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michal · 2008-09-03, 22:52

Hi,

I have just bought an Intel G45 based motherboard and intend to use the on board video once Linux support has matured sufficiently. In the meantime I'm interested in purchasing avideo card which is capable of 720p under XBMC reliably.

Can anyone recommend the lowest end video card which can do this? PCI-E of course. The CPU on the system will not be a bottleneck as it's an E8400.

Thanks.

User 34470 · 2008-09-04, 00:28

8500gt are really cheap

michal · 2008-09-04, 02:44

The 8400GS is even cheaper and more readily available fanless (at least to me).

Would it be able to handle 720p? 1080p is not needed.

harryzimm · 2008-09-04, 02:49

michal Wrote:The 8400GS is even cheaper and more readily available fanless (at least to me).

Would it be able to handle 720p? 1080p is not needed.

Yep i have one running 1080p via dvi to hdmi so 720p should be no problem.

michal · 2008-09-04, 03:52

Thanks,

It's reassuring to have confirmation.

Now if I could find one that was BOTH fanless and low profile and be laughing Tongue

Aron Parsons · 2008-09-04, 04:27

http://www.amazon.com/Geforce-8500GT-256...236&sr=8-1

Enjoy. :-)

michal · 2008-09-04, 05:08

Unfortunately I'm in Australia :/ I can't get a video card via Amazon and this card is only available in one store here.

http://www.buyquick.com.au/shop/global_p...andid=2046

I was hoping that it would be easier to find an 8400GS with those features but low profile AND silent out of the box is almost unheard of.

michal · 2008-09-04, 05:12

Oops. That link didn't work.

They don't sell it anymore :/

michal · 2008-09-04, 05:21

I basically have to choose:

Silent - http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_lis...&sid=33415

or Low Profile - http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_lis...&sid=32385

Anyone know how loud these little fans tend to be? I've always gone out of my way to have quiet graphics cards in all my pc's so I don't have much experience with such things.

**xgrep** · 2008-09-04, 05:58

I find little fans on cheaper cards to a little on the loud side.

They're both the same price, so if you're concerned about noise get the silent one Smile

Jezz_X · 2008-09-04, 06:30

I have an old 7100gs in mine and it plays 720p and 1080p videos @ 1360x768 fine but it does lag a little when using projectm visualization

michal · 2008-09-04, 06:43

Great! Thanks for that additional info.

I won't be running any higher than 1280x720 as my TV doesn't like native res via HDMI.

I presume a 7300GS must be at least as fast. How would this do?

http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_lis...&sid=29957

michal · 2008-09-04, 06:45

Have to say though that the bracket doesn't look low profile. I wonder if a low profile bracket is included. I hope so. Would be odd advertising it as low profile otherwise.

papaf · 2008-09-04, 10:24

I have a low profile 7200GS, and the mounted bracket isn't in fact low profile. But included is another low profile bracket, and all you have to do is swap it.

**ubikdood** · 2008-09-04, 13:37

michal Wrote:I presume a 7300GS must be at least as fast. How would this do?

I use a 7300 GS and it's fast enough. No issues playing 720p. It supports OpenGL 2.0, which is desirable for xbmc GUI effects.

If you combine that with a cheap dual core (which xbmc takes advantage of), you'll have a great system for 720p (and even 1080p).