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Every six months these manufactures come out with new cards. I don't make it my pastime to follow all the new models since I buy cards once maybe every one and one half years or so. I did some research on the newer models, but it just got me more confused. I have two boxes now, both with ATI cards (9100 & a 9600 Pro). I haven't followed nVidia for some time since ATI seemed to be the way to go.
Now, I see nVidia seems to be of choice at least for my application; HTPC. That's why I'm here.

Every six months these manufactures come out with new cards. I don't make it my pastime to follow all the new models since I buy cards once maybe every one and one half years or so. I did some research on the newer models, but it just got me more confused. I have two boxes now, both with ATI cards (9100 & a 9600 Pro). I haven't followed nVidia for some time since ATI seemed to be the way to go. The ATI card won't even show the splash or bios screen through the HDMI in of this set.
Now, I see nVidia seems to be of choice at least for my application; HTPC. That's why I'm here.

What I want/need is a mid-end card that is;

1. Compatable with a JVC D-ILA Microdisplay
2. $100-$150 (maybe $200 only if absolutely necessary)
3. DVI (& VGA) out,
4. Perfer one card height
5. Gaming isn't THAT important, but would come into play (no pun intended).
6. AGP 8x slot on a nForce2 MB.

The 6600 & 6800 series seems to be the most popular. I also see the 7800's and others. The "GT" series, are those the 'better' line or the 'budget' line?

Suggestions/recomendations?

Guide Dog Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 8419 Location: MN

Well you don't really need much for an HTPC, I have a ATI radeon 7000 in mine... I don't play any real games on there (though I do have a nintendo emualtor that I'm working on getting setup need game pads though.)

The really nice thing about the 7000 is that I can do 16:9 resolutions, which is essential for my 16:9 projector (or else it would just be a 4:3 projector and who wants that...)

If you do want to do more gamming then 8-bit, I would suggest getting a better card, but most likely your going to end up choosing between a cheaper card and one that is better for gaming.

(oh and for an HTPC I would add TV outs to your list, I know most cards have that now adays, but still something you should remember to check for.)

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:50 am Post subject:

The ATI based card I have woun't show on this Microdisplay. Not even the bios screen.
I'm told that nVidea cards will work. Gamming isn't a real issue. I beleive any of these cards would work in that regards.

How about the 5200 or 5700 series?

Mutt Joined: 10 Apr 2002 Posts: 121 Location: USA

You are right Nvidia is leading the market right now and probably will be for a while as ATI cannot seem to keep up or even get in the race.

GT is the more powerful cards that the gamers strive to have. 6600GT is a great mid line card that can play all of the new games well.

For your needs i would recomend the 6600Gt if you want to play any of the newer games and want good picture quality and options for your HTPC.

If you play old games or not graphics intensive games from time to time than i would go with the 6600 without a fan so it is quiet.

There is one more option but it is right on the edge of your budget and that is the new Nvidia 6800GS card. It is mid to high end and is proving to be a great performer. This card will do eveything you need and you could probably keep it for 2 years and be in good shape. Newegg is selling them for 209.00 so it is just over the high end of what you wanted to spend.

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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:18 am Post subject:

I don't believe that the 6800GS is an available option for an AGP solution. There are a few places where you can score up 6600GT's or 6800GT's in the AGP format though.

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

The 6600, other than the fan is it just clocked slower?

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:43 am Post subject:

videobruce wrote:
The 6600, other than the fan is it just clocked slower?

The 6600 also has only 8 pixel pipelines rendered as opposed to the 6800 that has 16 pipes.

Edit

A few other differences that I forgot to mention.

6600GT= 128Mb o' ram, 128bit memory interface
6800GT= 256Mb o' ram, 256bit memory interface

All in all though, 6600gt is a very decent card, IMO, the numbers don't really do it justice. You may want to hit up some vid card reviews though. But for what you've described as necessary it seems more than enough.

Not only that but if I were going to spend alot of $$$ on a video card It'd be for PCI express flavo(u)r.

Mutt Joined: 10 Apr 2002 Posts: 121 Location: USA

Yes i missed the detail on the 6800gs being PEG only.

He did however mention that he did not playing games was not that important but it needed to be funtional enough to play games.

With this in mind i will stick with my recomedation that the 6600GT is the card he is looking for and i think Newegg has a BFG card for 180 or so that is for an AGP solution.

The 6600 and the 6600GT benchmarks are substantially different from one another. The 6600GT is quite a bit faster.

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

deagler wrote:
With this in mind i will stick with my recomedation that the 6600GT is the card he is looking for and i think Newegg has a BFG card for 180 or so that is for an AGP solution.

Agreed, although even the 6600GT may be overkill if games aren't really all that important.

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:04 am Post subject:

I came across this;

http://www.neeyik.info/3dspecs/

I was looking ate the 5700, 5700U, 5900 & 5900U if they are still available. The numbers in the "Theoretical" department I was comparing even though I'm sure they are not actual.

Quote:
6800gs being PEG only.

???

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:

videobruce wrote:
I came across this;

http://www.neeyik.info/3dspecs/

I was looking ate the 5700, 5700U, 5900 & 5900U if they are still available. The numbers in the "Theoretical" department I was comparing even though I'm sure they are not actual.

From my understanding the 5000 series of Nvidia cards were crap in comparison to their ATI counterparts.

Quote:
6800gs being PEG only.

Quote:
???

PCI Express Graphics

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:

Oh boy, another acronym.............

Then the question is, is spending $25 more on the 6600GT worth it over a 6600 for a HTPC and Microdisplay when gaming isn't a big deal (but still a remote issue)?

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:20 am Post subject:

If it's only $25 more..and gaming is a possibility...

work that extra hour, pay that extra $25.

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:26 am Post subject:

Quote:
work that extra hour, pay that extra $25.

If that was what I made per hour there wouldn't be a question.

Not with who is in the oval office. Twisted Evil

Mutt Joined: 10 Apr 2002 Posts: 121 Location: USA

the 6660 is a great card to if the gaming you are doing is not serious.

I would avoid the 5000 series Nvidia cards. If you go there go with ATI since they were alot better at that time.

I still say 6600 or 6600GT. You will be happy with both of these cards. i use both cards on a dialy basis at work.

I get to test all of them in HTPC's and other types of gaming configurations.