Graphic Cards Can integrated gfx solution run vista aero effects and play HD movies??

[arrow055]

My friend is building a HTPC.So he wants to know whether integrated gfx solutions like GeForce 6150 LE and Intel graphic accelerator X3000 can run the aero effects of windows vista and play high definition movies(both 720p and 1080p) downloaded from the net without any issues??He will be using it to watch/record tv shows,movies,etc and won't be gaming at all.Which one is better??--- 6150 LE or X3000 ??

Also will superior gfx cards like 8500gt offer any better performance when it comes to High Def movie watching or running vista more smoothly?? BTW, he will be using a 17 inch crt monitor.

 

[Shripad]

on 17'' CRT running HD videos is useless to be honest.

But onboard VGA solutions like AMD 690G can run vista Aero and even 1080p properly. I am testing few 1080p trailers on my Jetway M2A692-GDG which is AMD 690 chipset based board is able to pull it off quiet nicely.

Of course going for even 8500GT will mean you will get full H.264 hardware acceleration for your HD videos and that will greatly reduce the load from the CPU.

If you are looking for cost effective HTPC setup, then at the moment this is the best platform available for you. And it is much better than 6100 series.

 

[arrow055]

^^ Thank you.