High quality TV Out

[reefboy]

Not sure how to ask this questions.

When using the X-card attached to the TV and running GBPVR, is it the same as using say a FX5200? Can I do everything through the TV and not use the computer monitor display for navigating menus? I'm just thinking this might be my next upgrade for my HTPC. The quality is so so for my current video card TV out. From what I gather the Windows XP desktop does not show up in the X-cards output... but the GBPVR OSD does right?

How many others are using the X-card?

[sub]

Quote[/b] ]When using the X-card attached to the TV and running GBPVR, is it the same as using say a FX5200? Can I do everything through the TV and not use the computer monitor display for navigating menus? I'm just thinking this might be my next upgrade for my HTPC. The quality is so so for my current video card TV out. From what I gather the Windows XP desktop does not show up in the X-cards output... but the GBPVR OSD does right?

The xcard doesnt take the place of a regular video card. It doesnt allow you to see the desktop. The only thing you'll see on the tv out of the xcard, is GB-PVR, video and OSD.

[bucknljake]

I own an xcard but not a 350. but I know a fair deal about the 350s

I say, if you already have a TV-card (that is supported by GBPVR) then get an xcard (they are somewhere around $80 or so) I paid about $110 for mine 2+ years ago.

if you are building a new machine from scratch, just get a 350. it handles the tasks of both pvr and tv-out. and will cost less than a pvr-150 and an Xcard (slightly)

IMO neither option has very good overscan adjustment or utilization of some of the cards' true output capabilities/adjustments in GBPVR (yet... this may change in the future).

If you like your menus with fancy backgrounds and images: then get a 350.
but 256 color on the xcard GUI output is perfectly fine so long as you use basic skins like the flat blue one.
(note: 256color output only applies to the GUI... NOT the actual movie/live-tv output to the TV)

the ability to do divx/xvid on the xcard is a BIG plus if you plan on watching any divx movies or compressing your recorded shows into mpeg4 to save HD space.

[bucknljake]

OH, one other thing the xcard has over the 350's video out: composite, S-Vid, and Component (I believe it can run progressive scan too with its component output), and even SCART (have to buy/make an adapter).

where as the 350 only has composite output.

I wish I had both cards so I could do a side by side comparison of the output qualities but I would think that the xcard would have a slight edge due to its multiple output formats.

[SteveTyrakowski]

I'm also interested in how to set up TV-out. I'm setting up a Shuttle PC for my daughter which she'll take to college next fall. I just bought a PVR-150 which uses the only PCI slot. There is only an AGP slot available. I'd like to be able to have output similar to XCard or PVR-350 where the TV-OUT just shows the GBPVR stuff and the windows desktop is still available on the monitor.

Are there any under $100 AGP video cards that would handle this?

I suppose one option is to get a PVR-350, but I just bought the 150 yesterday and I have both PCI slots filled with PVR-150s on the PC that is running my main GBPVR server, so I have no room to add a 3rd tuner.

Any suggestions?

[sean]

I just looking at buying an Xcard and someone stated that is displays in 256 colors in the menus. Does anyone know that when I view my pictures on the TV will this display in more then 256 colors? Also I have all my home videos on the computer and they are in widows media format, will I still be able to play them and use the software decoder since the xcard does not supports this format?

[russelljsmith]

Quote[/b] (SteveTyrakowski @ Feb. 02 2005,12:19)]I'm also interested in how to set up TV-out. I'm setting up a Shuttle PC for my daughter which she'll take to college next fall. I just bought a PVR-150 which uses the only PCI slot. There is only an AGP slot available. I'd like to be able to have output similar to XCard or PVR-350 where the TV-OUT just shows the GBPVR stuff and the windows desktop is still available on the monitor.

I've been reading this topic with great intrest, I'm currently building a new Shuttle box myself to work primarily as a music server connected to my stereo system, however I'm also quite interested in using it as a PVR for timeshifting, photo display etc.

I'm getting to grips with graphics card input/output options and have narrowed my options down to the following:

OPTION 1
AGP Card with TV-Out for playback such as
ATI Radeon 9250 128MB/DVI/TVO or
GeForce FX5200 128MB/DVI/TVO
+ PVR150 or PVR250 for recording

Option 2
PVR 350 for recording/playback
+ Radeon 9250 or GeForce FX5200 for Windows on LCD

Option 3
PVR150 or PVR250 for recording
MVP for playback
+ Radeon 9250 or GeForce FX5200 for Windows on LCD

I'd be interested to hear general Pro's and Con's on the above, but I also have a couple of specific questions:

1. If I used a VGA card with TV-Out, would I be able to display windows on my TV? (This is only going to be a music server / PVR so I only need to access basic applications). Can anyone point me at some example screenshots of a setup like this, I can't find anything!

