INTERACT FORUM

Devices => Video Cards, Monitors, Televisions, and Projectors => Topic started by: DHF on June 15, 2021, 10:40:48 am

Title: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: DHF on June 15, 2021, 10:40:48 am: I have an old PC - i3 to be exact. New TV on the way - and it is 4K. Most video card information has to do with frame rates for gaming - and the video cards can get quite expensive.

I am looking for the minimum video card (aka inexpensive) that can handle playing movies and videos off of the PC in 4K. No gaming requirements.

Any advice is appreciated!
Title: Re: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: rec head on June 15, 2021, 10:09:59 pm: I believe my HTPC is an i3 and it is probably 8 years old. I have a 1060 card in it that handles 4K nicely. The upscaling is great from 1080.
Title: Re: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: zybex on June 16, 2021, 03:07:58 am: How old? Every year there are new Core i3 models, can you provide the full model number?
Any i3 7000 series or above (from 2017 onwards) has an embedded HD Graphics 600 or better, and that already supports 4k UHD and HEVC 10bit decoding.

The GTX1060 is a good option, but even that one is expensive (€300+) and hard to find nowadays. If you don't do gaming, you'd be very well served with a GT1030 instead - it currently costs about €100, easy to find, low power, and there's even fanless/silent models which is perfect for an HTPC
https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=318937
https://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/2GB-MSI-GeForce-GT-1030-2GHD4-LP-OC-Passiv-PCIe-3-0-x16--Retail-_1247047.html
Title: Re: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: Awesome Donkey on June 16, 2021, 05:08:00 am: Quote from: DHF on June 15, 2021, 10:40:48 am
I am looking for the minimum video card (aka inexpensive) that can handle playing movies and videos off of the PC in 4K.

There really aren't any inexpensive solutions right now, everything is expensive. It's literally the worst time ever right now to be trying to get a new or used GPU.
Title: Re: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: Smack on October 19, 2021, 01:45:34 am: Would the 1030 also work for upscale 1080P Bluray to UHD?

I also need dynamic tonemapping (HDR-SDR). I think this is too much for the 1030 right?
Title: Re: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: tij on October 19, 2021, 10:30:46 am: Quote from: Smack on October 19, 2021, 01:45:34 am
Would the 1030 also work for upscale 1080P Bluray to UHD?

I also need dynamic tonemapping (HDR-SDR). I think this is too much for the 1030 right?

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/guide-building-a-4k-htpc-for-madvr.2364113/
Title: Re: Video Card recommendation for 4K playback
Post by: BryanC on October 20, 2021, 09:42:31 am: Quote from: Smack on October 19, 2021, 01:45:34 am
Would the 1030 also work for upscale 1080P Bluray to UHD?

I also need dynamic tonemapping (HDR-SDR). I think this is too much for the 1030 right?

I've been getting great performance on embedded APUs with JRVR. I have a 65W 5600G and a 15W R1505G that have chewed through everything, including tonemapped original UHD.