Help me select a new vid card please

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icepick

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Help me select a new vid card please

#1

Post by icepick » Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:26 pm

With the implementation of H.264 encryption I've lost picture on my copy protected programs through my HTPC (due to using HD 4000)

I'm looking for a card now to solve the problem and I'd like to make a good choice.

I'll eventually move to a 4k screen so I'd like to get something that will handle all the tasks I throw at it.
Primarily this is TV, Blu-ray, and streaming. Gaming might be part of this but not serious gaming so that's not really an issue.

My main question at this point has to do with HDMI compatibility and 4k passthrough.

My HTPC runs through an Onkyo HT-R593 receiver. The Onkyo handles 4k passthrough according to the manual but I'm not fully versed on the standards.

While reading reviews I came across information about HDMI 2.0 and HDR. I know HDR is not widely implemented yet but I'm wondering how that plays into the HDMI standards of my receiver. I would imagine that the audio signal and the receiver's decoding of audio is unaffected by HDR or HDMI spec, please correct me if I'm wrong. Also I'd think that simply passing a video signal along to the TV for decoding would mean that the receiver would not cause a problem for HDR content.

Simply put:

As long as the card has HDMI 2.0a output, and I'm using 2.0a spec cables, and my display can handle 4k HDR content, the receiver should be fine to decode audio and pass along the HDMI signal. Can someone please confirm this for me?
Here's the Onkyo manual and the specific blurb about HDMI Input:
IN1 (BD/DVD), IN2 (CBL/SAT), IN3 (STB/DVR), IN4 (GAME), IN5 (PC),
IN6
Output
OUT
Video Resolution
4K 60 Hz (YCbCr 4:2:0)
Audio Format
DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby TrueHD,
Dolby Digital Plus, DSD, Multichannel PCM
Supported
3D, Audio Return Channel, DeepColor, x.v.Color, LipSync, CEC (RIHD),
4K Passthrough


Now as for a card there's not a lot of 2.0 out in fanless so not much choice in the matter, I'd be looking at this card

icepick

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#2

Post by icepick » Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:27 pm

(too many URL's for one post so had to split)

If however, trying to future proof in this way is somewhat a fools errand due to the lack of content (and the likelihood that I'll be using 1080p as my res for some time) I'm happy to go with a different card.
I'd probably be looking at a GT 710 or 730.
Most likely one of the following:
GIGABYTE GT 710 GV-N710SL-2GL/REV2.0
MSI GeForce GT 730 N730K-2GD3H/LP
MSI GeForce GT 710 GT 710 2GD3H

I'm leaning toward the MSI 710 due to it's 19w power consumption rating (less heat and I'm a watt miser)


So I know that's a lot of info and questions, hope I didn't ramble too long. Any help is much appreciated!

genaldar

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#3

Post by genaldar » Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:07 am

I just ordered a GT 730 from Amazon https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NN9 ... dp_summary I'll let you know how it is.

icepick

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#4

Post by icepick » Thu Dec 29, 2016 12:38 pm

Thanks. I'm actually interested in that card as well. Amazon says 25 watts Newegg reports the power consumption to be 49 watts... Let me know if you can throw a watt meter on before and after installation (I know most people don't have these laying around)

genaldar

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#5

Post by genaldar » Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:44 pm

I do not have one, sorry.

genaldar

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#6

Post by genaldar » Fri Jan 06, 2017 9:51 am

I got my card and installed it, works great. Also I think I know where the voltage confusion comes from; the 128 bit card is 49 watts, this 64 bit card is 23 watts. The version that uses gddr ram is 25 watts.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop ... ifications

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DavidinCT

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#7

Post by DavidinCT » Sun Jan 08, 2017 3:01 pm

Not sure if your still reading this but, If your talking about 4K, and you want at least HDMI 2.0, you need to go up to the GTX960 or so. If your end goal is 4K, then you might look towards a GTX1050 ($110-$130) or higher (2016/2017 series), this will give you HDMI 2.0b, HDCP 2.2 and HEVC (h265) hardware decoding. HEVC/h.265 is the STANDARD for 4k (4K Blu-ray, etc), 4k video is encoded in a high bitrate format. If you have a lesser card that does not decode HEVC it will lean it to your CPU and will bring a mid line system to a crawl. I personally have seen this.

As for your AVR (Onkyo HT-R593), it supports 4K pass through at 60hz, only HDMI 2.0 but, does not support HDCP 2.2 (a NEED if your going to watch 4K content) and with out HDCP 2.2, it would not support HDR. Again if your goal is for all 4K ready, you need HDCP 2.2 to be able to view any DRM'ed based content. It might be time to replace it, or get some external based switching setup that does support HDCP 2.2.

So, if your thinking about going to 4K, these are some things to think about....
-Dave
Twitter @TheCoolDave

Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

artm

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#8

Post by artm » Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:57 am

genaldar wrote:I got my card and installed it, works great. Also I think I know where the voltage confusion comes from; the 128 bit card is 49 watts, this 64 bit card is 23 watts. The version that uses gddr ram is 25 watts.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop ... ifications

I use this site to help selecting video cards. it allows filtering on many specs, including power draw. I try to find cards at 19W or so:

http://pcpartpicker.com/products/video- ... 5,25&H=1,3

You say your GT-730 works great. Please elaborate by going to this thread and replying:

http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie ... =7&t=10675
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000

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