Graphics for 4K with AMD CPU

[AVIT_Richard]

Hi,
This is my first post, so hope it is in the correct place.

I am looking to upgrade me media centre to 4K for video play back (no games), can someone recommend one that will give me the best playback for my needs without giving off loads of heat (what then makes all the system fans also kick off to keep things cool, and no one wants noise when watching just tv)

I have myself a media centre using :
AMD A10-6700
MSI FM2-A75IA-E53
SilverStone Milo ML05B

The case will only let me use a low profile card, and only a single card too.
Will I get better playback using an AMD card with dual graphics using the onboard graphics from the CPU? or ... would it be better to grab an Geforce card as they have had the 4k output via HDMI for a while now and the cards work out cheaper.

Upon digging about the best I can find to match my request would be the R7 250 (http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150713), Can any one tell me if this card would play 4K ok and just perform correctly ...

Or should I get another card all together ?

 

[AVIT_Richard]

I have picked up an XFX R7 250 low profile and the card just squeezed in the case,
When set to 4K I get video stutter so I have lower the picture back to 1080.

I have just found how to get the graphics set to dual mode, as it was not quick and easy to do, I found it was disabled in the latest drivers
I will have to try again now I have a bit more power to hand and let you know.

I am still looking about for a card that will fit and work, I have found that dell systems have the R7 350x low profile (Dell part number 490-BCVR) but I'm having trouble finding one in the UK,

 

[Viking2121]

When you run video in 4k, monitor CPU usage, if its at or near 100% usage, it will cuase what your describing, I had a simlar issue with blueray playback at 1080p on a Athlon 4000+ single core, CPU just want up to snuff.

I can't see the A10 being to weak for 4k playback, but it will depend on what your trying to play. If your CPU happens to be at or close to 100% load at 4k, good thing is, its easy to overclock, so you may be able to get around it, just watch temps if you do. My old A10 5800k system did about 4.8ghz, but the monitor was only 900p monitor.

 

[AVIT_Richard]

Hi Viking
I have monitored the CPU but something very weird is going on, if I play a 4K film at 1080 with the onboard graphics the CPU sits about 95%.
If I play a 4K film at 1080 with the R250 graphics the CPU maxs out and also only gives me 1080 @ 30Hz.
When playing 4K films at 4K using the R7 250 it maxs out and also the audio sync is out.

So the issue would be lack of CPU power but also something else, I dont really want to over clock the CPU for noise reasons but I may just try it to see what happens.

I personal would of though playing a 4K file at 4K would be less work for the CPU then down scaling a 4K film to 1080.
I have ended up removing the graphics card as I could not get it to display 1080 @ 60Hz it keep going back to 30Hz, this was very weird as the onboard 8670D would display 1080 @ 60Hz.

 

[AVIT_Richard]

Right ...
A quick update ...
I dropped in a Palit GeForce GT1030, 2GB GDDR5 and wow ... Its perfect ... 4K all day long ...

 

[Viking2121]

Right ...
A quick update ...
I dropped in a Palit GeForce GT1030, 2GB GDDR5 and wow ... It's perfect ... 4K all day long ...

Good to hear, 4k is starting to become more and more relevant, I'm sure driver optimizations have been made for playback, and I feel Nvidia always had been better at decoding 4k, Though the most recent AMD card I have is an HD7990 and I'm not sure if it's receiving the same optimizations as the newer stuff.