Graphics Card for a htpc media computer

[Matom3]

I am planing a build of a media computer in a htpc case for mainly watching movies in 4K (Minimal to No Gaming on this computer). However I am unsure of which graphics card I should install.

 

I have not decided on a case yet and have a good idea of the rest of the components that I will install into the build such as cpu, ram, ect.

 

No preference on wether its a GFORCE graphics card or an RADEON graphics card. Which ever one will deliver the best performance for the cheapest amount of money.

[Starelementpoke]

2 minutes ago, Matom3 said:

I am planing a build of a media computer in a htpc case for mainly watching movies in 4K (Minimal to No Gaming on this computer). However I am unsure of which graphics card I should install.

 

I have not decided on a case yet and have a good idea of the rest of the components that I will install into the build such as cpu, ram, ect.

 

No preference on wether its a GFORCE graphics card or an RADEON graphics card. Which ever one will deliver the best performance for the cheapest amount of money.

Will you be doing supposed gaming on the computer in 4k? Or will that be set back down to 1080p. And if you do do gaming, what games?

[mrgooglegeek]

10 minutes ago, Matom3 said:

I am planing a build of a media computer in a htpc case for mainly watching movies in 4K (Minimal to No Gaming on this computer). However I am unsure of which graphics card I should install.

 

I have not decided on a case yet and have a good idea of the rest of the components that I will install into the build such as cpu, ram, ect.

 

No preference on wether its a GFORCE graphics card or an RADEON graphics card. Which ever one will deliver the best performance for the cheapest amount of money.

You could probably get a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487235&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Video+Card+-+Nvidia-_-N82E16814487235&gclid=CjwKEAjwxoG5BRCC7ezlzNmR8HUSJAAre36jsMaXJ0T3gH71RjW5EjArrvaQdoe6wKMLKAQl-uqhLxoCfMvw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Matom3]

8 hours ago, Starelementpoke said:

Will you be doing supposed gaming on the computer in 4k? Or will that be set back down to 1080p. And if you do do gaming, what games?

chances are that I will be using 1080p when gaming. I only need 4k for watching movies on my 4K tv. (I dont own that many games on steam. the only games I own are garys mod and modern warfare 2) 

[Streetguru]

9 hours ago, Matom3 said:

 

What hardware do you already have? an iGPU should be fine, otherwise I guess get a 250 at $60

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r72502gd3oc

[aisle9]

44 minutes ago, Matom3 said:

chances are that I will be using 1080p when gaming. I only need 4k for watching movies on my 4K tv. (I dont own that many games on steam. the only games I own are garys mod and modern warfare 2) 

GTX 950 would be my pick.

 

Alternatively, if you're willing to play games at mid to high settings instead of ultra, an A10 APU would have you covered and save you from having to buy a discrete GPU.

[Matom3]

7 hours ago, aisle9 said:

GTX 950 would be my pick.

 

Alternatively, if you're willing to play games at mid to high settings instead of ultra, an A10 APU would have you covered and save you from having to buy a discrete GPU.

 

8 hours ago, Streetguru said:

What hardware do you already have? an iGPU should be fine, otherwise I guess get a 250 at $60

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r72502gd3oc

The computer is not intended to be a gaming computer but a media player computer preforming at 4K.

 

This is the hardware I have decided on at the moment but the plan is not complete.

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/n9RbnQ

[Streetguru]

12 minutes ago, Matom3 said:

 

The computer is not intended to be a gaming computer but a media player computer preforming at 4K.

 

This is the hardware I have decided on at the moment but the plan is not complete.

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/n9RbnQ

You can't just play blu rays on a PC you need software to do it, and I don't think any of the free software was any good last I checked

 

If you're planning on getting 4k Blu Rays, either buy a proper 4K blu ray player, or buy a PS4K potentially

Also how are you hooking up to your TV? HDMI 2.0 or Display Port?

Also I found this, seems like it's a pain to get a 4k capable htpc ready

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9152/futureproofing-htpcs-for-the-4k-era-hdmi-hdcp-and-hevc

[Matom3]

1 minute ago, Streetguru said:

You can't just play blu rays on a PC you need software to do it, and I don't think any of the free software was any good last I checked

 

If you're planning on getting 4k Blu Rays, either buy a proper 4K blu ray player, or buy a PS4K potentially

Also how are you hooking up to your TV? HDMI 2.0 or Display Port?

I will be using hdmi 2.0. I have all the wiring to the tv set up.

 

I have a blueray 4k upscale player that I was planing to replace with this with the blueray optical drive. but now i am thinking do I really need a optical drive at all?

[Streetguru]

5 minutes ago, Matom3 said:

I will be using hdmi 2.0. I have all the wiring to the tv set up.

 

I have a blueray 4k upscale player that I was planing to replace with this with the blueray optical drive. but now i am thinking do I really need a optical drive at all?

Are you doing it all digitally? You must have no data bandwidth cap lol, also you're going to need a lot of storage to store 4k blu rays aren't you?

