Best AGP vid card for HD decoding?

[XJnine]

I recently purchased a new HDTV and I run my TV through a media center PC. Now that I have an HDTV and I'm finally watching HD video I'm finding out that my current FX5200 / P2 2.4ghz combo isn't quite cutting it. Things get pretty bogged down when watching HD.

Any suggestions as to a better AGP video card for decoding HD? I know I'm kinda stuck looking for an AGP card but I'd rather not have to replace the entire system just to switch to PCIe.

[liqnit]

Take a look at the 7600GS it has HDTV out (http://www.overclockers.com.au/article.php?id=511088)

You can always use a better AGP card like 7950GT (but i think it is not worth the price).
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But the added acceleration is noticeable on the 8600\8500 cards and i didnt see any on AGP - if it will be released then it will have the best HTPC solution
[URL]http://www.theinquirer.org/default.aspx?article=37790 (http://www.overclockers.com.au/article.php?id=511088)

[Kougar]

Liqnit might be right, Geforce7 cards should offer better decoding than an FX card, those can't offer much if any offloading. Otherwise the only real improvements for HDTV decoding would be 8600 cards and any of ATI's new 2000 series cards, ATI's actually being better because they fully decode H.264 and VC1 encoded videos; the 8600 series does not offer full VC1 decoding only partial. I'd bet at least one of those will get backported to AGP, otherwise ya can always buy a chea[ ~$30 PCIe based board too?

[liqnit]

If AMD will release an AGP version of HD2400\2300 then it could be a real gem!

If you dont want to take the system a part then i think these are your options

[XJnine]

Thx for the info guys. After some searching around I was leaning towards the 7600GS although I would get a passively cooled one. I'll have to check around and see if any of the newer cards are going to be released in an AGP version. I doubt it though... :-(

The thing that's keeping me from replacing the mobo is that it's a proprietary Gateway motherboard in a 901 HTPC. If it weren't for that I would rip out the mobo in a heartbeat. I really don't feel like building an entirely new PC though...

http://htpcnews.com/images/gateway901x/901x.jpg

[liqnit]

it is beautiful

[Kougar]

Incase ya haven't seen it yet: http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1265&Itemid=34 (http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1265&Itemid=34)

Full VC-1 and H.264 decoding, HDMI, latest tech, and AGP. Note that you'd need a floppy power plug though since AGP slots doesn't offer as much power as the PCIe slot.

[XJnine]

Awesome! That'll be the card to have. I put my old 6800GT OC in there right now. It's so much better than the FX5200. CPU usage is down from 100% to 50-60% when watching HD.

[Kougar]

Yeah, I'm not sure the FX series even offers any offloading support, if they did it certainly wasn't close to the G60 series.

[Kougar]

More HD 2600 AGP goodness. ;) http://www.dailytech.com/Sapphire+Prepares+2+More+HD+2600s/article7556.htm (http://www.dailytech.com/Sapphire+Prepares+2+More+HD+2600s/article7556.htm)