HDMI 2.1 GFX Card - HTPC to 77C1 OLED

LSilvo on 10/06/2022 - 20:43
Last edited 11/06/2022 - 09:39 by 1 other user

HDMI 2.1 Graphics card… for my HTPC to feed my OLED.
I don't game or transcode… No Plex. I don't want to buy a shield.

AMD RADEON 6400 looks suitable! (https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6400)
HDMI 2.1 VRR, FRL, Low profile, Cheap, No extra power connector required, but has no AV1 decoding.
Industry is headed to this codec as it saves 30% of bandwidth.
But I do want HDR 10 bit 4:4:4 colour. Preferably bt.2020

Down the HDMI v2.1 Rabbit hole…
Intel's new ARC GFX card range say it has 2.1, but reports say 2.0b and tops out at 60Hz.
Don't wan to use a DP adaptor!
My TV can pull 120hz but I don't need to refresh that fast. It would be nice though.

I haven't even begun to decide on a Dolby Vision / Atmos compatible amp,
as I don't have my GFX card sorted out yet, though the one that is popular and not crazy priced
{ Denon AVRS760H } is out of stock until July / August.
First world problem.
Thoughts ????

Computing

Comments

  • Hybroid on 10/06/2022 - 20:44

    Why so insistent on HDMI 2.1? You're surely not playing 120 Hz games on a 6400 anyway?

    • Silvo on 10/06/2022 - 20:55

      As I said, I don't game what so ever.
      HDMI 2.1 gives eARC.
      eARC has some needed Audio abilities.
      I just want sexy colours, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and eARC…
      HDMI 2.1 brings all these.
      My current GT 1030 OC gives 4k, but that's all.

      • Hybroid on 10/06/2022 - 20:56
        +2

        Are you buying 4K Ultra discs or Linux ISOs?

        • Silvo on 10/06/2022 - 20:59

          Buying… Nope.

          Downloading.

      • askbargain on 11/06/2022 - 01:13

        Dolby Vision on HTPC???????????

        • Silvo on 12/06/2022 - 01:24

          Yep. Don't ask. ;-)

  • Silvo on 10/06/2022 - 20:57

    The specific model I'm looking at is this: Sapphire PULSE AMD Radeon RX 6400 and is about $275.
    Link: (https://www.sapphiretech.com/en/consumer/pulse-radeon-rx-640…)

    • boomramada on 11/06/2022 - 13:10

      Shield would be cheaper ? Energy saving?
      Plus you only watching downloaded content, so HDMI 2.1 wouldn't be that much benefit for you.
      Unless you are using PS5 or 8K Blu-ray

    • ThirtySixNights on 24/06/2022 - 11:38

      PLE has the XFX model for $249.

      PCCaseGear has the PowerColor Model for $229 (OOS though)

      • Silvo on 13/07/2022 - 21:01

        @ThirtySixNights Thanks!
        The Sapphire has a shorter fan shroud. The fan usually doesn't run, unless I'm stressing it with 4k 120Hz and Dolby Vision or if I stress test it.

        The XFX runs much hotter meaning, the fan usually runs. It also requires removing the actual heat sink to swap from full to LP bracket. That's insane.

        I've had the card a few weeks now and I had driver issues. I reached out to AMD and asked for help.

        AMD actually called me from overseas (UK) and worked with me to sort them out.
        I'm so impressed! That is unheard of in this field!
        I'm an AMD convert now !

  • Silvo on 10/06/2022 - 21:13

    The Shield / Shield Pro only have HDMI 2.0b with HDCP 2.2
    No HDMI 2.1 !!!
    Maybe their next model will have HDMI 2.1 ???

    • spackbace on 11/06/2022 - 00:17
      +1

      But you don't need hdmi 2.1 for 4k video/audio…

      Honestly, Shield + nas is all you need for 4k remux playback

      Spending money on a htpc to serve the same purpose is just pissing money down the drain

      (currently watching 4k remux happily streaming through my shield, from a nas, to a compatible atmos receiver…)

      • Silvo on 12/06/2022 - 01:24

        The Shield is $300 of HDMI 2.0b.
        That I already have.
        I have 3 HTPCs all run ok.
        One feeds a 77" OLED. I want to have eARC and all the high end stuff running.
        Hence the new GFX card.

  • Brotality on 10/06/2022 - 21:28

    To be honest, I have no idea what you are trying to achieve. Unless you want to game at 4k 120, you are just flushing money down the toilet.
    and for eARC, that upgrade over ARC is for carrying uncompressed/different formats of audio from the TV to the receiver. Again, getting HDMI 2.1 for that makes 0 difference/sense
    Honestly there is going to be literally 0 tangible difference between whatever HDMI 2.0 coming out of the mobo on the iGPU and the HDMI 2.1 idea that you're thinking of. Save your money.

