Graphics Card/Onboard Graphics for Media Centre PC

[TheJay]

Hello there, I am looking for a dirt cheap, Windows 7 suitable graphics card for use with a PC designed for multimedia purposes (watching films, listening to music etc). I would like to be able to use the full visual effects Windows 7 has to offer. It must have an S-video output and be compatible with the Asus M3A78-CM Motherboard. I have 1 PCI Express x 1 slot free and 2 x PCI 2.2 slots free.

Please provide some suggestions, doesn't have to be brand new.

Either that, or something like the Gadmei XGA/VGA LCD TV BOX. I want to connect my PC with the motherboard mentioned previously to my CRT TV (Panasonic TX-28PL4 Quintrix). The motherboard has onboard graphics via dvi and vga outputs. The TV has an S-VHS plug on the front, as well as RCA Audio/Video sockets. On the rear, it has 1 spare scart input.

What are your thoughts?

 

[biggles1000]

the graphics card listed in my specs may only be 64MB, but it surprisingly runs aero.
If that seems to be not quite what you're looking for, another card I would recommend is the nvidia 8400GS. It may be 512MB, but thats about as high as it's specs go, but you will need a more powerful PSU (300W+). The 8400GS is about £30 and a vga to RCA adapter seems to be about £5 (i recommend you buy the adapter before the card).
The one in my specs just has a VGA port, but the 8400GS has vga, dvi and hdmi (i think the hdmi may need some further cabling in the case, not sure though)

NB (the card listed in my system specs may actually be the GeForce 7200GS, all system information programs tell me that it could be both and there's no sticker on it. all i know for (kinda) certain is that its 64MB )

 

[TheJay]

Hello there, thank you for your response! How does the above graphics card compare to this: Asus GeForce G210 512MB DVI VGA HDMI Out PCI-E Low.. | Ebuyer.com ?

Also, will an adapter to change connector to component/RCA video and a component/RCA video to scart block work?

Will I be able to use it for occasional gaming?

 

[biggles1000]

yeah, that card you listed looks to have slightly better specs.
first one should, but not sure about adapter to adapter. i would say yes, but i've heard around that it may not work.
highly likely. the sims 2 plays fine on my 64MB card and runs aero and can play the sims 3 (slowly), so that 512MB card should be able to handle casual gaming with no difficulties.

 

[Layback Bear]

The card I use at this time is a Nvidia GT-220 1 Gb of memory. It's not a lot of money. I don't game so it works quite well.
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Video Cards & Video Devices,Desktop Graphics / Video Cards,GeForce G/GT series,GeForce GT 220

 

[TheJay]

I'm thinking s-video/tv-out output to s-video input would be best, what do you think?

Any idea which card I should pick?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radeon-EAH4350-PCI...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nvidia-Geforce-860...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AXLE-GeForce-6600G...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PNY-GeForce-6200-G...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nvidia-Geforce-860...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6

And also, why do some appear to be more expensive for less product?

 

[Layback Bear]

The memory and speed they have and the company that makes them. You might find some made by BFG cheep but they are out of business so their is no warranty. If you stick with names like, Asus, Nvidia, PNY, Gigabyte you should be okay.

 

[biggles1000]

and AMD
(does anyone like them? They're great for multiple monitors, but that's about it)

 

[TheJay]

Could you please advise which you would go for? It just seems strange that a 2GB GPU would cost almost the same price as a GPU with 512MB or 1GB.

 

[biggles1000]

Well, as I unfortunately learnt with mine, it isn't just the graphics memory that counts. My 512MB 8400GS may have just as much as the 512MB 9600GT, as can be seen here: Differences between 8400gs and 9600gt? - Yahoo! Answers (I wasn't the asked or answerer) (the 'other answers' give further depth as to why the difference)

 

[Layback Bear]

My understanding is when you memory on you card is all used up it has to go the them memory on you m/b and slow down things like playing games a bunch. Their for more memory on you card is good and cost more normally.

 

[TheJay]

I guess I need something which supports Direct X 11, like this: Gigabyte HD 5570 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E HDMI DVI-I DirectX 11 Graphics Card Retail- microdirect.co.uk ?

