Cheapest video card that can handle Vista

[cooldudie3]

Which is the cheapest video card for Windows Vista Home Prenium? I only need it to upgrade and use as a everyday kind of thing, nothing 3D or big. But i need it to also support PCI if possible.

[desiibond]

8400GS should be fine but get atleast 8600GT for 3.5k-4k.

[cooldudie3]

Does the 8400GS work well with Vista Home Prenium? Are there any cheaper choices? they don't need to be from ATI or Nvidia.

[manohar387]

The nVidia 8400gs 128mb is the cheapest card available for vista .it costs around <2000.
it also supports a lot of games.

[desiibond]

yep. It can run Vista easily but if you want fast mediacenter performance (and watching high def videos) , I would recommend atleast 8600GT.

[acewin]

in 2K you will easily get 512 MB DDR2 gfx cards. And if you just wanna keep for movies n all u can go for it. check Zotac/XFX/POV any of them.
XFX n Zotac are directX 10 gfx cards

And if I am not wrong 7xxx series gfx cards can also run them.

and if you wanna long running gfx card which can do almost everything for you then comes 8600GT 256 MB DDR3 (not 512 MB DDR2), MSI are sub 3.5K, Palit n some others are around 3.5K, I like the Palit one supports dual monitors.

[IronManForever]

Get a minimum of 8400 GS. It will handle all movie; decoding; non-gaming purposes pretty well for less than 2K. For your purpose no need to go for higher end. It will also allow you to play recent games @ low resolution.

But for value for money graphics card; I'd recommend Mercury 8600GT DDR3 for just 3K. Best bang for buck if you also want to game a bit.

[cooldudie3]

I think the 8400GS might be for me. I will not watch Blue Ray or play some big games on it. But about Media Center performance. Will it run well enough to be smooth?
How about the 8500GT? Will it be better than the 8400GS?

[acewin]

it is better than 8400GS

[IronManForever]

As I have said, any 8400GS will be enough for HD videos or for light gaming. Media Center performance; man even a cheap onboard can handle it. My Geforce 5200FX can handle Vista Aero and Media Center pretty well.

But if you want more, look nowhere else; go fo Mercury 8600GT. Trust me, for 3k, there isnt any other hardware that justifies "Value for Money" tag!!!

[goobimama]

HD videos have NOTHING to do with the graphics card. It only plays a small role when it comes to playing a Bluray/HD DVD disk. Otherwise it is entirely upon the CPU to do the decoding. CoreAVC and FFDshow both do not use the GPU to decode videos.

[amrawtanshx]

Originally Posted by goobimama

HD videos have NOTHING to do with the graphics card. It only plays a small role when it comes to playing a Bluray/HD DVD disk. Otherwise it is entirely upon the CPU to do the decoding. CoreAVC and FFDshow both do not use the GPU to decode videos.

I dont think so.
Play any HD video on 845 set.It wont.(Personal Experience)
But if GPU is present it does.

8400GS is fine but if u want some performace too ... Go for Mercury 8600GT.

[goobimama]

Think so. Pretty sure that 845 motherboard will not be coupled with a good enough CPU. On the other hand, plug in a 9800GTX-Extreme into a 2Ghz Pentium based machine and let's see if those HD videos play.

[MetalheadGautham]

7100GS costs 1100 in the market. PCIe. Really cheap and performs somewhat better than GMA X3100

[amrawtanshx]

Originally Posted by goobimama

Think so. Pretty sure that 845 motherboard will not be coupled with a good enough CPU. On the other hand, plug in a 9800GTX-Extreme into a 2Ghz Pentium based machine and let's see if those HD videos play.

Ya...It was not coupled with good enough CPU.
Intel Core 2 processors with Viiv offer high-definition experience and the newer lot.

So getting a cheap GPU with an average mobo. should suffice ... Rather than a high end processor.

[goobimama]

Do you even know how HD videos are decoded? CoreAVC and FFDshow (and VLC if you want to count that in) all do not support GPU decoding. The only one that does, is the Cyberlink PowerDVD decoder via DxVGA. But let me tell you, the 7900GT in the system did nothing much even using the Cyberlink codec. CoreAVC and FFDshow performed far better.

As for Nvidia PureVideo, that's a PureJoke. Mpeg2 decoding is again far better using FFDshow, with much better control over the output.

