What AGP Video Card Do You Use For HDTV?

[Satori]

Anyone tried the 8.2 drivers with an AGP card that is having issues?

[jbodin]

Crazy... ststunz's post is exactly how I feel, except about Nvidia. I'd been a long time ATI user until 3 months ago and never, not once, had a problem. I "upgraded" my old Radeon 9600XT to a GeForce 7600GT AGP. Things were awesome at first. The difference was amazing. Then I started trying to view HD content and that's when it got fun. Occasionally I get a BSOD relating that nv4_disp.dll (Nvidia's directx driver) has caused an infinite loop and so Windows XP is halting to prevent any damage. I've tried and tried to fix this problem and it's taken me nearly 3 weeks... and I'm still not sure if it's fixed or just lying in wait. Google nv4_disp.dll and you'll see posts spanning from 2001 to today's top of the line 8800 Ultra (or whatever it is now) with no consistent fix. There's no rhyme or reason to the problem and Nvidia doesn't even acknowledge that there is a problem. For some people, after uninstalling/reinstalling different driver versions it fixes it. For some, it's cooling. For others it's bad RAM, PSU, software conflicts... Others never find the solution and ditch the card for ATI...

This is the EXACT same problem I was having with my eVGA 7600GS (AGP) card -- I switched over to the 93.71 Forceware drivers based on a recommendation from someone on the eVGA message boards, and that cured my BSOD problems. Unfortunately, I STILL could NOT enable DXVA hardware acceleration on the board -- every time I would do that, my tuner app would lock-up hard and reboot windows (regardless of whether I was using both DVBViewer, GBPVR, and PVRX2). CPU utilzation WITHOUT hardware acceleration enabled was around 50%, and playback would stutter a lot. Not an ideal solution.

I ditched the 7600GS card and replaced it with an ATI x1550 Pro . . . the difference was stunning! I'm now enjoying stutter-free playback and I'm only seeing about 20% CPU utilization while viewing timeshifted HD ATSC broadcasts or recorded HD playback.

The x1550 Pro isn't anywhere near as fast as the 7600GS in games, so I won't be using my HTPC to play games, but I've got a gaming rig that's dedicated to games, so this isn't a huge loss . . . I'd much rather trade gaming ability for better quality video on my HTPC.

[xtravis]

I just have a quick question about HD AGP cards. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a good card simply for playback on a HDTV? Preferably one that does the audio over the DVI/HDMI output. It can be a DVI out because I will just buy an adapter for HDMI. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[nbarsley]

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a good card simply for playback on a HDTV?

I wouldnt recommend the 2600 as simple... but it does work very well once you get it working. Also if you want audio over dvi->hdmi you have to use the ATI cable. it wont work with generic cables.

[xtravis]

Also if you want audio over dvi->hdmi you have to use the ATI cable. it wont work with generic cables.

How much does this ATI cable cost and where do I get it from? I've actually never even heard of it.

[nbarsley]

It may just be a dongle? I'm not sure I don't use it. Check with some of the people on avsforum.com theres a 5000 post thread on the 2400,2600 cards. Look in the Home Theater PC message board.

[nitrogen_widget]

I've got a 7600GT in my main system.
Ever since I put it in iv'e been getting 40 second lock-ups in WOW.
always in a CITY or instance.
Then I get nothing but artifacts & have to exit the game in order to play agian.
That's if i'm lucky.

sometimes, I get N4 driver disconect errors while playing WOW.
Then I have to reboot.

On the GBPVR side:

I also have problems playing DVD's too much stuttering & artifacts using purevideo. It seems ok if I switch to invidia decoder.

Mpeg2 client mode stutters & tears & crashes also. Lock-ups.
I've just stopped trying to get GBPVR on it.

though I found disabling the Ntune service caused less problems.

[nbarsley]

xtravis, I saw your post on avsforum.

So I copied this for you.


This post is compilation of the input of many individuals on this and other threads related to the ATI HD 2000 series cards (probably applies to the 3000 series as well). Hopefully it should help solve most audio problems on the ATI HD series cards:


Quote:
ATI Knowledge Base Answer: 737-28867

In order to enable HDMI support on the Radeon™ HD 2000 series board through the DVI connector, AMD has designed a unique DVI-HDMI adapter...

As ATI suggests above, the pin assignments on the ATI DVI to HDMI adapter are different than standard DVI to HDMI. You will likely not get sound over a standard DVI to HDMI cable or adapter.

Contrary to ATI's statement on the above listed support FAQ, this adapter likely works with all PCI-E cards. Many owners of AGP cards have reported difficulty enabling the DVI to HDMI sound feature (I believe most have been unable?). As always, your mileage may vary.

If you are trying to order the ATI replacement adapter in the U.S., the code Sarvatt posted many moons ago may still work (please let us know if not):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...4&postcount=36


Quote:
ATI Knowledge Base Answer: 737-28948

The integrated HD Audio codec of Radeon™ HD2xxx series does NOT support Multi-Channel Linear PCM (5.1). It supports 2-Channel LPCM and Multi-Channel AC3 5.1 Audio formats for HDMI output using DVI-HDMI adapter.

The card doesn't support uncompressed surround. It does handle Dolby and DTS 5.1 compressed.


Quote:
ATI Knowledge Base Answer: 737-27794

After installing the drivers for the Radeon™ HD 2900 series graphics card, users may notice a (!) error in the Device Manager with an unknown device or an error with an ATI HDMI Audio device.

Solution:

To resolve this issue, please install the Microsoft UAA Audio Class System Driver and then the ATI HDMI Audio Driver, available from the links below.

1. Microsoft UAA HDMI Audio Class System Driver - English (required)

2. ATI HDMI Audio Driver

The above problem is not limited to 2900 cards. All 2x00 cards require the ATI drivers to enable DVI to HDMI sound under Windows XP.


Quote:
ATI Knowledge Base Answer: 737-29037

Please note that the Microsoft UAA driver, which is included with Microsoft Vista, supports the HD Audio Device on above mentioned graphics cards. No additional HDMI Audio Driver is required to enable sound with Microsoft VISTA operating system.

If your motherboard has a Digital Output Device (SPDIF), VISTA recognizes this device as the default digital output device. You need to change the default device to HDMI. To do so, please follow the steps below:
1. Open "Control Panel" and double click on "Sound"
2. On "Playback" tab right click on "Digital Output Device (HDMI)" with the TV icon
3. Select "Set as Default Device"
4. Right click on "Digital Output Device (HDMI)" with the TV icon again and click on "Test"
5. You should hear sound from left and right speaker of your TV set
6. Click on "OK"

Quite a number of card owners have experienced problems outputting 5.1 surround over HDMI. First, make sure that you have set DTS and Dolby support under the "Supported Formats" tab. To do so:
1. Open "Control Panel" and double click on "Sound"
2. On "Playback" tab right click on "Digital Output Device (HDMI)" with the TV icon.
3. Select Properties.
4. Open the "Supported Formats" tab.
5. Put check marks in the DTS Audio and Doby Digital selections under Encoded formats and Press Apply.
6. Click "Test".
7. Click on "OK".

If you can still only output 2-channel LPCM, install the ATI HDMI Audio Device driver available on the Realtek site:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...Audio%20Codecs

Some card owners have experienced problems with their motherboards disabling onboard sound after installing a 2x00 card. If you lose your onboard sound after installing the ATI card and cannot locate it under the Sound applet noted in Step 1 above, enter BIOS during system boot and change the sound/audio option from Auto to Enabled.

See Arfster's post for video settings and explanations: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=2121

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Last edited by ToughRowToHoe : 02-25-08 at 05:52 PM.