Card for a HTPC & a JVC D-ILA Microdisplay

[videobruce]

Every six months these manufactures come out with new cards. I don't make it my pastime to follow all the new models since I buy cards once maybe every one and one half years or so. I did some research on the newer models, but it just got me more confused. I have two boxes now, both with ATI cards (9100 & a 9600 Pro). I haven't followed nVidia for some time since ATI seemed to be the way to go. The ATI card won't even show the splash or bios screen through the HDMI in of this set.
Now, I see nVidia seems to be of choice at least for my application; HTPC. That's why I'm here.

What I want/need is a mid-end card that is;

1. Compatable with a JVC D-ILA Microdisplay
2. $100-$150 (maybe $200 only if absolutely necessary)
3. DVI (& VGA) out,
4. Perfer one card height
5. Gaming isn't THAT important, but would come into play (no pun intended).
6. AGP 8x slot on a nForce2 MB.

The 6600 & 6800 series seems to be the most popular. I also see the 7800's and others. The "GT" series, are those the 'better' line or the 'budget' line?

Suggestions/recomendations?

[Áedán]

The 7800 series are PCI-Express only, so those are ruled out by your nForce 2 motherboard. The 6600 series aren't bad - they're no top performers for 3D though.

[dsio]

Nvidia and ATI play with eachother in labeling. Nvidia called one of its top models the GT, and ATI called one of their top cards the XT. So then Nvidia made their own XT, as a budget model, to put down ATI, and ATI released their GT as a budget model to put down Nvidia.

Nvidia = GT high end, XT low end
ATI = XT high end, GT low end

THE card, and I do mean THE card for you, is the Leadtek 6800LE AGP. It is a fast card on its own, comparable to the 6600GT, but has great overclocking potential, and even better, can unlock into a full 6800GT. Essentially you can double the performance of the card for free if you're lucky. But even if you dont double it, you are nearly assured a 50% unlock, which is a big gain.

So thats what I would be buying.

[videobruce]

I was also thinking of a older higher end card. The 5200 & 5700 series.
I figured a discontunued or so to be discontunued high end card miight be a better deal.

I'm not looking for top or near top preformance. There is only two games I have that would need any proformance and that isn't a priority.
I can't see spending really more than $150 and would perfer to stay around $100.

The question is do any of these cartds with a DVI out really matter as far as hooking up a RPTV with a HDMI input (as long as it syncs up properly at the correct resolution using PowerStrip)?

Aren't the 'LE' cards the bargin basement versions?

[dsio]

LEs are cutdown versions but can be turned into very high end cards by unlocking. the 6800LE is around 10 times faster than a 5200 and 4 times faster than a 5700.

The entire Geforce FX range is complete rubbish, dont even bother looking at them.

[videobruce]

The entire Geforce FX range is complete rubbish, dont even bother looking at them.

Why?