Video card for htpc

Anything listed as VP4 or VP5 with featureset C or D ought to work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo#Table_of_PureVideo_.28HD.29_GPUs

The one GB cards work just fine. On board Ram should be 4GB IMO at a min for 3 or 4 tuner use with a dual core cpu [though the unit with the GT430 is a single core 2.8 with 2 GB ram and runs 3 tuners {two record one view} without any issue at all]. I have run the GT430 [asus] and GT520 [zotac] [GT610 is the same as a GT520]. Have looked at the 2GB versions but not seeing a need to do that and they can need a power supply level I do not have at this time. Fanless versions need additional ventalation it seems and the fins can prohibit easy install. Even the GT430 had too wide a fins and would block my only other port hence the zotac in one of my HTPC's [needed to add a giga speed nic].

I've had very good luck with these for 1080p MKVs, live HD TV and other sources (streaming, DVD rips, etc.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102933

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131338

I got the silent Saphire 6450 with the rebate pretty happy with it so far. I noticed my mpeg2 video looked better with it, but I am a novice and don't really know what I am doing.

Don't bother with the G210's. They are decrepit and old. HD 4000 graphics are enough in the i3 3225, its as fast as a 6450. Unless you want MadVR - do you OP?

The two cards that Stardog Champion recommended are pretty good.

Here is an older article about small low end HTPC cards
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3973/nvidias-geforce-gt-430

I have the GT430 mentioned in the article it is about $50

Sapphire 5450 is all you'll need if there is Micro Center near you you can get one there I got mine on sale and with the mail in rebate paid 20 bucks for it. I got the low profile and silent model it runs hot so directed a small internal fan at it and it runs cool now. I like AMD cards over Nvidia they're easier to install straight forward control and not so buggy.

I think my 6450 was like $25 after rebate, surely a better deal than the 5450?

I don't really know why, even though I am fairly technical, I just don't know hardware well. I read a bunch of reviews and the 6450 had the best picture in htpc shootouts. I think that is the general consensus? for cards around this price range(and better cards don't really do much better if at all)

A lot of things are driver related and usually a mild war between nvidia and ATI. I bought ATI bc from what I read at the time it was better at true 24p and overall picture quality. There are benefits and drawbacks to each company. I don't know anything about the gt210, sorry. I googled 6450 htpc reviews and that got me mildly educated.

If you have decent A/V equipment and are a bit of an 'phile you definitely need a card.

I am an nvidia shareholder, but own two ATI cards....go figure.

The 210 is much weaker than the 5450/6450, and it will not bitstream HD audio, if that is important to you.

I bought this one a couple months ago for $14.99 on sale & after a $25 rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127584

I was experiencing the 29/59 bug in WMC7 when watching some older SD OTA programs and an HD 6450 was supposed to fix this & it did. I just waited for one to go on sale & so far it works for me & no complaints. It does have a fan but my HTPC is hidden in the corner so I don't hear it, and I think the PSU fan is louder anyway but it's difficult to determine at this point in time.

I had a G210 that I used again while waiting for a lp 7750 to be released. It died so I tried used the integrated graphics on my intel sandy bridge g850 cpu. The HD1000(Think it is that, less than 2000 atleast) was faster to my surprise.