[brazen1]

Hey Guys, 

Really sorry if this has been asked and answered before... In my HTPC I have an intel i3 with 4GB rams and I am in need of a new GPU for 4K HDR movies with a new JVC 4K projector I am about to pull the trigger on. I use Kodi DS Player with MadVR and I would like to know which is a reccomended GPU for HTPC use for 100% movies only.. Not into gaming on PC and will only be used for HTPC.. I want to be able to use great settings on MadVR but doesn't have to be the top top settings (however being able to do this would also be nice) .. Can you guys please reccomend me a card.. 

Is NVIDIA the way to go or AMD? I heard NVIDIA 1050TI is a very good card for 4K HDR but I may be wrong... Any advice and help would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you

 Nice to see we're on the same page at last lingo.

Don't be sorry asking questions.  As you've noticed, there really isn't a recommended GPU, just testimonials here and elsewhere.  Is your PJ native 60Hz or 120Hz?  If 60Hz, no amount of dropped frames, however unnoticeable, is going to come close to the judder you will more than likely notice.  Judder appearance is equivalent to dropped frames faster than you can count, like a machine gun.  One dropped frame every 5 minutes seems to be a major problem according to some and why I bring it to your attention.  At that point, the AMD, Intel, NVidia choices become moot.  Lookup 3:2 Pulldown.  Usually users opt to force playback at 60Hz to avoid the pulldown but then face a mismatched frame rate challenge.  Fortunately there is a smooth motion setting in madVR to counter the mismatch that cleans it up fairly well but not perfectly in my testing using NVidia.  I can't speak for Intel or AMD but I'm sure they too face the same dilemma.  If you are using a 120Hz display like myself, none of these problems apply and choice of video card becomes more crucial imo.

If you are looking for something inexpensive, a GTX 960 4GB covers the gamut with ease and you might find a used one somewhere relatively cheap.  Anything in the 10 series should fit the bill as well with the exception of the 1030 which has been known not to work using anything 4k60Hz.  While there is very little offered at 4k60Hz, the strength to run it may relate to some 4k24Hz titles.  I've used settings that push the envelope and will not do 4k60Hz but handle 4k24Hz and applied them thinking I'll never be playing 4k60Hz anyway.  Then I met a very demanding 4k24Hz title, The Hunger Games.  I needed to tone back my settings a whole bunch.  Low and behold I now handled 4k60Hz with ease.  The moral, if you can do 4k60Hz, you should be able to play anything.  I've concluded, there is a 4k60Hz 'Camp' video in the KODI wiki.  While not as demanding as The Hunger Games, it's a pretty good test.  On a side note, I've asked around for those proclaiming their cards play anything they've tried including the AMD camp.  Either they didn't reply, didn't test that video but did go on to say others they can, and some admitted they can't.  Interested to know how residents here faired but as usual will probably not reply for real world tests because they'd rather you didn't know imo.

From the NVidia standpoint, that 1050Ti you inquired is probably a good choice.  From what I've read, it is just enough to push it over the edge and handle anything without aggressive settings which you said you don't require.  I agree, most aggressive settings have very little noticeable improvement if any and could be overkill and mostly beneficial only if you game too.  As a rule of thumb, anything with 4GB or more of memory is sufficient for anything.  Anything less and you run into limitations.  If you desire aggressive settings without going overkill, a 1060 is probably todays best bet although you will pay more for little returned.  Understand bitcoin mining is popular and hardware decoding video cards are in high demand driving the costs up significantly on new and used cards.  Most tend to desire NVidia.