Looking for video card recommendations

[equalize]

I'm in the market for a new video card as my current card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150258
has some stutter issues. Not bad, but annoying.

I’m considering buying this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125258
but it maybe overkill.

Features I’m looking for are passive cooling, HDMI port, and enough horsepower and RAM that I don’t have to worry about the video card being a bottleneck.

Suggestions?

[vividweb]

I bought this card.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814102804

It works well, but I struggled with HD content recorded with my SKywalker, which I'm not using anymore. The card is good, plays back everything else I have thrown at it.

When I was researching my card I read a couple reviews that stated something along the lines of the 48XX series not handling video as well as the other series for the extra money you pay. I haven't looked at prices of the cards lately, so that point may be moot. There was a huge difference in price when I was looking.

[Paul H]

I use the same card and like it very much.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?keywords=4670

[cychou]

Originally Posted by equalize

I'm in the market for a new video card as my current card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150258
has some stutter issues. Not bad, but annoying.

I’m considering buying this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125258
but it maybe overkill.

Features I’m looking for are passive cooling, HDMI port, and enough horsepower and RAM that I don’t have to worry about the video card being a bottleneck.

Suggestions?

Most of the stuttering issues are software related! This means you should try different versions of drivers, decoder, DirectX and sometimes even audio decoder/render. Nvidia 8600 should be more than sufficient for HD video playback (both Mpg2 and H.264). I personally find Nvidia driver usually the culprit for these kind of problems, but more recently new Nvidia driver has been good for video playback.


Vince

[SWKerr]

I have an nVidia 8500GT and it plays back HD perfectly. I agree that you could probably get your current card working with the right combination of drivers and codecs. I have also found it much easier to get good results with Windows7 than Vista or XP.

Unless you plan to do some gaming the ATI 4850 would be overkill. I have a ATI 4550 and it is the best card I have ever had for Video playback. Small, low power, passive cooling, can do a little light gaming and is only $45. I have this in an old underpowered rig and it makes up the difference no problem.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102819

I recommend the AMD 790GX motherboard as well. (AMD CPU only) The built in video is perfect for a HTPC. I use it for my main system and it runs two monitors and plays back Sage on one perfectly while I surf the we on the other.

[equalize]

Originally Posted by SWKerr

I have an nVidia 8500GT and it plays back HD perfectly. I agree that you could probably get your current card working with the right combination of drivers and codecs. I have also found it much easier to get good results with Windows7 than Vista or XP.

Unless you plan to do some gaming the ATI 4850 would be overkill. I have a ATI 4550 and it is the best card I have ever had for Video playback. Small, low power, passive cooling, can do a little light gaming and is only $45. I have this in an old underpowered rig and it makes up the difference no problem.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102819

I recommend the AMD 790GX motherboard as well. (AMD CPU only) The built in video is perfect for a HTPC. I use it for my main system and it runs two monitors and plays back Sage on one perfectly while I surf the we on the other.

I like your Radeon HD 4550 and best of all its cheap.

I noticed yesterday I'm using very old drivers so before I spend any money, I'll upgrade the drivers and see if that makes a difference.