Graphics Card Recommendation

[Stealth]

I'm looking for some guidance on what’s my best option on a graphics card for my Windows 7 Media Center PC.

I'm currently using a MSI N9400GT - MDT512H is hooked up to my Yamaha AV receiver then to my TV with another HDMI cable.

I have just ordered a new Samsung 55" 3D TV model UE55F6800 to this spec-

Video
1080P
400 Clear Motion Rate
Picture Engine : 3D HyperReal Engine
Dynamic Contrast Ratio : Mega
Wide Colour Enhancer (Plus) available
Film Mode available
Natural Mode Support

Not sure if its worth using the 3D option but its a nice to have I guess.

If I'm going to buy a new graphics card should I buy one compatible with 4K or is that likely to break the bank at the moment.#
Any advice would be appreciated.

[milli260876]

the new haswell chip graphics support 4k so I wouldn't have thought that it would make it expensive in a dedicated graphics card...?
anyway stay clear of ATI/AMD for HTPC as far as i'm concerned. I've had 2 and had issues with both. Nvidia all the way....

[Stealth]

the new haswell chip graphics support 4k so I wouldn't have thought that it would make it expensive in a dedicated graphics card...?
anyway stay clear of ATI/AMD for HTPC as far as i'm concerned. I've had 2 and had issues with both. Nvidia all the way....

Thank you for your reply. Do you have any models you can point me to passive would be good. Its a mine field there are so many options.

Thanks

Steve

[milli260876]

I had a gt520 which worked fine, doubt it will output 4k tho..
I'm now on Intel integrated graphics again(1ivy bridge 1 haswell)

[barnabas1969]

Not sure why you want 4K when your TV won't display 4K. Besides, 4K is a marketing gimmick. Nobody needs a 4K TV unless the TV is ginormous (like 120" or larger) or they sit closer than 3 feet from the TV.

If you don't care about 4K, the nVidia GT-430 works fine, and so does the Radeon HD 6450 (click here).

Both will do 3D, HD audio formats, and work well with Media Center. The one I linked is inexpensive, fanless, and works in a low-profile case. You can find fanless GT-430 cards too. Of course, if you go fanless, make sure there's enough air flow in the case.

[Stealth]

Thanks for all your help

[deihmos]

I am on Intel integrated graphics. Consumes less power and works well. If you already have integrated graphics there is no need for a video card.

My previous system used an AMD 5450 and that worked well for an htpc and only cost 20.00. AMD has great fan less budget cards.

[barnabas1969]

The reason I think 4K TV's are a marketing ploy is because the human eye is limited in the amount of detail that can be seen. A user on this site who goes by the username Richard1980 posted some really good info about the amount of detail that can be seen by the human eye.

It boils down to this... he posted two pictures. Both had alternating vertical bars of black and white columns, one pixel wide. One had 1920 vertical bars (1080p, or 1920x1080) and the other had 1280 vertical bars (720p, or 1280x720). My TV is a 64 inch (162.5 cm) diagonal plasma that is 1920x1080. It is set to display 1:1 pixel mapping, and so is my HTPC. When I displayed the 1920x1080 image of black/white vertical bars, I had to sit less than six feet (1.83 meters) to my 64" TV in order to see the black/white bars which were one pixel wide. If I sat any further away, the screen looked gray.

So... if you have a 128 inch(325cm) diagonal TV, then you can enjoy 4K resolution at a distance of 6 feet (1.83 meters) or less. If your TV is smaller, then you need to sit closer. It's difficult to imagine a room with a 128 inch TV where the seats are 6 feet or less from the screen.