Folding Forum

I like to contribute and fold big points but my main rig (295x2, 290x) is just a power guzzling beast and I would rather not have it running full blast all the time. I am wondering if I put a 970 in my HTPC, if I can fold and watch TV or Videos at the same time (Windows Media Center and VLC).

To my understanding GPUs tend to not share well across tasks. Sometimes people complain that userinterfaces get laggy when folding. Watching TV/video and folding on the same GPU seems therefore not the best idea. But of course you can always pause folding while watching and resume folding once the video is over.
Search the forum for 970/980 or Maxwell; seems right now a bit too bleeding edge. I wouldn't hurry (for me even more valid as Linux-Folder)

If your HTPC is capable of taking 2 cards, you could put in a pair of 750 Ti cards (low power, high efficiency), and Fold on the one not connected to the TV...

Or you could just buy one 970 and one 750. Then you can use the 750 for watching tv. If your HTPC can house two GPUs.

Hehe, jepp but i running 980 and 750Ti. Base 1196 750Ti

I've tried to do some gaming on my GTX 980 while folding at full tilt on both my GTX 780 Ti and 980. Half-Life 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel are fine, while Diablo 3 RoS lags a bit. PPD does take a hit, though. 1080p playback seems fine too.

Then again, most HTPC's have integrated graphics which should do the job just fine, leaving the dedicated graphics to fold undisturbed.