HTCP budget videocard

[Tdmitry]

Well, don't know what should I start...Month ago I've build a new platform on Z87, at the same time The need in HTCP system appeared. I'm from Ukraine, living in suburb house, and we have big problems with nice and fast internet outside of the city center, not like in USA or etc..

So, the matter is: I have an old P45 platform, everything is up except videocard. There is no Internal GPU, nor in motherboard neither in CPU, so I need PCIe card just to see whats going on up here.

No videogames, no tough application - only mTorrent, iTunes and HD film "preview".

What would you advice to pay attention on? Money isn't a problem, but I wish to stay below 80$, because dont think that GTX 650 is what I need.

My old PC: Core 2 Quad Q9300 @1.74 GHz, DDR2 6 GB, ASUS P5Q, CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 620 W, 2x WD Blue EZEX 1 TB in RAID0

 

[rwpritchett]

I suggest you look at any of the following entry level cards:

AMD HD6450 or HD6570
Nvidia 610, 620, 630, or 640

All will playback media just fine. If you're going with Linux, Nvidia is a better choice.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Agree with rwpritchett. Any of the cards listed will fulfill your needs (though personally, I'd stay away from the GT610).

-Wolf sends

 

[Tdmitry]

Thanks for feedback)

Well, there's a huge price gap in our region between GT 640, and GT 610, for example. So I wish just to be sure that GT 640 won't give me some advance, wont it?

P.S. I have never worked with this type of cards before, always in mid range - the lowest level was 6600 GT in 2005. That why I'm so confused with this choise

 

[Wolfshadw]

The GT640 certainly has better performance over the GT610, but the question is do you even need better performance? For what your stated tasks are, I would not recommend the GT640 (and as I've said already; not the GT610). For your purposes, I'd look at either the GT620 or the HD6450. If you're using linux, go with the GT620 (as rwpritchett recommends). If using Windows, go with which ever is cheaper in your region.

-Wolf sends

 

[Tdmitry]

Thanks for explanation, now I I'm sure what I need...

Unfortunately, budget Radeon's are not popular up here, so thinking about GT 620 or GT 630 - the only thing I'm interested is good passive cooling, wish to buy the one which gas better cooling.

Thank you very much again!)