[mythtvnz] graphics card options

[Roger Searle]

<http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?214439>Hi, I am in the middle of 
setting up a dedicated myth front end box that has onboard everything 
including an HDMI port, and an empty PCI-e slot.  I'm recycling an ATX 
motherboard/amd cpu, a couple of years old and modest specs for that 
time (not sure which board/cpu off the top of my head but it is nvidia 
video) in a full size box.  I'm yet to determine if the HDMI port "just 
works" or can be made to work, being a simple but probably only interim 
connection to an HD TV.  Thus far I have a functional myth installation 
that displays fine on an LCD monitor.  Total expenditure so far is zero.

I am weighing up the best course to follow.  The main feedback I am 
interested in assumes the better choice is to have a dedicated card, 
primarily since it hands off the processing from the CPU to the card and 
that the onboard HDMI port + cpu isn't going to manage 1080i/p.  Seems 
VDPAU, h.264, and the usual "more RAM is good" is where to pay 
attention.  This wikipedia page seems to be a good summary of cards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo

suggesting feature set C and a GeForce 210, I believe is this from Dragon:

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?230501

or the more modern feature set D and a GeForce 430:

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?214439

Any feedback on these options or similar would be appreciated.  
Hopefully I am correctly lining up the relevant specs.  Both cards are 
low profile capable which offers some future proofing should I build 
something in a smaller form factor.  Would there be much difference 
noticeable between a C or D feature set capable card in a myth FE box?  
Is there something else I should also be paying attention to?

I see the 430 has 2 fans, just how quiet would they be?  Is the 
passively cooled 210 a better option if noise is given weight or is this 
not much of an issue in practice?

Are there similar cards I should consider in that <$100 price range?  
Other local (esp Chch) suppliers?

Cheers,
Roger
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