Advice on graphics card

[garymeds]

having almost given up trying to get a decent mpg2 encode/decode on my x1650, i've reverted back to on board nvidia 6100 (which is better, although not really up to HD)

i might buy a new graphics card (pcie) - any suggestions?

appreciate advice

[SIZE="1"]amd 3800x2, asus M2NPV-VM, 1gb ram, 300hdd, samsung writemaster dvd, antec nsk-2400, hauppauge pvr 150mce, hauppauge hvr 1300, pvrx2 1.0.16[/SIZE]

[stustunz]

i would have thought the x1650 would have be more than fine
what exactly was wrong with it if you dont mind me asking
what did you try?
what connection were you using what were you ouputing to
what decoder ?

[garymeds]

sorry, missed those bits.

hdmi-dvi connection to sony bravia HD lcd. problem is no matter what i use in the way of codec or overlay/vmr9/vmr7 and interlacing settings with the catalyst control panel, i get washed out colours especially in low light. the best image i can get is using the ati decoder which gives me interlacing problems even when forcing weave!

thanks for quick response - seems whatever i try with this cards setup, it looks far worse than onboard nvidia, which surprised me!

[garymeds]

as for what i've tried - is amost everything listed in these forums!

codecs
de-interlacing
quartz.dll downgrading
avivo colour settings

this is only with livetv/recordings so it obviously an mpeg2 issue of some sort

i also saw a thread about registry settings for ati 1600 cards (http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/191204.aspx which also didn't work, although was for vista and MCE

am using xp sp2 pro.

[stustunz]

just check your frequency out is 50hz for pal this can help with paning shots
try and match pixel forpixel output with your screen
and remember 10016 only uses vmrcustom or fse no matter what you set the setting to which is basically means to adjust your video setting you now use direct3d setting as this is what vmr custom uses
you probably know all this

mce is just xp pro without the some of the network properties(domain stuff i think from memory)

[pBS]

those reg entries won't work on xp or xp MCE...but i found the xp ones..
search your registry for 'denoise_def' and you'll see several denoise entries..
those are the same as the ones mentioned for vista..
you have to be running the newest drivers tho..and have a X1xxx series ati video card...seems to work for me so far..i didn't turn it all the way off cuz you'll get other bad artifacts, denoise really is helpfull on snowy channels...but bad on clear ones...
it's dynamic, so it changes settings within a range so you'd see varied results...
i'm guessing it's not adjusting well on the dvb sources so shrinking the range should keep it working but steady..
[i left mine at 50 across the board]

[garymeds]

many thanks - i still have card in place so will try it out.

if onboard nvidia was any good with mkv files, i'd stick with that!

x1650 seemed like a good idea, but i've had nothing but trouble with it - although it does produce a watchable picture, the quality is really noticeable with fast moving sports.

reckon there's an issue with the nforce chipset and ati card? being competitors and all...maybe i'm just cynical.

[pBS]

yea, it seems the ATI cards have a bad problem with temporal ghosting...
i tried to set the temporal antialiasing to off but then i don't get any osd..
only way osd works is with it in 'let app decide' mode..and as far as i know gb doesn't set it either way...
try dscaler and set your output colorspace to yv12 or yuy2...
that takes some of the ati hardware out of the mix, so may solve your problem...
nv12 activates all the internal acceleration..

funny thing is, i get exactly same cpu usage and acceleration from the oldest radeon i can find, so they have made no strides in this area in 10 years!
otherwise it's get a new ati HD2600 or a nv 8600gt or better...
then you'll see a diff..

and a 30$ dvd player can have a full hardware mpeg2 decoder chip for 5$, but we have to buy a 150$+ card to view a silly mpeg? when half the work is being done by the pc cpu also....grr.. it's another unspoken conspiracy..

hello hardware designers! there's a killing to be made easy, if you design a decent mpeg2 decoder...and tons of money waiting if you make it HD!!

[pBS]

oh and make sure to turn off any noise reduction inside the tv itself as usually it mistakes mpeg ringing as noise, thereby doubling the noise reduction smear..

[Pob]

and a 30$ dvd player can have a full hardware mpeg2 decoder chip for 5$, but we have to buy a 150$+ card to view a silly mpeg? when half the work is being done by the pc cpu also....grr.. it's another unspoken conspiracy..

hello hardware designers! there's a killing to be made easy, if you design a decent mpeg2 decoder...and tons of money waiting if you make it HD!!

I could not agree more. After googling it became clear to me that so many people have issues getting a decent video picture from their PC's. The common theme is "I spent mega-bucks on my PC and mega-bucks on my video card, but still can't get a decent picture on the TV!"
Pob