ATI X1300 good for HD playback?

[yle]

I'm currently deciding which video card to upgrade to so I can smooth out my HD playback. Since there seems to be some different experiences from X1300 owners, I'm curious as to the specs of the card and system the machine is in. In otherwords, please post which X1300 you have including brand, model (i.e. regular X1300, X1300XT, X1300 Pro, etc), how much memory it has onboard (256, 512, etc.) and maybe some basic specs on your system CPU, memory, which decoder, etc.

Also, if your video card has a fan, how loud is it?

Thanks!

[tscales]

Personally, it wouldn't be my choice. It is their entry level card and my experience with ATI at the low-end has not been positive. It likely has Hypermemory, which means it uses system memory in addition to limited onboard memory.

It's a religious war, but I prefer the nVidias

[rugby]

I have an x1300 and with overlay it looks fine, much better PQ than my nVidia 6150 motherboard.

[Maximo]

I have a Sapphire ATI Radeon x1600 w/hdmi. It does overlay just fine and can ALMOST do hardware accelleration. Overall, I wish I would have bought a bigger card. But it does ok.

I cannot comment on the fan as I can't here it over my PS fan. Which one of these days, will be corrected.

[Maximo]

Update, I now can do Hardware Accel with my 1600. FWIW

[dgw80]

I have a Sapphire X1300 Pro with 256Mb. It connects via DVI to a 20" LCD monitor at 1650x1080. The PC is a Dell with P4D 2.8Ghz, 1Gb. I'm currently using BTV Link with the SnapStream decoder. HD plays smoothly with this setup. The fan is noisier than I'd like, but this machine is in my home office, not in a bedroom or HT.

Dennis

[yle]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Update, I now can do Hardware Accel with my 1600. FWIW

Did you do anything specific to make it work?

[amchev]

I use an X1300 in my BTV Link system. I had trobule with stuttering until installed the "Avivo" software from ATI. Ever since then it plays back HD perfectly. I have a fanless model that came oem in a dell. It doesn't get hot as long as I don't leave the case open, the case fans don't draw air across it unless the case is closed.

System specs in signature

[snap2it]

I have a ATI X300SE in my current desktop that I'm planning on being my PVR computer. Is that not good enough for HD or should I ask what are the chances for problems when trying to use BTV with it?

[dgw80]

I was never able to get smooth HD with an X300 video card. I tried different drivers, decoders, settings and display applications with no luck. When I finally upgraded to an X1300 Pro, HD displayed fine.

Dennis