3D Bluray playback

The_Other_One

The_Other_One

VIP Member
My parents just got a new 3D capable LCD TV and are interested in upgrading their HTPC so it can handle 3D videos. Currently they have an 8400GS (no HDMI) so I know it's currently out of the question.

I've read things here and there about which GPUs can handle 3D playback, but I'd like some concrete data; preferably someone who has a card and can say for sure yes or no. The machine is kind of limited. It's a very small case (low profile) and the PSU is pretty limited. However, I want something that can fully support 3D and not require much/any processing from the CPU.

I was considering a Radeon HD6450... Any experience with this card and 3D movies? This is strictly for media playback.
 
Post the specs of that machine. Blueray is handled by the CPU, so an upgrade will get you significant gains, but not the gpu.

Look into a uATX board that will support the A8-3850 chip. The A8 can play BF3 ffs. New mobo and ram to support it also required but really easy to do.

A8-3850 $130

Gigabyte GA-A75M-S2V FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) $65

DDR3 2GB $20

All up, significantly faster and probably cheaper at $235.

Modern, fast, and no new PSU required (which will be hard to get) and required for a discrete graphics card upgrade.

Post current specs first.
 
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First off, I'm not looking to replace the system. Even if I were, the mobo is way too large for the case, going to 2GB would be a downgrade (though I have plenty of spare DDR3) and the A8 draws WAY more power than I'd like to put on that PSU.

Second, the GPU does handle a fair bit of processing. Most modern GPUs support MPEG2 and H.264 acceleration.

I also know the system is more than capable of playing blurays as I have a nearly identical HTPC running blurays of my own.
 
Yeah i get your reasonings, but for the $230 you are getting a machine that will spank any of the systems you have mentioned and not require any graphics card. It would draw much less power.

Seondly if the motherboard is smaller than a micro-atx then I would strongly question whether putting in a graphics card is a good idea. Essentially yeah go ahead and put the HD6450 in there, but that needs a 400W PSU as minimum, will be hotter and less proficient than the A8-3850.

Finally since you don't have a need for RAM, you get it for closer to $200. More expensive than a HD6450 but significantly better.

Anyway, post your proper specs up so we can review that HTPC properly before making comment.
 
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