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<a href="http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?214439"></a>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.<br>
<br>
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:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo</a><br>
<br>
suggesting feature set C and a GeForce 210, I believe is this from
Dragon:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?230501">http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?230501</a><br>
<br>
or the more modern feature set D and a GeForce 430:<br>
<br>
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<a href="http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?214439">http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?214439</a><br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Are there similar cards I should consider in that <$100 price
range? Other local (esp Chch) suppliers? <br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Roger<br>
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