MSI GeForce 8500 GT 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Silent Heatsink Video Card NX8500GT-MTD256EH

Pros: HDMI, DVI, and works with SPDIF out from your mobo. I got this hook up with MSI G33MOBO. I also tested the HDCP support with my xbox 360 hd dvd player and I couldn't tell the difference with my xbox 360 using the hddvd and this video card with the xbox hddvd. Although this video card doesn't say its low profile, it works with my Ahannix Low Profile HTPC. I had to modify the brackets to fit in my box. The HDMI passes Video and audio to my TV. I know a lot of people was asking about this and it works! Automatic Live updates I never tried it yet for this card but I test it on one of the MSI utility and it seems to work! It's like windows update.

Cons: The only thing I didn't like with this was the manual. It only shows the basic installation hich is plug it in and install the software. It took me 1/2 a day to figure out which pins go to spdif and gr connectors to my mobo. I called the tech support and he has no idea with this card that it can connect using spdif.

Overall Review: If you buy this card and want to connect HDMI with audio, the cable that came with it has black and orange only. The black one goes to ground (GND) and the orange goes to (SPD) Check your mobo manual to make sure. DON'T connect those pins to the VCC or voltage of the SPDIF-out you might burn your Video card.

Pros: Good graphics card for HDTV. I bought it primarily for recording OTA HD shows for free. I have a computer with only 1 G of ram and AMD 4000+ X2. It works perfectly. I am using a 3rd party program for recording called Beyond TV (excellent program).

Cons: When I originaly purchased this card, Nvidia still had not come out with the final driver so adjusting the screen size to fit my Plasma was an issue. But in Nov 07, Nvidia came out with the latest of the driver which allows you to control the exact screen size so it fits my plasma TV perfectly with no black bands on the edge.

Overall Review: Make sure to load the latest Nvidia driver.

Pros: alright, to the guy that said this thing isn't SLI compatible, you never did your research. It doesn't need the bridge for transferring information. PCI-e is fast enough. Its not like this thing is an 8800. And yes, i'm SLIing with another MSI card. The HDMI port is awesome. having that port solved all of my problems. Go MSI for giving me what i wanted at an affordable price!

Cons: it didn't come with an HDMI cable. not that i expected it too.

Pros: Bought it for an HTPC, connected to LCD TV for the home theater through HDMI, and a 17" monitor through DVI->VGA. Hooked up the motherboard spdif header to the video card and got sound on the TV.

Cons: Does run hot if you're gaming or playing HD but I have a nice 120mm fan blowing directly on it (moving air from my hard drives passed the GPU heatsink and directly out the vent above the GPU.

Overall Review: Don't know about the gaming performance since I'm a casual gamer at the moment but it seems like it will do well. This card is designed to give you HDMI with audio to a home theater setup and it does that while still giving you more than adequate power for a second screen and/or gaming.

Pros: Silent (no fan), PCI-e interface, comes with two SPDIF cables (one for internal connection, one for external), HDMI. After installing this card it started right up. Vista Home Premium 64 bit already had drivers for it so I did not need t use the driver CD.

Cons: None

Overall Review: I bought it because of the silent operation and HDMI connection. My board is an Asus P5K-E with E8400 CPU and Vista Home Premium 64 bit.

Pros: Great HTPC card, runs both hd-dvd and blu-ray in 1080p via HDMI flawlessly. Using this video card with 2gb 5300ram, e4500 and LG combo drive. Also plays games pretty well, but its definately not the best.

Cons: the internal spdif cable is only 2 pins instead of a full connector. This isnt a problem for me, but for someone that is unsure where to plug them into, this can blow something up easily.

Pros: -5.1 gaming graphics rating in Vista. -4.8 Vista Aero. -3Dmark06 SM2.0 1055, HDR/SM3.0 1015. -0db -HDMI works well in Vista with 161.44 drivers. HDCP tested over HDMI and working. Displays perfect image. My tv doesn't even show overscan when set to display 1080i or 720p (it does in Vista with 7600gt).

Cons: Takes up two slots in total (pci-e plus next slot).

Overall Review: Doesn't get better than this for the money and your HTPC. This is not a high end gaming card or anything, but it is very powerful for playing HD and HD-DVD's. Works well with PowerDVD 7.3 (purevideo hd works)... Switched over from a 7900gs in my Vista HTPC and trust me I'd rather have the 8500 since the 7900 would lock up when playing HD-DVD's on powerdvd.

Pros: -Best low profile card available -HDMI w/ HDCP -Creates no noise -Linux friendly (NVIDIA support) -SPDIF passthrough for HDMI

Cons: -Runs hot (~70+ deg. Celsius idle) -Couldn't run Yuri's Revenge, after running fine using integrated GMA 3100 (may be driver issue). -Must order low profile bracket from company (out of stock for 3 weeks!). -Uses two slots

Overall Review: Works as advertised. Not expecting 8600GT performance out of this. Great features, but it does run hot. The low profile bracket must be ordered from the manufacturer, and has shipping cost (at least it exists so no modding needed). It can block the next slot, but if you have a PCI-Ex 1x below, it may still fit. I'm using a 250 Watt power supply.