Video Card question - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

MacDaddy77 · 01-04-2010, 10:37 AM

I am about to purchase this video card for $25.00

BFG NVDIA GeForce 6600 GT OC AGP Graphics card

I will be using it to hook my desktop up to my 42" 720 P Plasma TV so that I can watch movies that I have downloaded on my computer on my TV.

My question is will the resolution be enough for a qualiy display on my HDTV and will I only need to purchase a DVI to HDMI cable for the TV hookup?

Thanks in advance for your replies/Advice

GoinAllTheWay · 01-04-2010, 10:42 AM

For $25, I'd sure be willing to throw the dice. Should have enough jam anyways, you don't need a really high end card to display that kind of resolutin.

Where you are going to run into difficulties though is the sound, you aren't getting it through with that setup. DVI doesn't carry sound.

MacDaddy77 · 01-04-2010, 10:59 AM

So what do I need to do to carry sound?

Do I just get a male-male stero jack cable?

PsYcNeT · 01-04-2010, 11:20 AM

I would not recommend this purchase for what you are attempting, as the 6600 GT is not HDCP-compliant, and therefore may not be compatible with your tv (at 720/1080 resolutions).

http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HDTV_12.asp

This card is 40$ on sale atm at MemEx, and is 100% HDCP compliant, and will even offer HDTV acceleration options that the 6000 series does not even come close to having.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...26613(ME).aspx

Also, this model has a built in HDMI port, as well as the DVI.

GoinAllTheWay · 01-04-2010, 11:28 AM

/\/\/\/\

Well, there is two strikes. I've only ever connected a laptop to a TV through HDMI, desktops may be a tad trickier, not sure. Only thing I can think of is if the sound card on your desktop has optical out, your TV should have optical in for sure.

You don't have a PS3 or 360 perchance? If not, there are tons of media extenders that you can buy to do this.

MacDaddy77 · 01-04-2010, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I would not recommend this purchase for what you are attempting, as the 6600 GT is not HDCP-compliant, and therefore may not be compatible with your tv (at 720/1080 resolutions).

http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HDTV_12.asp

This card is 40$ on sale atm at MemEx, and is 100% HDCP compliant, and will even offer HDTV acceleration options that the 6000 series does not even come close to having.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...26613(ME).aspx

Also, this model has a built in HDMI port, as well as the DVI.

I need a AGP video card though, or don't I???

PsYcNeT · 01-04-2010, 01:17 PM

Bah didn't notice the AGP.

There are HDCP-compliant AGP cards, but they typically run 80-120 bucks, unless you can find a used one.

Cliche · 01-04-2010, 01:18 PM

fully HDCP agp is this one
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...1%28ME%29.aspx

Of course, in the long run, just getting one of the all in one integrated boards would be cheaper as well, just to cut down on processor draw power and video card draw power.

MacDaddy77 · 01-04-2010, 01:48 PM

^^ Will this give me sound and picture through the DVI-HDMI connecter?

Vulcan · 01-04-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

^^ Will this give me sound and picture through the DVI-HDMI connecter?

Good question.
I'd look for a card with a native HDMI port.
Here's some cards to look at. Just check the ones with a HDMI out port.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...=AGP%204X%2f8X

I'm also not sure if 8X cards are backwards compatible with a 4X board so maybe look at that.

MacDaddy77 · 01-04-2010, 02:56 PM

Would I be better off buying an external hard drive and a media player like this one and jsut using my computer to download onto the external hard drive?

One definite benifit to this is it very portable and I could take my movies with me to the lake and watch them on either TV in the house.

Cliche · 01-04-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

^^ Will this give me sound and picture through the DVI-HDMI connecter?

Short answer is Yes. Certain cards and the one listed (those with the hdmi output for instance) have an extra audio chip to handle sound processing.

MacDaddy77 · 01-04-2010, 08:51 PM

Well, thanks for all the input but it appears that a new video card won't work since my computer only has 250 watt output.

Looks like an external harddrive and media player are in my future

Rathji · 01-04-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Well, thanks for all the input but it appears that a new video card won't work since my computer only has 250 watt output.

Looks like an external harddrive and media player are in my future

You could replace the power supply as well!

MacDaddy77 · 01-05-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

You could replace the power supply as well!

I talked to the guys at Mem Ex and they said I would have to alos change the motherboard and pretty much the whole system in order for it to work.

It looks like it will be cheaper for me to use an external media player to hook up to my TV

MickMcGeough · 01-05-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

I talked to the guys at Mem Ex and they said I would have to alos change the motherboard and pretty much the whole system in order for it to work.

It looks like it will be cheaper for me to use an external media player to hook up to my TV

Check out the WD HD TV Player. I got it for $99 at Staples (price matched NewEgg.ca). All you need is a USB drive and an HDMI cable and you're set.