I am still confused about why Nvidia Geforce 8600GT 1GB GPU Nvidia Geforce 8600GT Videocard , 1024MB DDR2: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics costs more than Nvidia Geforce 8600GT 2GB GPU Nvidia Geforce 8600GT videocard with 2048MB TC DDR2 * 2GB PCI-Express , DVI, VGA , Direct X 10 , (8600 GT): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

[gazz9496]

nvidia use a different memory architecture so adding more with a larger bus costs more to do for them.

the amount of video ram also has an effect on the maximum resolution you can run at as well as some other aspects.

all of the ati 5 series cards will do dx 11 which is a nice point to consider especially if you look at the 5450 1 gb ddr2 card fanless priced around £30

nvidia offer some nice cards as well but i would reccomend you look at their newer cards like the geforce gt 520 or similar priced around £40

 

[biggles1000]

good point

Sheepdisease, remember to read a LOT of reviews when you get serious (as in you think that one would be a good one to go for) about picking a card - don't make the mistake I made

 

[TheJay]

I have been using amazon to look at reviews and I have found it useful.

Those cards look good, thank you for your recommendations.

I didn't think getting a suitable GPU was going to be this difficult.

These are the requirements:

• TV-Out (S-video, not HDMI)
• At least 1GB of GPU RAM
• Windows 7 compatible
• Direct X 11 support
• PCI-E x16

These would be useful:

• HDMI output for later on

Those cards you recommended do not provide tv-out (s-video) unfortunately.

 

[biggles1000]

on the back of my 64MB graphics card, there seems to be just s-video and VGA.
I think the main problem is is that manufacturers switched to hdmi output instead, so the better (1GB+) cards around today don't have 'yesterdays' technology in them. This unfortunately means no s-video, and no VGA :'(
I'm slightly confused as to why they put hdtv/s-video on this description, but might this suit your needs?
PNY VCG981024GXEB XLR8 GeForce 9800GT 1GB DDR3 PCI-E 2.0 DVI + DVI + HDTV/S-Video Output Graphics Card - Retail Box:Amazon:Electronics

yeah, I wouldn't have thought it would be this difficult either. for example, so that i can have multiple monitors (or rather could have, since the computer in question is now dead) I wanted a relatively good PCI card, but those don't seem to be easy to come by

 

[TheJay]

Can't find a UK equivalent to the above suggestion.

Are there any other cards which match the criteria please?

 

[Lava King]

Might I ask a question? Are you planning on gaming with this setup or is it a media center only?

My current media center graphics card is a VisionTek 4350 HD. It has 512 MB of DDR2 and DirectX 10 support. It has absolutely no problem with 1920x1080 hi-def MKV files or Blu-ray decoding connected to a Samsung 52" lcd using either DVI or HDMI. However, trying to run that hi-def signal through an analog cable (tried both VGA and S-video) gives very poor results.

So, while a card matching your requirements will indeed be a bit more future proof, it won't be utilized fully with your current tv. And when you do upgrade your monitor/tv, the resolution of even a Blu-ray movie is very little strain for even the low end of todays graphics cards.

The gist is, that as long as you're not gaming, nearly any graphics card you get will be adequate for media purposes now and in the near future.

One bit of advice, get a passively cooled card if you can, no fan = no noise. Also, the cheesy little fans on the cheap cards don't last very long. The fan on my 4350 HD died after only 3 months.

Well, after reading this to myself, it comes across as a bit of a lecture :huh:
Not meant to be, just trying to be helpful

BTW, my home theater pc is a Pentium Dual Core 2.9 GHz with 2 GB ram and running Windows 7 Home Premium with aero.

Kent

 

[TheJay]

Hello Lava King, thank you so much for your really helpful post.

I intend on using it as a media player pc but also for playing games like Counterstrike, Total War, Sims 1-3, RCT 1-3.

Any idea which card would be suitable based on all the requirements?

 

[biggles1000]

(from my experience) with the sims 3, you'll want quite a good (at least 512MB) card for it, and you'll want a good quality card for the sims 2 (I kept getting graphical glitches such as buildings being flattened on high settings). By 'RCT', do you mean rollercoaster tycoon? If so, any card would do for that

And with the s-video problem, yeah, I'm afraid I think all manufacturers jumped onto the HDMI band wagon, which is a pain, as I'm guessing you don't want to have to buy a new TV?