Good AGP Card for HD Video?

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Methodman85, Apr 29, 2009.

  1. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Hey Guys,

    I got an older PC laying around, and I thought I'd pop a new videocard into it and hook it up to my TV.
    I download a lot of HD content and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a good AGP card that could handle full HD video (1080p).

    Thanks.
     
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  2. Gav

    Gav Kilobyte Poster

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    Unless the card has a specific decoder, and you have the correct software, the video processing will be done by the CPU.

    I don't know of any particular ones, but look for H.264 in the product description, as this is one of the most common HD codecs.
     
  3. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Good to know! That explains a lot actually, thanks.
     
    Certifications: MCTS, MCSE, MCSA:M, CCNA, MCDST, N+
    WIP: 70-680
  4. Kitkatninja
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    How about something like this (ebay link): ASUS 256MB RADEON HD 3450 AGP?

    Or see here for Saverstore link.

    -Ken
     
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  5. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Alright well I made an error. I actually have a PCI-E port in my old computer (Haven't touched it since 07).
    So I picked up an Radeon HD 4550 card.

    The videos run in slow motion/skip as much with the onboard as they do with the new card.

    So my next question is, which video players actually use the hardware? Or did I just not get a powerful enough videocard?

    The video players I use are VLC, Zoom, and KMplayer. Zoom works the best, although there's still a lot of slowdown with 1080p .mkv files.
     
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  6. Kitkatninja
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    Do you have the latest .mkv codecs installed? Have you tried running the .MKV files thru media play? How are you playing the .MKV files (display wise)?

    I run .mkv files (720p HD) on my laptop (C2D 2.4Ghz, 9500GS graphics card) and find that if it is displayed on my laptop screen as well as the TV it jumps and stutters. If I display it on one or the other it doesn't.

    If that still doesn't work, how about a clean install? :)

    -Ken
     
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  7. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Hey Wagnerk,

    I just installed XP Pro fresh this morning. Right now I only have the PC hooked up to a single monitor here at work.

    I thought the latest versions of all the players would come with the latest codecs, I just downloaded them today after I installed XP, so I should have the latest everything.

    The monitor is just a standard Acer 4:3 1280X1024 native res.
     
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    WIP: 70-680
  8. Kitkatninja
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    What's the spec of your machine?

    -Ken
     
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    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  9. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Intel 915GAV MB
    P4 3.06 Dual Core 775
    1GB DDR 400mhz


    The videos play the same with or without the ATI videocard. The onboard video is extremely weak, there's no way it's equal to the ATI card, so the software must not be using the hardware to play. Maybe the videocard lacks the decoder that Gav had mentioned?
     
    Certifications: MCTS, MCSE, MCSA:M, CCNA, MCDST, N+
    WIP: 70-680
  10. Kitkatninja
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    Very much doubt that:

    See here.

    I don't know mate :unsure Have you tried the .MKV files thru Windows Media Player 11?

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
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  11. Gav

    Gav Kilobyte Poster

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  12. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Alright guys well I made another mistake.
    I thought I had a dual core because 2 CPU's showed up in device manager and task manager.
    But it looks like it's just HT.

    http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9CA

    So, is this my problem? Do I need at least a proper dual core to play HD regardless of videocard? Or should I still be o.k?
     
    Certifications: MCTS, MCSE, MCSA:M, CCNA, MCDST, N+
    WIP: 70-680
  13. Kitkatninja
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    I don't know to be honest, if you check here:

    If you PC meets all of that, try to see what runs when you play the HD vids. See what max's out (eg ram, pf, CPU, etc...)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  14. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Cool, thanks for that.
    I will also try that codec pack Gav.
     
    Certifications: MCTS, MCSE, MCSA:M, CCNA, MCDST, N+
    WIP: 70-680
  15. Kitkatninja
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    The other codec pack that I find very useful is CCCP.

    -ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  16. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    WIP: 70-680
  17. Kitkatninja
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    Good find :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  18. Gav

    Gav Kilobyte Poster

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    One other thing you may wish to try is 'CoreAVC'. This paid for program, using some crazy maths, lets you play HD content on older hardware. I've heard good things about it, and may be a cheap solution. Alternatively, it may be time for an upgrade anyway. Pentium 4? That's so last year!
     
  19. Kitkatninja
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    For a fiver, what do you have to lose?

    -ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  20. Methodman85

    Methodman85 Byte Poster

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    Well I wish I had tried that before I went and splurged lol.
    I was frustrated Saturday morning and went to my local computer shop. Picked up a cheap MSI board, along with a 2.8Ghz Core 2 Duo, and a stick of 2gb DDR2 800mhz.

    1080p videos now run smooth as silk on ANY video player :D. Just goes to show how much the CPU actually does matter.

    Thanks for the help guys, I will try that player on my laptop which has trouble as well.
    My main system is a 2.4 Core 2 Quad with a Geforce 8800GTS, that's why I was being cheap and trying to frankenstien my old PC.
     
    Certifications: MCTS, MCSE, MCSA:M, CCNA, MCDST, N+
    WIP: 70-680

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