4K playback GPU

zwunder · August 14, 2015

Let me preface this with the fact that this PC will NOT play games.

I need a good GPU that can play low compression 4k files. I work for a theatre and we have a new projection PC, however we need a GPU for it. I want the cheapest GPU I can get that can still play low compression 4K video files.

I do want Nvidia if at all possible as the room is already hot enough that I would be concerned with an AMD's heat level.

The files are played mainly through VLC Media player.

grayblizzard · August 14, 2015

Let me preface this with the fact that this PC will NOT play games.

I need a good GPU that can play low compression 4k files. I work for a theatre and we have a new projection PC, however we need a GPU for it. I want the cheapest GPU I can get that can still play low compression 4K video files.

I do want Nvidia if at all possible as the room is already hot enough that I would be concerned with an AMD's heat level.

The files are played mainly through VLC Media player.

a 750ti?

maybe a 960?

FuzzyYellow · August 14, 2015

at lest on the low end, AMD isn't much (if any) hotter than Nvidia. It's mostly just a myth. as far as playback, it's mainly CPU power that is used, not GPU.

amp88 · August 14, 2015

I need a good GPU that can play low compression 4k files.

I'm not really going to be able to help you with details, but you might want to give some examples of the type of content you intend to play. If you could provide, for example, a MediaInfo analysis of a few representative files it might help.

zwunder · August 14, 2015

a 750ti?

maybe a 960?

I'm curious if anyone has tried to do this on a 650ti or a 750ti. I am asking here as I don't own either of those cards so I can't validate.

LAwLz · August 15, 2015

at lest on the low end, AMD isn't much (if any) hotter than Nvidia. It's mostly just a myth. as far as playback, it's mainly CPU power that is used, not GPU.

If you configure things properly and use widely supported codecs then it will be almost entirely GPU, not CPU.

OP if I were you I'd into what Intel's integrated GPUs can handle in terms of video playback.

If you want a bit of future proofing then you will need HEVC support as well. Right now the GTX 960 (GM206) supports it in hardware (next to no load on the CPU) and Intel 5500, 6000 and 6100 supports it partially in hardware (some load on the GPU, some on the CPU).