So during HD playback, GPU was NOT used AT ALL. The guys at CoreCodec promised GPU decoding in upcoming versions, but that never happened. Now they claim that the CPUs are fast enough so GPU decoding is not required. Note, that it takes just a Intel Core Duo 1.8Ghz+ to decode 720p and a Core 2 Duo 2Ghz+ to decode 1080p comfortably.

Maybe in future Windows7 will bring about GPGPU (gx keeps mentioning that) which will enhance the experience out of the box, but for now, GPU is only used for Aero effects and Gaming.

[amrawtanshx]

@goobimama

I know that CoreAVC and FFDshow do not support GPU decoding.
GPU is useful in HD decoding if the CPU is not that powerful.

Just want to quote nVidia on 7300 series.
GeForce 7300 GPUs also bring stunning, high definition video and superb picture clarity with minimal CPU usage with NVIDIA® PureVideo™ technology. For the performance and features you need to play the latest games and enjoy home-theater quality video, make sure your PC is equipped with a GeForce 7300 GPU.

At 3GHz, Intel's Core 2 Duo E6850 is powerful enough to decode an HD DVD or HD 1080i signal without assistance from the video card, but a low-speed CPU combined with an underpowered video card may not be capable of the same feat.
Source :http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...vs-nvidia.html

[cooldudie3]

I have a old Celeron CPU. I am 100% sure it will NOT support HD. So any recommendations for upgrades in CPU? I think Nvidia 8400GS should do well enough.

[sagargv]

VLC , coreAVC , ffdshow do NOT support dxva. . try media player home cinema . . 1080p on my rig works like a charm with 20% average cpu usage. ..

[Psychosocial]

Get a Intel E2180 for 3k + NVIDIA 8400GS (Gigabyte, Palit, MSI, XFX, any) for <2.5k.

This would suffice for just running VIsta with Aero. Some HD video playback will also be done comfortably. Light gaming will not be a problem but newer games would choke. But as you aren't into gaming, this config would suffice. If you need a motherboard then get a XFX 630i and then you need RAM, get 2x1GB DDR2 667MHz RAM.

[cooldudie3]

Hd is good for me but should I need Blu Ray? The drives are costly and so are the discs.

Actually, can my motherboard work with Pentium Dual Core? It's quite old and uses some sort of celeron processor. Can the current Celeron work well for me?

[acewin]

you really live in heaven, everyone is waiting for there to be drop in prices of Blue ray drives and discs. Then only there will be more HD content avaialable, right now not much HD content is on the market also.

So better stick to normal DVDs as per my suggestiom

[Psychosocial]

Originally Posted by cooldudie3

Hd is good for me but should I need Blu Ray? The drives are costly and so are the discs.

Actually, can my motherboard work with Pentium Dual Core? It's quite old and uses some sort of celeron processor. Can the current Celeron work well for me?

THats why i suggested a whole new PC upgrade. E1280 + XFX 630 + 2GB RAM. Get a new PSU too.

[amrawtanshx]

Originally Posted by acewin

you really live in heaven, everyone is waiting for there to be drop in prices of Blue ray drives and discs. Then only there will be more HD content avaialable, right now not much HD content is on the market also.

So better stick to normal DVDs as per my suggestiom

Hey HD is flowing now.
Forget Hollywood even 3 Bollywood have been released as Bluray.
Plus lots of videos are HD now including movie trailers.

So we better be prepared.

[Psychosocial]

^ Correct. Plus if he's gonna stick to the PC for a long time, then he needs it.

[amrawtanshx]

Then 8600GT is VFM.
Due to its good performance.Atleast it will last for sometime.

[IronManForever]

Originally Posted by goobimama

Do you even know how HD videos are decoded? CoreAVC and FFDshow (and VLC if you want to count that in) all do not support GPU decoding. The only one that does, is the Cyberlink PowerDVD decoder via DxVGA. But let me tell you, the 7900GT in the system did nothing much even using the Cyberlink codec. CoreAVC and FFDshow performed far better.

As for Nvidia PureVideo, that's a PureJoke. Mpeg2 decoding is again far better using FFDshow, with much better control over the output.

So during HD playback, GPU was NOT used AT ALL. The guys at CoreCodec promised GPU decoding in upcoming versions, but that never happened. Now they claim that the CPUs are fast enough so GPU decoding is not required. Note, that it takes just a Intel Core Duo 1.8Ghz+ to decode 720p and a Core 2 Duo 2Ghz+ to decode 1080p comfortably.

