Cheapy cheap graphics card

Lyaiera

I have a HTPC set up in my TV room. It's mostly designed to for taking the satellite feed and running as a PVR. I've been thinking it might be worth putting a cheap graphics card in there to be able to play basic games while sitting on the couch.

The PC only has a €50 Pentium 3ghz processor, and 4gb RAM. Is this a goer, and if so what cheap card should I get? (HDMI that carries the sound as well is a must.)

I imagine the games would mostly be the indie style games that are coming out. Nothing like BF or COD.

fedorafennec

What sort of integrated graphics are in that processor? They might be sufficient for some basic games.

Lyaiera

Intel HD Graphics - This is the processor. http://ark.intel.com/products/74749/

I guess I'm just from an era where on board graphics were complete rubbish. I know that's changed in the past few years but I figure even getting a €40 card would be a big boost. I just see that a lot of games don't officially support on board graphics and a cheap card would just make everything easier. Maybe something from the ATI 6000 series.

Edit: And for games I'd just be looking at the type of stuff that's in the current humble bundle. https://www.humblebundle.com/

Lu Tze

I'd suggest trying out game on it first and seeing how it runs. What res is your TV?

Lyaiera

1080p - 1920*1080.

Yeah, I plan on giving some games a go this evening anyway. Just want to be thinking ahead.


Edit: And all this is happening as I finally have a living room that's comfortable to sit in. :pac:

Lu Tze

Lyaiera wrote: »

1080p - 1920*1080.

Yeah, I plan on giving some games a go this evening anyway. Just want to be thinking ahead.


Edit: And all this is happening as I finally have a living room that's comfortable to sit in. :pac:

If it was 720p you woud get away with the integrated graphics, 1080p is probably pushing it. Sure give it a go anyways! What your budget?

Lyaiera

I was thinking about €40 or €50. Not that much but I figure it would be enough to get those basic games going.

bezerk

7770 is a great bang for buck and will be able to play a lot of games maxed out at 1080P like Dishonored, Bioshock Infinite and other games like crysis, far cry 3 at medium to high. (No AA)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/11201-17-20G-DisplayPort-CrossFireX-Multi-GPU-Technology/dp/B009YTT5RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379683467&sr=8-1&keywords=7770

The only thing though your processor could hold you back as its not great. You could also go for the 7750 which would be okay at 1600 resolution.

I really wouldn't go below these two cars.

You will get nowhere with integrated graphics for that processor for the latest games. Maybe at 800*600 resolution at 25 FPS

bezerk

Lu Tze wrote: »

If it was 720p you woud get away with the integrated graphics, 1080p is probably pushing it. Sure give it a go anyways! What your budget?

Not a hope in hell he would even get even anywhere near 720P with the integrated graphics on that chip. Maybe at 800*600 resolution at 25 FPS on the lowest settings

TerrorFirmer

Well he's looking at playing indie games, not the latest and greatest, so I would imagine the G2020 would get through a lot of them. I do agree though that if you're going to bother putting in a card, you might as well get a half decent one, any card around the 50 euro mark isn't going to be really much use anyway in terms of games.

88.66 Inc. Delivery. No problem the running indie games and most other high quality titles at very respectable settings. The CPU won't hold you back. Not much point looking at the 7750 as it's only a tenner cheaper and a fair bit slower. Is your case a full size one or low profile?

Lyaiera

Full size case. I'll hold off and see what the bank balance is like at the end of the month.