Teensy PCIe 1x graphics cards.
The average Atomican is going to be looking for a fullsize PCIe x16 card in the huge majority of cases, as they're the ones that provide huge performance at a pretty big cost.
If you're looking for a smaller card for HTPC use that won't cost a bomb (but still be much better than the integrated graphics chip), look no further than the just-released cards from HIS (and lesser-known Club 3D).
HIS have a 4350 card that has HDMI, DVI and VGA ports all on a half-height PCB, while the green team's offering is limited to only DVI and VGA - but manages to cool it passively.
Also in the pipeline is a PCIe x1 9500GT, which isn't gonna perform the best but is still a decent upgrade for those looking for some HD video playback.
Head over to Fudzilla to catch some more info on these small, cheapish cards.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012