Good video card for SageClient rebuild? I'd like to play Blu-Ray

[snipeman]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121244

I have a spare Core2Duo E6600 CPU, and decided to update an old SageClient system in my house which is running an Nvidia 6600 (non-GT) AGP right now.

I'd like to eventually put a blu-ray DVD player and connect it to a newer plasma screen (running a 42" Panny 5 years old right now). I know I'll need a HDCP compliant screen or some workaround software.

Right now I just want to buy a video card that has enough juice to do the job. I've searched Newegg to the sweet spot of price and performace in the fanless category.

I want to stick with Nvidia as I several systems and I like to keep my drivers standard.

I know extenders are great - for the place I'm putting the video card I need web surfing and Netflix on-demand viewing so an extender won't cut it.

Can anyone sugguest anything else better that meets these criteria?

Thanks in advance,

Andy

[phelme]

Interesting you mention Netflix. That is the one thing that keeps me from just going the extender route myself too.

If you plan on having a Hauppauge HD-PVR in your future, make sure you get a card that can work within Sage for the H.264 files it produces. There is some odd behavior a lot of us are seeing, especially on the ATI front.

You're probably safest with any Nvidia 8600 GT and up.

[snipeman]

Is there a big difference in 8600GT and 9600GT for HTPC purposes? I don't game, most of the hardware rating sites just focus on gaming.

I'd love to switch from overlay to VMR9, play Blu-ray and perhaps the HD-PVR one way without jerkiness, skipping etc.

The system is now a P4 2.8 GHz with AGP video card (Nvidia 6600), so I'd be putting in a new system board (I found a Gigabyte Energy Saver), the Core2Duo e6600 I have sitting on the shelf, and the video card linked above. Do you think that would do the trick and hold me for a while?

[JetreL]

I personally use a Nvidia 9600GT and have been very satisfied with it. The 9600 works well with Blue-Ray disk and almost all video playback.
I purchased an ATI Radeon HD 3650 to reply the Nvidia Card and had problems with tearing and pixelazation. So for the money and time involved I recommend the 9600!
.

[stanger89]

I'd probably lean toward the AMD 4800 series, it's the only add-in solution that offers full multichannel PCM over HDMI.

Of course if you're replacing the motherboard and don't game, then I'd recommend either an AMD 780G, or an nVidia 8200/8300 board. I'm running a 780G board and it plays Blu-ray flawlessly.

[snipeman]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I'd probably lean toward the AMD 4800 series, it's the only add-in solution that offers full multichannel PCM over HDMI.

Of course if you're replacing the motherboard and don't game, then I'd recommend either an AMD 780G, or an nVidia 8200/8300 board. I'm running a 780G board and it plays Blu-ray flawlessly.

I did a newegg search, and they didn't show any AMD 4800's without a fan. Are these board with fans quiet? Right now all my systems have Nvidia cards with heatsinks only, no fans.

Thanks for the tip on the motherboards, they look neat but I already have the Intel CPU and motherboard sitting on the shelf. I really just need a video card before I take the plunge and tear the system apart.

[CousinJed]

Excellent card, especially for a HTPC; great price: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 3450

I use a HD2400XT (very similar specs) and it works great.

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by snipeman

I did a newegg search, and they didn't show any AMD 4800's without a fan. Are these board with fans quiet? Right now all my systems have Nvidia cards with heatsinks only, no fans.

Thanks for the tip on the motherboards, they look neat but I already have the Intel CPU and motherboard sitting on the shelf. I really just need a video card before I take the plunge and tear the system apart.

HIS should have a passive 4850 out shortly. I stuck an accelero S1 rev2 on mine, and put a very low RPM 120mm fan on it for good measure. Silent even when playing 3D games. For non gaming, you can probably do without the fan on the accelero...