HTPC Help

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Ghost02

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Hi guys,
I had some left over equipment left from mining and decided I may as well put it to use, I saw some guys do nice things with HTPC's and figured I could try this. I installed XMBCbuntu to a 16GB flash, booted up and got it running.

I realized that the quality of the video isn't the greatest, this is probably due to the bad on board video with the celeron. Can anyone recommend a really cheap card to buy that will be good for 1080p streaming?

I don't really want to spend much as my TV or XBOX could do the streaming for me but the interface looks better on XBMC. I basically just want to maintain the quality of streaming my XBOX/TV could give me.

Also willing to look second hand if anyone close to Durban has anything.

What I have
Gigabyte z77x-ud3h
4Gb ram
Celeron G1820
Good PSU- even though overkill
 
Rather get a better CPU? HD2500 with Ivy is plenty for streaming.
 
Wasabee! said:
Rather get a better CPU? HD2500 with Ivy is plenty for streaming.
Click to expand...

Any reason for this? For the price of a better CPU I could get a GPU with more power graphically I think. Would XBMC need a better CPU otherwise?

DrJohnZoidberg said:
This: http://www.takealot.com/evga-geforce-210-ddr3-low-profile-graphics-card-512mb/PLID30691675

It's also fanless so won't add any more noise. Comes with low profile brackets if you need them too.
Click to expand...

Thanks will have a look at that.

Mariuspay said:
Buy Geforce 210. Will give you ample throughput and has HDMI and digital sound.
Click to expand...

Thanks, will it be fine for 1080p?
 
GeForce 210 is perfect for 1080p. Probably the most common GPU for an HTPC.
 
Thanks, I've been playing around with the on board and there is no lag while playing but I used a 720p file to test and it comes out kind of washed out and blurry compared to when I run it directly through my samsung tv. Is this the integrated graphics fault or am I doing something wrong?
 
I'm running a GeForce 210 on my HTPC. Brilliant card for the money. Passes through DTS and Dolby via HDMI, but if you plan on decoding DTS-HD Master or Dolby TueHD, you'll need to look for another card. I'm quite happy with it though. Seeing that you're in Durban, you can get it from Mitabyte for the same price. They've got a good range of cards at good prices.
 
Ghost02 said:
Thanks, I've been playing around with the on board and there is no lag while playing but I used a 720p file to test and it comes out kind of washed out and blurry compared to when I run it directly through my samsung tv. Is this the integrated graphics fault or am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

This could also be due to graphics settings on either the PC or that input on the TV.
 
shanezn said:
I'm running a GeForce 210 on my HTPC. Brilliant card for the money. Passes through DTS and Dolby via HDMI, but if you plan on decoding DTS-HD Master or Dolby TueHD, you'll need to look for another card. I'm quite happy with it though. Seeing that you're in Durban, you can get it from Mitabyte for the same price. They've got a good range of cards at good prices.
Click to expand...

I'll give them a call and hear what they have thanks, saves me the time of waiting for it to be posted.

garyc said:
This could also be due to graphics settings on either the PC or that input on the TV.
Click to expand...

The quality of the user interface is fine though so it makes me think it's not my TV.
 
I'm selling a POV (Esquire) GeForce 210 card and include the low-profile bracket, for R350. Pm me. Bellville areauploadfromtaptalk1408687536817.jpguploadfromtaptalk1408687557170.jpg
 
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