HTPC Quick Question: Video and Sound Cards.

[j@cko]

Q1 Video: I'm running the onboard video card of GA-MA78GM-S2H RS780 and there is a HUGE performance drop when I play iTunes 8 visualizer. The sound would start stuttering and the visualizer would stutter as well from time to time. I know this has not an issue with CPU cu'z task manager showed that CPU was barely utilitized. I suspect that this has to do with 2D performance of the onboard video card. (some users on ATI official forums are having problems with 2D tasks such as browsing and etc). So, the question is, what are my options for cheap discrete video card (with HDMI video output) replacement? BTW, I don't play any game on this machine. This is purely for video/movie playback.

Q2 Sound: I'm using the onboard realtek digital audio output to my Onkyo 706. I set the sound setting to DTS 5.1 in Windows' control pannel. I also have a Auzentech Xplosion sound card that I am currently not using. The question is, is the sound data being processed by the on-board sound card/discrete sound card or is it processed by the Onkyo receiver? This leads to the next question. Would having a higher end sound card make any difference?

Thank you,

Jack

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: j@cko
Q1 Video: I'm running the onboard video card of GA-MA78GM-S2H RS780 and there is a HUGE performance drop when I play iTunes 8 visualizer. The sound would start stuttering and the visualizer would stutter as well from time to time. I know this has not an issue with CPU cu'z task manager showed that CPU was barely utilitized. I suspect that this has to do with 2D performance of the onboard video card. (some users on ATI official forums are having problems with 2D tasks such as browsing and etc).

So, the question is, what are my options for cheap discrete video card (with HDMI video output) replacement?

PCI or PCI Express

 

[j@cko]

PCI-E. I wasn't aware of there is any PCI video card that has HDMI support.

 

[Blain]

HD2400 Pro... HDMI support via adapter.