Maybe in future Windows7 will bring about GPGPU (gx keeps mentioning that) which will enhance the experience out of the box, but for now, GPU is only used for Aero effects and Gaming.

Oh gosh!! Man you seriously have to get your facts right. All current gen GPUs do most of the decoding; all have hardware decoders in them. CoreAVC and FFDShow are for those systems without such GPUs or any standalone hardware decoder.
When CPU decodes; a software decoder is on the work; when GPU decodes, its a hardware decoder built in. And you may also be able to buy add-on PCI decoders for less powerful rigs.

Originally Posted by amrawtanshx

@goobimama

I know that CoreAVC and FFDshow do not support GPU decoding.
GPU is useful in HD decoding if the CPU is not that powerful.

Just want to quote nVidia on 7300 series.
GeForce 7300 GPUs also bring stunning, high definition video and superb picture clarity with minimal CPU usage with NVIDIA® PureVideo™ technology. For the performance and features you need to play the latest games and enjoy home-theater quality video, make sure your PC is equipped with a GeForce 7300 GPU.

At 3GHz, Intel's Core 2 Duo E6850 is powerful enough to decode an HD DVD or HD 1080i signal without assistance from the video card, but a low-speed CPU combined with an underpowered video card may not be capable of the same feat.
Source :http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...vs-nvidia.html

Exactly what I wanted to say. But the C2D E6850 thing that you are talking about; its without CoreAVC or FFDShow or anything similar, I guess?

[comp@ddict]

Originally Posted by goobimama

Think so. Pretty sure that 845 motherboard will not be coupled with a good enough CPU. On the other hand, plug in a 9800GTX-Extreme into a 2Ghz Pentium based machine and let's see if those HD videos play.

You won't even get a tenth of the GPU's power due to this old rusty's bottleneck!



By the way, it's up to you.

8400GS(get 256MB DDR3) @ 1.8k
8500GT @ 2.4k
3450 @ 2.2k
8600GT @ 3.1k

The performance is ascending wise. Now you choose which one you want. If you have an OLD CELERON, then go for a 945+E2160 @ 5k + gfx card of ur choice.

If you are familiar with OCing, you'll get decent performance with gaming too, coupled with a 8600GT card.

[goobimama]

Oh gosh!! Man you seriously have to get your facts right. All current gen GPUs do most of the decoding; all have hardware decoders in them. CoreAVC and FFDShow are for those systems without such GPUs or any standalone hardware decoder.
When CPU decodes; a software decoder is on the work; when GPU decodes, its a hardware decoder built in. And you may also be able to buy add-on PCI decoders for less powerful rigs.

Oh I know they have hardware decoders in them. And I was pretty excited about that when I got my 7900GT with the Purevideo and all that. But only when it comes to Bluray or raw Mpeg2/h264 files. And, CoreAVC is known to give better performance than a hardware decoder.

If you are talking about playing Blurays or WMV, then by all means the GPU will play a role (although, you will again need a powerful enough CPU for that as well). But if MKV is your kind of thing, then there is no way the GPU plays a big part.

[IronManForever]

Originally Posted by goobimama

Oh I know they have hardware decoders in them. And I was pretty excited about that when I got my 7900GT with the Purevideo and all that. But only when it comes to Bluray or raw Mpeg2/h264 files. And, CoreAVC is known to give better performance than a hardware decoder.

If you are talking about playing Blurays or WMV, then by all means the GPU will play a role (although, you will again need a powerful enough CPU for that as well). But if MKV is your kind of thing, then there is no way the GPU plays a big part.

All GPUs that have hardware decoding; when they are reviewed for big websites like Tom's Hardware, etc; the slowest Celeron Processor commercially available is used. Why? To check how efficient the decoder is. I had come across reviews where 8800GT was used to check how efficient it is while decoding h.264 media. The proccy used was some 2.53 GHz Celeron D.
But all depends on what kinda file/compression you use. Like you said about MKV.
GPUs dont come with all kinda decoders but generally todays GPUs will give you good performance with MPEG-2 video and MPEG-4 video.

ADDED: And you said that CoreAVC is more effective than GPU decoding? You mean to say less CPU stress was seen with CoreAVC than GPU decoding?
Sure, If the compression wasnt decodable by GPU because it simply didnt supprt it; you maybe right. But try it with Blue-ray; I bet the results will be hell lotta different.