2. What's the difference between the PVR250 and PVR150?

3. Slightly off-topic for this forum, but can anyone recommend which is the better the Radeon 9250 or GeForce FX5200 or any other card availible for less than £50 ($30)?

Thanks very much in advance for any help or pointers.

[bucknljake]

Quote[/b] ]2. What's the difference between the PVR250 and PVR150?

this has been more thoroughly answered elsewhere and in other threads but I'll give you a quick answer. the 150 and 250 are about the same card. the 150 (non mce) does not have FM which I think the 250 does. BUT the 150 is basically the newer version of the 250. the 250 which is based on an older reference board and has two separate chips for handling recording. one for audio and the other for video. the 150 handles both on the same chip. I think the 150 is also a bit more manufacturing friendly thus it's cheaper than the 250. quality and features (besides FM) between the 2 are the same. Oh and the 150 comes w/ the nicer new 45 button remote.

Quote[/b] ]1. If I used a VGA card with TV-Out, would I be able to display windows on my TV?

sure, you can display whatever the heck you want. TV-out on a video card works just like hooking a PC monitor up to the computer. (you are usually restricted somewhat on what output resulution you can run though) usually no more than 1024x768 unless you start scrolling around on the tv screen to see the whole desktop.

SEAN:

Quote[/b] ]Does anyone know that when I view my pictures on the TV will this display in more then 256 colors?

I'm not sure exactly how gbpvr shows pictures but i'm pretty sure it will show pics as their native format (meaning it will run the photos through the xcard's normal output (like tv and divx) therefore it should be fine. IF for some reason gbpvr takes pictures and displays them INSIDE the gui (like images for skins) converting them to mpeg format. this will cause the pics to be 256 color and thus look like crap.

Quote[/b] ]widows media format, will I still be able to play them and use the software decoder since the xcard does not supports this format?

sure you could play them, but not through the xcard. you'd have to toggle from the xcard to the tv-out of your video card for displaying non xcard supported formats. (which is currently not easily done) you'd have to change gbpvr settings and then restart gbpvr, and then switch outputs on the back of your machine (either physically, or have both outputs hooked up to a reciever/tv that can toggle between the 2 inputs)

[Networker]

I guess I should jump in here rather than start a new thread. I currently run a PVR150 on a P4 2GHZ box. This is fine and I got the MVP to play movies and MP3s remotely. Now my wife has said "I thought you were putting a computer downstairs"... so of course that means I have to follow through with it, as that was my original plan..

That being said, I have a Shuttle with 1 PCI and 1 AGP slot. I am trying to figure out the best way to do this and perhaps a new thread may be in order.. here are the options I have ... (oh and what the heck is an xcard and who makes it EDIT - found it (.. sounds like a TV out only card - hardware decoder?)

Option 1:

Current Shuttle with ATI 9550 AGP with TV out to the Svideo on the TV for desktop use
and the pvr150 showing up there (haven't figured out if full screen decoding is hardware based when using the ATI 9550 - probably not)

Option 2: similar to option 1, only replace the 150 with a 350, good but can't watch and record 2 different shows

or

Option 3: new box, either tower or rack mounted case with 150 and 350, 350 used for direct output to TV and TV out of video card to another svideo..

From what I think I've gather looking around on the forums, the 350 will give me the GBPVR screen and the output is like 99% the same as straight cable. Sounds good go me and I think
the spouse acceptance factor (SAF) will be acceptibly higher, which of course is needed!

I almost have talked myself into Option 3, matter of fact I like it alot... Mid tower (gamer box?) could give me lots of internal space for HDDs... Speaking of HDD, anyone do any comparison of ATA vs. SATA for speed? So far ATA is working good for me, though I wanted to go with SATA for the speed and more drives, /etc.. /etc...

Sorry for the long reply posting..

John

[ejr]

I just went to CompUSA and am looking at the following options for a video card, which will be primarily dedicated to playing videos on my 50" TV using S-Video. I'd like the cheapest card that will give good MPEG viewing. My current card is old and has way too much blockiness. I know its the video card, because when I use the files to make a DVD and play that through a stand-alone player the quality is really quite a bit higher. I don't think I want to go with an X-card since the computer is not hooked up to a separate monitor 0nly hooked up to the TV.

Choices
Mad Dog Multimedia GeForce MX 4000 Plus 128 DDR(cheapest - essentially free to me after rebate given some coupons I have) DX 8

BFG GeForce MX 4000 128 DDR (slightly more costly) DX 8

PNY GeForce FX 5200 64 DDR (slighly more costly) DX 9

Mad Dog Radeon 9550 128 DDR - claims to remove blockiness from video (More expensive) DX 9

VisionTek 9600 256 DDR - claims to remove blockiness from video (about same price as 9550 after rebate) DX 9 - but needs 300W power supply I may not have.

All help appreciated. If you know of other posts or reviews, please direct me there. Thanks.