    • Silvo on 10/06/2022 - 21:42

      I do appreciate your help.
      True HD, amongst other Dolby formats, need uncompressed feeds. From the source to the amp. My source is my HTPC, ergo I want/need eARC.
      I currently have HDMI 2.0 on my GT 1030 OC, and I can't get 10 bit colour or 4:4:4 or bt.20202.
      So unfortunately, it's not quite what you said.
      Thank you for trying to help though.
      I mean that !!

      • Brotality on 10/06/2022 - 21:58
        +3

        True HD doesn't need eARC….
        eARC is for TV -> Receiver (if you are using the onboard smart TV software)

        Your use case is
        HTPC -> Receiver -> TV
        Which doesn't use eARC in ANYWAY. The receiver will split the uncompressed/True HD audio from the HDMI signal and pass the video to the TV, any receiver from the last 6 years will handle this scenario exactly the same..

        ARC stands for Audio Return Channel. You are not returning any audio from the TV to the Receiver. The receiver is getting the proper uncompressed audio signal way before the TV..

        In terms of colour, you should be able to do 8 bit 4:4:4 on HDMI 2.0. BT2020 colour space is possible within the spec HDMI 2.0 spec, but if you're using windows you're not really going anywhere near that colour space lol. HDR is still somewhat of a mess on windows. Now, I don't know what kind of video you are planning to push to your TV, unless you know exactly how a video was shot, mastered and rendered/compressed, 90% you won't notice the difference between 8 bit and 10 bit output.

        At the end of the day, its your money, your choice. You do you.

        • Silvo on 12/06/2022 - 01:17

          Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hear you.
          You know your stuff!!!!
          My current receiver is just out of the range. 2014 Denon X1100W.
          The 2015 X1200W onwards, had the fun stuff.
          Next buy is a new Atmos Amp, but right now I plan to take my feed from the card to the TV as you suggested. I just need to reconfigure when I get my new card.
          Currently I am taking it via the amp, which kills all HDR.
          You are right on the fact that all my wants should be able to go via 2.0 but I'm using a crappy GT 1030 and it can't to it at 60hz. It can yield 4:2:0 at 30hz.
          Hey, it is a $100 card that has served me well.

      • askbargain on 11/06/2022 - 01:14

        Running 4:4:4 when your movie is 4:2:0…. You seriously don’t know what you’re talking about.

        • Silvo on 12/06/2022 - 01:09
          +1

          Actually I do know what I'm taking about.
          I owned a video production company.
          Some of my content is 4:4:4 - long story… I'll spare you.

          A bit ostentatious to assert I "don't know what (I'm) talking about"…
          Oh well, thanks for your thoughts.

  • Mechz on 10/06/2022 - 22:17
    +1

    Why wouldn't you go htpc->tv->amp? A lot of people have noted bad colour reproduction when pushing video through AVRs.

    • boomramada on 11/06/2022 - 13:24
      +1

      it should be htpc(shield) > amp (passthrough) > tv

      • Silvo on 12/06/2022 - 01:21

        It is HTPC> AMP > TV now but my amp is old and no HDR or high bandwidth.
        Hence me replacing the card and getting a new amp.

        • boomramada on 12/06/2022 - 08:58
          +1

          Well upgrade your amp too, sound also play a major role in viewing experience.

          • Silvo on 15/06/2022 - 01:58

            @boomramada: Yep, Upgrading my amp is next. Thanks man !

      • Silvo on 22/06/2022 - 23:15

        @boomramada
        And I run it Passthrough mode. :-)
        My card arrives tomorrow, I believe…
        I'll go straight to the TV and back to the amp for audio until I get a new amp.
        Your help is appreciated! Thanks muchly!

        • askbargain on 25/06/2022 - 00:38

          How's CEC working on Windows?

          How's running HDR all the time with no option to match colour space, which leads to burn in on your shiny new OLED?

          How's running the PC at RGB instead of YCbCr?

          How's setting dynamic range to full? https://kodi.wiki/view/Video_levels_and_color_space

          How's Dolby Vision? How's getting Dolby Vision "Linux ISO's" for it to just be tonemapped back to HDR?

          How's your AV1 content? Future proofing a $300 GPU?

          How's using eARC if you plug your HTPC into your AVR?

          How important is getting HDMI 2.1?

          • Silvo on 27/06/2022 - 12:39

            @askbargain: Thanks for your constructive questions.
            CEC turns my amp on when I start the PC.
            Card finally arrived. Its great
            I can run 4:4:4 RGB at at least 60hz at 4K. VRR Active sync, yadda yadda.
            No "Linux ISO's" …that was a joke.
            It uses between 9 and 14 watts watching a DV ep. Amazing!
            I see you read that there is no AV1 decoding. That's ok. its a $275 card
            I don't game, just movies and TV for me.
            Future proofing and computer tech? LOL. Oxymoron, yes?
            I'll leave it there. Have a god one !
            Cheers!

    • Silvo on 12/06/2022 - 01:19

      I will with my new card. It's convenience. CEC switching means no need to have to chance settings on to remotes. Lame, I now, but hey…

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