geforce 8400gs vs intel x4500

[xyyz]

i went out and bought a intel board today that has the x4500HD. as i started to assemble the PC, i started to think. i have a raid capable nvidia based matx board already. i'm using it on my primary pc that's due for an upgrade anyways. i thought, i might have saved the money and used that board along with a 8400gs i have lying around.

what i want to know i guess, is if the 8400gs is good enough for a htpc build. there is going to be ZERO gaming on that system. i'm going to use it to watch DVDs/HDDVDs/blueray stuff. it'll also have the function of a DVR. finally, i'll end it's function as something that i'll use to watch internet content.

i was reading something on the box of the internal blueray/hddvd player i bought, and it said you needed a minimum 8800GT to watch blueray content with a smooth frame rate.

can someone let me know if i can get by using already owned components saving me close to $130?

 

[Cookie Monster]

Should have gone out and bought the Geforce 9300/9400 intel matx boards. These IGPs are capable of running bluray content without the need for any discrete video cards.

 

[xyyz]

i really want to know if the 8400gs is good enough for 720p right now and then 1080p later.

if it's not, then i'll consider other options. right now, i rather save the money and use what i have, but only if it's a viable option.

 

[Cookie Monster]

The 8400GS should be enough for 720P, but Im not sure about 1080P. The newer 8400GS is based on the G98 core which supports VP3 (pure video version 3) i.e I think it should be able to play 1080p bluray content. However Im not too sure on what version of the card you have. From experience, intel IGPs are terrible with lackluster driver support. The new intel x4500 IGP might "support" these hardware accelerations for multi media contents, but I would do my research to see if they actually accelerate anything.

 

[xyyz]

unfortunately, i think i have the older core. is there any way to tell other than to take the HS off?

i'll stick with the spare parts along with the 8400gs. later, if need be, i can always add another video card.

thanks for the information.

 

[tcsenter]

Intel x4500HD should have no problem with 720P unless you have paired it with bottom-rung Celeron and 512MB RAM. Its 1080P that x4500HD chokes on, but even then a better CPU will bridge the gap. Try both and decide for yourself.

8800GT may be a worse choice than some newer entry-level products like GeForce 9400GT and Radeon HD 4350/4550.

 

[xyyz]

curious... why is the 8800GT a bad option?

 

[FalseChristian]

Originally posted by: xyyz
curious... why is the 8800GT a bad option?

Ya, why's it a bad choice? I've got 2 in SLI and they blow away a GTX 280. And I don't think an 8800GT will have any problem running a BR-DVD at 1080p.

 

[nosfe]

because an 8800gt is overkill for a htpc that only plays movies. Take tcsenter's advice and look for some entry-level cards