Home Theater PC GPU Upgrade

C

Crux

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Hi.

I've just finished setting up an Ubuntu/Kobi HTPC out of old PC components.

Now, while I'm quite happy with the results in general, the video image quality is slightly under par (but maybe that's just me).

The graphics card I've got in there is an ancient Nvidia GeForce 6800 GS. Will I see an improvement in video image quality (less artifacts, better colour, better font scaling, etc...) if I upgrade to a Nvidia GT 710 for instance?

The 6800 GS doesn't have an HDMI port so it's connected to the TV via a DVI-HDMI cable.

I'm not worried about gaming performance since the PC will never be used for that.

Regards.
 
If audio out via HDMI is something you might use going forward, don't go nVidia, I have a 96GT and it's incapable- it's apparently only something nVidia managed to get right post GTX 4xx series cards.

At least, this is what I found after a couple hours of research. If I'm wrong, I'd be happy for someone to point out how to fix this. But I've tried just about everything.
 
Modern graphics cards often have fixed function decoders for certain video quality standards, as well as support for newer HDMI standards.

Your 6800GS was a higher performance card back in the day, so I'm guessing it has a fan on it. It might even require external power?

Something like a 710 or an AMD equivalent would perform well, and could be passively cooled, meaning it would be silent.

Yes, video quality could improve. I know that when Anandtech reviews HTPC video cards, they benchmark the card's video processing capabilities. There is some kind of standardized test that can measure video quality. So yes, it is quite possible that a more recent card could produce better video, but don't expect miracles.

Also modern AMD cards support video postprocessing in order to improve quality. I'm sure Nvidia does too.
 
Modern graphics cards often have fixed function decoders for certain video quality standards, as well as support for newer HDMI standards.

Your 6800GS was a higher performance card back in the day, so I'm guessing it has a fan on it. It might even require external power?

Something like a 710 or an AMD equivalent would perform well, and could be passively cooled, meaning it would be silent.

Yes, video quality could improve. I know that when Anandtech reviews HTPC video cards, they benchmark the card's video processing capabilities. There is some kind of standardized test that can measure video quality. So yes, it is quite possible that a more recent card could produce better video, but don't expect miracles.

Also modern AMD cards support video postprocessing in order to improve quality. I'm sure Nvidia does too.
 
Modern graphics cards often have fixed function decoders for certain video quality standards, as well as support for newer HDMI standards.

Your 6800GS was a higher performance card back in the day, so I'm guessing it has a fan on it. It might even require external power?

Something like a 710 or an AMD equivalent would perform well, and could be passively cooled, meaning it would be silent.

Yes, video quality could improve. I know that when Anandtech reviews HTPC video cards, they benchmark the card's video processing capabilities. There is some kind of standardized test that can measure video quality. So yes, it is quite possible that a more recent card could produce better video, but don't expect miracles.

Also modern AMD cards support video postprocessing in order to improve quality. I'm sure Nvidia does too.
 
Thanks for the info.

The Asus 710 GT passively cooled card is the one I'm looking at. The 6800 GS fan noise sounds like a 747 taking off.
 
I did the same thing with my HTPC. Bought a small passively cooled entry level GFX card with the outputs I require. Works like a dream!
 
Just find out what interface your 6800GS uses - is it AGP, PCI Express, etc etc?
 
Ancalagon said:
Just find out what interface your 6800GS uses - is it AGP, PCI Express, etc etc?
Click to expand...

PCI Express. My concern is more with the output i.t.o. the GT 710 having native HD decoders and an HDMI output port where the 6800 only has DVI.

Thanks for the info so far.
 
What is the difference between playing it off a PC with a dedicated GPU (to do all the processing) and streaming it to your TV from your local network and letting the TV process the signal?

Does the TV process it or does the content get processed before sending it to the TV via wifi?
 
CamiKaze said:
What is the difference between playing it off a PC with a dedicated GPU (to do all the processing) and streaming it to your TV from your local network and letting the TV process the signal?

Does the TV process it or does the content get processed before sending it to the TV via wifi?
Click to expand...

Good question. Lag might be an issue depending on your local network capabilities?
 
Crux said:
Good question. Lag might be an issue depending on your local network capabilities?
Click to expand...

I actually stream straight to my TV with no lag at all. Even when skipping through an episode.
I asked the question to open another solution as I know it works very well for me so far.

Even streamed a 16gig copy of Thor to the TV with no hiccups at all.

For the projector that I will eventually buy, I will attach a PS TV to it and once again stream from PC.
 
I do recommend you to buy a new GPU if only for the native HDMI and support for HD audio codecs, but have you thought that the video quality might be better in Windows, I'm not saying it would be but it's possible, with better driver support etc. and it will allow you to install something like madVR.
 
Last edited:
Soul Assassin said:
I do recommend you to buy a new GPU if only for the native HDMI and support for HD audio codecs, but have you thought that the video quality might be better in Windows, I not saying it would be but it's possible, with better driver support etc. and it will allow you to install something like madVR.
Click to expand...

I'll look into that, thx!
 
SirFooK'nG said:
I don't understand the point in a full PC for Kodi ... Get a Pi3 store your media on a NAS.
Click to expand...

I had a fully functioning PC lying around (Core2Duo, 2GB RAM) and built myself a TV cabinet with the PC built into it with a glass top so it was the best decision for me. Also the PC parts will look a lot cooler than a Tiny Pi3 hidden somewhere. Other than that I dont think there is any reason to go one way or another other than what is available...

My media is still stored on a NAS as you suggest.
 
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