Advice on Which is the better card?

[Harib0]

Requirements being half height cards with low profile brackets.
The use will be in a htpc, used for internet, DVD playback, DVB-TV recording. no gaming.
OS is likely to be MC2005 though possibility of going vista some time in the future.

I'd like to learn more about hardware, so if you could please let me know the reason whay one is better than the other that would be great.

Please can you grade them 1-4 with one being the best choice.

I'm assuming from a n00b point of view:
256MB GeForce 8500GT PCI-E w/LP RETAIL - best but is it over kill for my needs?
256MB GeForce 8400GS PCI-E w/LP RETAIL
256MB GeForce 7300LE PCI-E w/LP RETAIL
128MB RADEON HD 2400PRO PCI-E w/LP RETAIL


256MB GeForce 7300LE TV/DVI PCI-E w/LP RETAIL

Product Specifications:
Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 256MB
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Interface 64-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Engine Clock 575MHz
Memory Clock 1400MHz
Pixel Pipelines 4
Max. Resolution 2048x1536
Compatible OS Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
DirectX Support 9.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Connectors VGA, S-Video, DVI-I
Package Contents S-Video Lead, Driver CD, 2 x Low Profile Bracket (DVI+SVideo/VGA)
Warranty 2 Years

128MB RADEON HD 2400PRO PCI-E w/LP RETAIL

Product Specifications:
Chipset ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 128MB
Memory Type GDDR2
Memory Interface 64-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Engine Clock 525MHz
Memory Clock 533(266*2)MHz
Max. Resolution 2048x1536
Compatible OS Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Connectors VGA, S-Video, DVI-I
Package Contents 2 x Low Profile Bracket (DVI+SVideo/VGA), Driver CD, S-Video Lead
Warranty 3 Years
Special Features
Support Windows Vista
Ultra-Threaded Shader Engine
CrossFire Multi-GPU technology
Avivo Video and Display Platform
HDCP Support

256MB GeForce 8400GS PCI-E w/LP RETAIL

Product Specifications:
Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 256MB
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Interface 64-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Engine Clock 450MHz
Memory Clock 800(400*2)MHz
Max. Resolution 2048x1536
Compatible OS Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Connectors VGAS-Video (HDTV)DVI-I
Package Contents Driver CD, 2 x Low Profile Bracket (DVI+SVideo/VGA), 7 Pin S-Video to HDTV (YprPb) Lead
Warranty 2 Years
Special Features
NVIDIA Lumenex Engine
NVIDIA Unified ArchitectureGigaThread Technology
NVIDIA PureVideo technology

256MB GeForce 8500GT PCI-E w/LP RETAIL

Product Specifications:
Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 256MB
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Interface 128-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Engine Clock 450MHz
Memory Clock 800(400*2)MHz
Max. Resolution 2048x1536
Compatible OS Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Connectors VGAS-Video (HDTV)DVI-I
Package Contents Driver CD, 2 x Low Profile Bracket (DVI+SVideo/VGA), 7 Pin S-Video to HDTV (YprPb) Lead, DVI-I to VGA Converter
Warranty 2 Years
Special Features
Superscalar GPU architecture
Shader Model 3.0


Thanks

[staffsMike]

ati 2400pro is your best bet for a HTPC

[Harib0]

ati 2400pro is your best bet for a HTPC

thanks Mike, i've found 3 makers of the HD2400pro Price wise only a couple of pound in it, but which would be the better of the three?

I'm thinking the First one (Xpertvision) as it has 256mb memory and 128bit - the specs were taken from the e-tailers site, so i have link to the maufacturers site as well.

Sapphire is a brand i recognise though the specs don't state it comes with a low profile bracket :/ but i haven't heard of the other two brands.

The Sapphire mentions "HDMI with 5.1 surround sound audio" Would i be right to assume they all would have this?

Xpertvision

Chipset ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 256MB Supporting 1GB
Memory Type DDR2
Engine Clock 600MHz
Memory Clock 800MHz (400MHz DDR2)
Memory Interface 128-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Max. Resolution 2560x1600
Connectors VGA, S-Video (HDTV), DVI-I
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Compatible OS Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Special Features
Built for Microsoft Windows Vista
Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 support
ATI HyperMemory Technology
Dual -link DVI output supports 2560x1600 resolution display
Unified Video Decoder (UVD) for Blu-ray and HD DVD
Package Contents
Quick Installation Guide
7 Pin S-Video to HDTV (YprPb) Lead
DVI-I to VGA Converter
Low Profile Bracket
Driver CD

Sapphire

Chipset ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 256MB
Memory Type DDR2
Engine Clock 525MHz
Memory Clock 800MHz (400MHz DDR2)
Memory Interface 64-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Max. Resolution 2560x1600
Connectors VGA, S-Video, DVI-I
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Compatible OS Windows XP, Windows Media Center Edition 2005, Windows Vista
Special Features
Hardware based H.264/VC-1 decoding of Blu-ray and HD DVDs
HDMI with 5.1 surround sound audio
DirectX 10 support
Up to twice the performance of integrated graphics
Package Contents
Quick Installation Guide
DVI-I to VGA Converter
S-Video to Composite Converter
Driver CD


Peak Hardware

Chipset ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
Interface PCI Express x16
Video Memory 128MB
Memory Type GDDR2
Memory Interface 64-bit
RAMDACs 400MHz
Max. Resolution 2048x1536
Connectors VGA, S-Video, DVI-I
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 2.0
Compatible OS Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Special Features Support Windows Vista
Ultra-Threaded Shader Engine
CrossFire Multi-GPU technology
Avivo Video and Display Platform
HDCP Support
Package Contents
2 x Low Profile Bracket (DVI+SVideo/VGA)
Driver CD
S-Video Lead
Engine Clock 525MHz
Memory Clock 533(266*2)MHz


Thanks for all the help

[staffsMike]

I really don't know much about the ATi manafacturers. I would probably go for sapphire as it's the only one that rings a bell.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...Thumbnails=yes

i would have either the Asus or Sapphire from here.

You qualify for free delivery from scan as you have more than 25 posts on hexus

[Harib0]

Neither of those cards are low profile/half height though, and i need that as the case wont allow a full size card

[staffsMike]

oops lol

Well i say go for the sapphire from somewhere then