The trouble is that my current HCPC is totally fanless and silent (other than hard drives) - So introducing a fan of the graphics card is something that I'm trying to avoid
It's possible that I could use a 2600XT and using the GPU water block from my Zalman Reserator
Do you know If I can output 1080P to two screen with a 2400/2600XT as I'd be looking to using either with my plasma or projector (which funnily enough has a 1365 x 1024 resolution but will accept 1080 signals)
I tried the media center approach but didn't like the picture quality so at the moment I'm still use Theatertek for upscaled SD via FFDshow with Xlobby as the front end.
I will be moving over to PowerDVD when the Combo Bluray / HD DVD combo drives come out. I'd love to stay with Theatertek but I looks like their implementation of a HD-DVD / Bluray software player will be sometime away
aforums.com? to you mean avforums.com (If I'm already an active member there)
Many thanks for all your help
RON