[PLS DELETE HAVE MY ANSWERS] Do you need a good graphics card for a HTPC?

[vincent.m]

Hi Team,

I managed to salvage a PC that I thought has blown (PSU broke) to make a dedicated PC to watch stuff on a TV.

I have a lovely small ANTEC P190 mini with a [1GB XFX HD5450 DDR3 LowProfile] - from what I remember, it gets really hot as its passively cooled (chose it because i didnt want noise but will be cooled by multiple case fans).

I have since upgraded to the 9700 GTX and so my GTX 260 is now available.

My question is: will it be laggy when I use the HD5450 to power a 55 inch TV with 1920 x 1080 res?
Since it will be purely be powering the TV and watching content Which would you choose?

Considerations
- I want a very quiet PC (have a Thermalright ULTRA 120 with a quiet fan
- P180 case is thicker than most
- electicity/power consumption on the GTX is significantly higher than the HD5450
- how do you guys keep the dust out!! I have applied a sheet of tissue on top of the filters but there is so much dust!

Thanks guys and happy New Year!!

Vince

[scaryjim]

What's the rest of the spec? I used to run a 1080p media box on the integrated graphics on an AMD 785G mobo, so you certainly don't need a powerful GPU. Depending one the platform you're using you might not need a discrete GPU at all - most fairly modern CPUs/APUs are more than powerful enough to run basic media duties on a 1080p screen.

I certainly wouldn't put the GTX anywhere near an HTPC unless you specifically want to so gaming on it. Massive overkill and a waste of energy.

[vincent.m]

Thanks for the reply Jim.

The rest of the specs are:
- Intel Q6600 Stock
- CAIR 430W CMPSU-430CXV2UK
- 1GB XFX HD5450 DDR3 LowProfile
- GByte GA-Z77-D3H Z77 MoBo
- DDR RAM 2GB (or 4gb, can't remember)
- Windows 7

[spolsh]

I use a HD6450 (which I think is a 5450 rebrand) without any problems at 1080p over HDMI for video. Wouldn't like to try a game on it though !

[vincent.m]

Thanks for the help guys, I think I'll use it rather than the GTX, it should be more than sufficient as the reviews I read on Amazon said some people even played games!!

[EndlessWaves]

The rest of the specs are:
- Intel Q6600 Stock
- CAIR 430W CMPSU-430CXV2UK
- 1GB XFX HD5450 DDR3 LowProfile
- GByte GA-Z77-D3H Z77 MoBo
- DDR RAM 2GB (or 4gb, can't remember)
- Windows 7

No, they're not. That motherboard wouldn't work with that CPU.

If the motherboard is correct then that's a fairly recent system and depending on the CPU the integrated graphics could well be more capable than the 5450.

I use a HD6450 (which I think is a 5450 rebrand) without any problems at 1080p over HDMI for video. Wouldn't like to try a game on it though !

Nah, that was the 6350. The 6450 was around twice as powerful (and twice as power hungry, which is presumably why the 5450 never got killed off).

[herooftime796]

you really dont need a great gfx card (especially something as beefy as a gtx) for a 1080p htpc. I use an acer aspire revo which i bought on ebay for sub-£150 and it eats through any 1080p video i throw at it. Do give you an idea of the specs the revo has an intel atom cpu and integrate "nvidia hd graphics"

tl;dr - no, not at all

[ik9000]

No need to delete thread - just mark it as "resolved"

[peterb]

No need to delete thread - just mark it as "resolved"

As above, but I have marked it as resolved.

We rarely delete posts or threads, because even though the problem has been resolved for the OP, others may have similar problems, or the solution might be of use to others.

So, I'm delighted it has been fixed, but it stays in case it helps anyone else!