How do I get a decent picture to the TV?

[BatteriesIncluded]

OK... I'm a noob at this, kinda, so be a bit understanding. lAthough I have been running tuners on my computer for a few years now I have never really taken the steps (until now) to take the PVR all the way to HTPC.

I am currently running a WintTV PVR350, Video is a ATI9200SE, 1GB RAM, 3GHz Pentium 4 on asus MB, 400GB HD, and I'm running GBPVR (the latest). The picture from the card is fine on my computer and what would be expected from standard cable TV. My TV is a Toshiba 50HDX82 (50" Rear projection HD).

I have tried running from the computer to TV out via the video card and the picture is quite bad. I'm not sure if this is a function of the component TVOut, the video card, or this is just what should be expected from TVout. I have tried the TVout directly from the PVR350 card (hardware encoded) but it's not any better AND it eventually locks up the computer. I understand that it is a common problem with the 350 when using asus MB with a SiS chipset and I don't think I'm really interested in using it for this project anyway.

I have noticed that my TV has a DVI/HDCP input and I was thinking that this would be the way to connect the computers video card. When reading the TV's manual it states that the input is not intended to be connected to a PC. I'm tempted to try it but the fear of blowing the TV has stopped me.

I would have to buy a new video card to do so I was hoping if someone here could tell me if this was possible before I invested in a new video card in an attmpt to improve the picture sent to the TV. Also, is it possible to output HD to the TV from the computer... although it would be a standard TV signal it's gotta be better than regualr DVI. no?

Any helps, comments, etc would really be appreciated. I need to finally take this to the next level.

[Mr. Camaro]

So are you connecting your computer to your TV with an S-Video cable? You might try a different cable or bring the s-video into another input into your TV. That would then rule out a bad s-video cable or TV input. It seems funny that the picture is bad from both the video card and the PVR350.

[Mr. Camaro]

I was interested in this so I did some looking on this. I found a copy of your manual and read the part that says it is not intended to be used with a PC. Didn't really say anything else.

After some checking I found this article on the subject.

http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...genumber=1

They are basically saying as long as you can find a resolution that both your video card and the TV can handle it shouldn't be a problem.

I would read the whole post though before you decide to try it or not.

[BatteriesIncluded]

Thanks to all of you who answered my inquiry and who were eager to help. It is greatly appreciated. It seems I have found the answer to my question after posting the inquiry on http://www.byopvr.com.

Here is the link to that thread for those of you with similar inquiries:
http://forum.byopvr.com/dvr/index.php/topic,7335.0.html

Now, if I could just get my old ATI AIW7500 working with GBPVR along with the PVR350 I'd really be cookin.

I thought this would be a project... not a hobby!