Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: DYNAGOD on June 09, 2010, 02:09:44 pm
-
I use to be on top of this stuff when I gamed online and was building my own rigs but I've been out of the game a couple years (a lifetime in computer hardware terms) and I'm afraid I'm not capable of making the best choice possible for myself any longer.
So I come to you!
I have an old gaming rig I'm bringing back to life as an htpc, it's an Abit Ic7-max 3 mobo, p4 3.0ghz(c) w/4 gigs of corsair pc3200.
I'm looking to run this thru my sharp 60" HDTV and I need to track down the biggest/baddest/fastest HDMI out (this is key!) capable AGP video card.
Thanks all
-
The HDMI requirement is too vague. If you just need a plain HDMI connection then you can get away with any DVI output and a cheap DVI-HDMI cable. If you want audio over HDMI and/or HDCP compliance that changes things.
-
I run a sapphire X1950 pro 512mb DDR3 AGP next up is the HD3850 agp I believe it is called but it has driver issue's on alotta things and I still stick with the X1950 pro.
if your going to run the sapphire X1950 pro I suggest a corsair 550-VX PSU wich I also run there a power hungry card and no cheapo PSU's are going to cut it with them cards as I learned the hard way already.
the PSU I got off newegg for around $80.00 shipped new the card sells from $35.00-$100.00 used on ebay.
I paid around $100.00 about 2 years ago for a used X1950 there still a nice card though I ran bioshock without any problem at 1080P running on a athlon 4000+ overclocked to 2.7gig with 2 gig pc3200 duel channel ram kit.
I still use the same rig for gaming today and it gets it done :cheers:
-
I hadn't even considered the audio aspect. I would think an all in one solution would be the best bet, if an old agp based xp machine can do that. But then again I'm not so sure I want my audio signal to have to pass thru my tv and then optical out from there to my surround sound system. (processing and the subsequent lip lag) I think I'd rather go optical from my pc audio out directly to my reciever. I'm open to pros and cons on this.
The power supply is brand new from newegg, it's what originally died, I got a modular anantec 550w psu.
I bench tested the psu and mobo last nite and everything looks good.
All that remains is the vid card to get her up and running (assuming my bios battery hasn't died and my old raid array is recognized)
-
You definitely don't want audio over HDMI if you're going directly to the tv. The optical output from your tv is stereo only.