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Thread: Media centre graphics card recommendation

  1. #1
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    Media centre graphics card recommendation

    Looking for a graphics card to go in a media centre PC. Although it'll mainly be used for movies and music I would like to do some gaming, and I'm trying to find a balance between low noise and performance (the TV is 1080p so it needs to be capable of handling 1920x1080 resolution). I figure an 8800GT should be a good option...does anyone have experience of the MSI 8800GT Zilent or Sparkle 8800GT Cool Pipe? The Sparkle would be great because it's totally silent, but I'm worried about the heat in an SFF case.

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    A Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 3870 XT "Ultimate Edition" 512MB would do the job. low power use on idle, uvd for hd decode offloading, cheap, and fast enough to handle modern games decently.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    How does the 3870 compare to the 8800GT?

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    I'd second the ultimate edition if thats the passive one on ocuk

    Very similar gaming performance between the two but ATi's are generally considered better for media given that they can take audio over their HDMI.

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by staffsMike View Post
    given that they can take audio over their HDMI.
    Really? How does that work, do you link the graphics card to the soundcard?

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    Yeah a cable from the graphics card goes to either the soundcard (if it has the correct header) or the motherboard's HD audio header

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    Sold!

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    just thought id actually try using hdmi audio on my 3850 as it was mentioned here.

    no pass through cable, or other sound card integrated or discrete required. the card has a realtec audio chip of some sort built into it shows up in control panel as "ATI HDMI Audio"
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    Yeah, but it's handy in the case of a discrete sound card.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by MadduckUK View Post
    just thought id actually try using hdmi audio on my 3850 as it was mentioned here.

    no pass through cable, or other sound card integrated or discrete required. the card has a realtec audio chip of some sort built into it shows up in control panel as "ATI HDMI Audio"
    ooo thats even better

    Thanks for that Madduk

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    Re: Media centre graphics card recommendation

    This Ultimate Edition isn't going to work out. The enormous heatsink on the back (which OC UK do not show a picture of) clashes against the case, the system won't start when the side panels are on. It gets really, really hot. Gonna get a normal 3870 XT with a decent cooler and see how that does.

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