Minimum Video Card for 4K TV?

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rdlauer

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Minimum Video Card for 4K TV?

#1

Post by rdlauer » Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:20 pm

I have an old Dell Optiplex 760 with an old ATI video card that has been running my (yes, old) 1080i display for years now. I just upgraded to an LG 4K TV and can't get any signal to the new TV via component or HDMI.

My best guess is that the video card doesn't support the 4K resolution at all (I'm using a DVI to HDMI cable). So next step is to buy a hopefully cheap video card.

Does that seem right? Any suggestions on what kind of cheap video card I could get away with? I don't foresee playing much 4K content to be honest, but it's super confusing as to which video card I might need (i.e. do you *need* HDMI 2.0 support to use a 4k TV?).

Thanks!

stuartm

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#2

Post by stuartm » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:04 pm

When I went to a 4K TV i didn't bother to upgrade my video card. Just set my Video output to 1080p and let the TV scale. I don't currently plan to play any 4K material from the PC.
If you do want to output 4k from the PC to the TV I believe some Nvidia cards will do 4K60 via HDMI 1.4a but the TV may or may not recognize it so I would think it is safest to have a HDMI2.0 card If your case is low-profile like mine you are probably looking at a $150 card. (You can find full height cards for around $110) I have heard good things about this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814137081

rdlauer

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#3

Post by rdlauer » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:57 pm

Yeah that's what I don't get - the video card is set to 1080p now, but I get literally nothing on the TV (not even during startup).

I was thinking about that GTX 1050, but would be willing to get something else even cheaper to just get 1080. Based on your statement do you think *any* relatively modern video card should work? And does it matter if you connect HDMI-HDMI vs HDMI-DVI?

Bryan

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#4

Post by Bryan » Wed Jan 04, 2017 2:54 am

I would go HDMI. You really don't need much of anything for 1080P; I'm just using the HD 4000 or whatever my $60 Pentium has, and it's plenty.

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DavidinCT

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#5

Post by DavidinCT » Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:48 pm

rdlauer wrote:Yeah that's what I don't get - the video card is set to 1080p now, but I get literally nothing on the TV (not even during startup).

I was thinking about that GTX 1050, but would be willing to get something else even cheaper to just get 1080. Based on your statement do you think *any* relatively modern video card should work? And does it matter if you connect HDMI-HDMI vs HDMI-DVI?
Well if you want to go full 4K, it's one thing but, 1080p would be fine for most cases, IF your only watching TV/recorded TV on Media Center. If your watching Movies (movie library, my movies, etc), There will be options for 4K video later but, nothing else. TO go 1080p, crap, I was doing 1080p from my 9600gt... all cards in the last few years should do 1080p with out a problem, or a $25 video card would do it (used maybe ebay)

I moved to 4K, and running mine in 4K.... as I have some 4k movie rips (dont ask), My system has a GTX750 in it, this works running WMC at 4K@60hz (dont run WMC at 30hz, it's a slide show). The Only problem on TRUE 4K rips I am finding that the 750 does not do it's job very well. If computer software comes where it can play 4K Blu-ray, it will require a system that supports at least HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, and you need a GTX950 or higher (so your compliant).

Running WMC at 4K brings other issues if you need to, You can check out some other threads that I started that show what I did to get it working BUT, if your only watching 1080i/720p/1080p content, I would not bother at this point.
-Dave
Twitter @TheCoolDave

Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

rdlauer

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#6

Post by rdlauer » Thu Jan 05, 2017 6:48 pm

Awesome - thanks. I did end up buying a cheap-ish 1050 for a little more than $100. That should work with this PC and for whenever I do a new build.

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DavidinCT

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#7

Post by DavidinCT » Thu Jan 05, 2017 8:48 pm

rdlauer wrote:Awesome - thanks. I did end up buying a cheap-ish 1050 for a little more than $100. That should work with this PC and for whenever I do a new build.
And that was a VERY good choice... The GTX1050 supports HDMI 2.0b HDCP 2.2 and hardware HEVC decoding (4k h.265 format that is the standard for 4k). I was going to ugprade my GTX750 and I think after doing some research I am going to the same route...

For $110-120 at staring point, good card for the money... Anyone want to buy a minty GTX750 ? :)
-Dave
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Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

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