Comments on video card in setup

[sabre]

Hi all, looking to upgrade components.

I plan to get an Intel E4300 w/ a Gigabyte GA-965p-DS3 mobo and overclock it around 3Ghz or so. So my question is, to recieve smooth HD playback from a HVR1600 card, would this card do the trick?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150244

It is a XFX GeForce 8500GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card. In my research so far it shows the 8500GT should be able to do HD pretty good, although not a high end gaming card. It is fanless, so that and the price attract me to it.

Thanks for comments.

[bcjenkins]

I have seen a few comments lately that all the eggs seems to be in ATI's basket for HD playback of mp2 and mp4 video.

B

[sabre]

Thanks BC.

Yes, I have read that it seems to be better now. But I also thought there were some w/ Nvidia cards that had few issues.

Are there any ATI cards up to the task in the $50-$100 range?

[bcjenkins]

Actually I looked this morning and it looks like the 2400XT is in the same price bracket, but I don't know how it rates.

B

[sabre]

Yes, I just saw that here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102699

Anyone able to comment on ATI 2400XT [or 2400PRO] vs. Nv 8500GT [or even the 8400GS], most likely will be working under Vista.

[sabre]

against better judgement, i went w/ the 8500GT. I just have to think Nvidia will step it up w/ the drivers, and there is more to work w/ here than the 2400XT. We will see.

[GTwannabe]

You will be very happy with the 8500GT for HD playback.

[davin]

8500GT under Vista works OK, but I need to use overlay and the old purevideo decoder to get stutter-free playback.

[HawgGuy]

I have both the Nvidia 8500GT and ATI 2600 PRO (fanless).

For me, the ATI wins hands down. I have used nothing but Nvidia cards for the past 4 years.

[sabre]

Thanks all for the input, will let you know how it goes.