Good value card for HTPC?

[booji]

Hi,

I'm looking for a card to use in an HTPC that will offload my sat card HD video. Picture quality is my highest priority. I have used ATI cards in the past but things have moved on since my last card, too embarred to even say what it is.

I know the new ATI cards have all the video processing bells and whistles such as HD upscaling, H464 playback etc. Since I plan to use my HTPC to capture H264 on an Azureware sat card I want to re-encode/transcode this to a smaller size.

I looked at ATI cards with AVT. I'm not sure if the HD4830 has it but the HD4850 and HD4870 does. The HD 4870 was a bit of overkill so I thought about the HD4850 gigabyte version (passively cooled). This is still a bit pricey though for a HD4850 and since then the cheaper HD4770 is out and that does AVT too.

I've not looked at nvidia cards yet but I understand they offer GPU transcoding too. So theres just too many variables here for me to make to my mind!

Any ideas, my prioritys would be

a/ Picture quality (I am looking for at least PS3 BD playback).
b/ Noise/heat (although I can add low noise fans later).
c/ AVT/CUDA.
d/ 3d performance.

Thanks in advance.

[mr soft]

Have a look at this

http://www1.sapphiretech.com/us/products/products_overview.php?gpid=280

I think this is perfect for what your looking for.

[booji]

Yep, this looks good and has AVT. Funny how is doesn't mention AVT on ATI site for the 4600 series, thats why I was only looking at the higher end cards.

Ordered one today as well as the HTPC stuff. Now looking forward to BBC in HD.

[Blue_MiSfit]

Nice! I'd take dual DVI + HDMI instead of DVI+VGA+HDMI, but not bad. The 4670 is a decent little card, but I'd try for a 4770 if you're concerned with performance at all, though I don't see any passively cooled versions just yet.

BTW... AVT == fail. All the GPU accelerated video encoders fuck, plain and simple. x264 is always better.

If you want to go the nVidia route (for CUDA, which is actually useful), then I'd look at maybe a 9600gt... like this guy:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121244

~MiSfit

[booji]

I think you are right with the AVT thing, I thought I might as well have it just in case they improve things in the future. The cost of a HD4670 is so cheap it's worth getting it now as the more expensive cards will be cheaper by the time I upgrade in a years time. The Silverstone Lascala LC16S-MR HTPC case I've ordered will take a HD4670 and might just take a HD4770 but not any bigger. The alternative was a much bigger Zalman HD160+ case at almost twice the price. Trouble is, its easy to get carried away with a higher spec than you need and before you know it you have an HTPC which is overpriced. Hopefully I've got the right balance of power Vs functions Vs cost.

[burfadel]

The HD4670 is a good value for money card. Value for money wise, you can't go wrong with any of the ATI cards at the moment.

[Blue_MiSfit]

+1

ATI really owns the value segment of the GPU market (and competes very well at all other segments) at the moment - unless you need CUDA.

Get that 4670, passively cooled, and love it :)

~MiSfit