Only TV-Out how to switch?

[YellowP41]

Hi Folks

I am a new to GBPVR and ran into the following problem:

When I want to watch a video, recording or live tv, I get a black screen telling me:

"Video is playing back using TV out
Press 'Home' to return to menu"

Well, I'd like to see somthing on my monitor and not only on the TV screen. I haven't hooked a TV to my system, yet - but I believe what GBPVR is telling me

I remeber having seen an option on enabling TV out - but don't remember where... And yes, in WinTV2000 it works.

Any ideas or pointers (even RTFM is enough)...

Thanks guys!

[glassvial]

How about which card you use for the output?

[YellowP41]

Ok, ok, right, right  - here my system spec:

- Nehemia M 10000, 256MB RAM (Hush miniITX)
- Hauppauge PVR 350, driver 1.17.390.22029

I'd like to use the onboard graphic... works with WinTV2K 4.3.22033

Cheers.

[sub]

Its only really setup to playback on one device. You can use either the PVR350 TV out or the computer monitor. Its relatively easy to switch between them. Just use the config app to set the Hardware Decoder to 'None - Software playback' and you'll be able to see playback on your PC.

[YellowP41]

Wow, quick responses - nice forum!

Ok Sub, that worked. BUT it is way slow! Looks like the M10000 cannot keep up with the task . Watching TV through WinTV2K is smooth - and on the computer screen - guess it does use some hardware acceleration...

I remember reading that you use an M10000, too. Did you install a specific driver for the onboard MPG2 decoding?

Thanks.

[glassvial]

I think the problem is (and I could be wrong) is that the PVR350 uses its hardware decoder whereas watching on the local monitor only uses software decoding. This makes a huge difference as to what the system's workload is. When you're watching on the TV the 350 card is doing all the work, when you're watching on the local monitor the system itself is doing all the work. Hence, it's going to be slower watching on the local monitor vs. the 350's TV-Out.

[sub]

I've found the performance varies greatly with the different MPEG decoders. If you have PowerDVD5 installed on your system, its Cyberlink decoder will available for user from GB-PVR. This decoder uses the EPIA-M MPEG hardware assist functions, and produces smooth video playback with lower CPU usage. I'm sure other decoders are alright to, but this what I use.

[sub]

I think the Intervideo MPEG decoder that is installed with WinDVD may also support the hardware assist.

[YellowP41]

Well, PowerDVD made my evening... Its decoder works nicely with the Nehemia.

Thanks a lot to all.

Just out of curiosity: Why was Hauppauge WinTV2K running smoothly from the beginning? Are they re-routing the video stream to the graphic "card"? It's a bit of a pitty to use software decoding if you have an hardware decoder (pvr 350) in the box...

[sub]

Unfortunately the hardware decode is only able to send the decoded output to the TV out.

Yes, PowerDVD does make a big difference. I also have problems with WinTV2K when running fullscreen.