Also it appears that the 950 is the cheapest GPU with HDMI 2.0 at $220 for AUS, you're probably best off just buying a Display Port to HDMI 2.0 adapter, Club 3D just released one

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42957kr

Cheapest card with display port that I saw was this 250X at $99, and I can't imagine the adapter costs the difference between the 2, but that is what I meant when I said it'd be a pain to build one now
https://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-r7250x1gd5

[Matom3]

5 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Are you doing it all digitally? You must have no data bandwidth cap lol, also you're going to need a lot of storage to store 4k blu rays aren't you?

Also it appears that the 950 is the cheapest GPU with HDMI 2.0 at $220 for AUS, you're probably best off just buying a Display Port to HDMI 2.0 adapter, Club 3D just released one

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42957kr

Cheapest card with display port that I saw was this 250X at $99, and I can't imagine the adapter costs the difference between the 2, but that is what I meant when I said it'd be a pain to build one now
https://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-r7250x1gd5

Thanks for the advice but I would rather refrain from using thunderbolt and just use HDMI. (Just as a preference not to complicate it).

I will use the GTX 950 but if their is a cheaper card that does the same or better performance, thats fine too.

[Streetguru]

4 minutes ago, Matom3 said:

Thanks for the advice but I would rather refrain from using thunderbolt and just use HDMI. (Just as a preference not to complicate it).

I will use the GTX 950 but if their is a cheaper card that does the same or better performance, thats fine too.

You just need a display port to HDMI 2.0 adapter for the 250X,

Actually you could also go this route, and get an A8 7650K with this motherboard that has a display port output

Or AM4 APus will be out shortly that should have HDMI 2.0 on the motherboards
 

PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/sxtmvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/sxtmvK/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A8-7650K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($129.00 @ Umart)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($110.00 @ Umart)
Total: $239.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-28 16:38 AEST+1000

[Matom3]

What is a good micro atx or htpc case that can fit a couple of hard drives in it and a graphics card. Small as possible please?

 

[aisle9]

8 hours ago, Matom3 said:

What is a good micro atx or htpc case that can fit a couple of hard drives in it and a graphics card. Small as possible please?

 

1. I still think an APU would be a good fit for you. An A10, to be specific.

 

2. Fractal Node 202, Thermaltake Core V1 (if you're willing to go Mini ITX) come to mind immediately. If you're looking only at Micro ATX, the Thermaltake Core V21 is one of my favorites.

[Streetguru]

9 hours ago, Matom3 said:

What is a good micro atx or htpc case that can fit a couple of hard drives in it and a graphics card. Small as possible please?

 

Any of them really, but this coolermaster case supports up to 7 drives from the part picker at $50, should just get this man, it'll be the cheapest way to get a display port out, only thing is it ends up bigger being ATX

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pbDdjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pbDdjX/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A8-7650K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($129.00 @ Umart)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($110.00 @ Umart)
Case: Cooler Master K281 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.00 @ IJK)
Total: $288.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-29 02:28 AEST+1000

 

 

[Matom3]

On 4/28/2016 at 2:28 AM, Streetguru said:

Any of them really, but this coolermaster case supports up to 7 drives from the part picker at $50, should just get this man, it'll be the cheapest way to get a display port out, only thing is it ends up bigger being ATX

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pbDdjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/pbDdjX/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A8-7650K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($129.00 @ Umart)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($110.00 @ Umart)
Case: Cooler Master K281 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.00 @ IJK)
Total: $288.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-29 02:28 AEST+1000

 

 

 

On 4/28/2016 at 4:35 PM, Streetguru said:

You just need a display port to HDMI 2.0 adapter for the 250X,

Actually you could also go this route, and get an A8 7650K with this motherboard that has a display port output

Or AM4 APus will be out shortly that should have HDMI 2.0 on the motherboards
 

PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/sxtmvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/sxtmvK/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A8-7650K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($129.00 @ Umart)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($110.00 @ Umart)
Total: $239.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-28 16:38 AEST+1000

 

On 4/27/2016 at 8:02 AM, aisle9 said:

GTX 950 would be my pick.

 

Alternatively, if you're willing to play games at mid to high settings instead of ultra, an A10 APU would have you covered and save you from having to buy a discrete GPU.

 

On 4/27/2016 at 10:35 PM, mrgooglegeek said:

You could probably get a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487235&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Video+Card+-+Nvidia-_-N82E16814487235&gclid=CjwKEAjwxoG5BRCC7ezlzNmR8HUSJAAre36jsMaXJ0T3gH71RjW5EjArrvaQdoe6wKMLKAQl-uqhLxoCfMvw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I just had a thought. Do I even need a GPU? I could just use onboard graphics. but could it do 4k? I am only using it for watching movies. just a thought I had to save money.

[Streetguru]

6 hours ago, Matom3 said:

 

 

 

I just had a thought. Do I even need a GPU? I could just use onboard graphics. but could it do 4k? I am only using it for watching movies. just a thought I had to save money.

That's what the APU thing was for, but you'd need to find a motherboard with display port and get an HDMI 2.0 adapter, because I don't think there's current any iGPU that has HDMI 2.0 native.

AM4 should have it though, if it ever comes out anytime soon.