TV Output decoder

[Big Stan]

Pardon the question from a video neubie but...

I have my GBPVR up and running on a P3 833Mhz. Seems to work fine and I have a Nvidia MX4000 with S video output.

I noticed in the config that the choice of decoder makes no difference to the TV out. Is that because it is being decoded by the video card?

I don't have any need to have the video displayed on the computer display and I was wondering if it take extra processor to decode for the display as well as the TV. In other words, could I lower my CPU utilization by not displaying the video on the computer display, perhaps by uninstalling the codecs? Or is there another way.

I would appreciate any light anyone can shed on this.

[reboot]

You can probably not tell a difference with your eyes, but there are subtle differences. Amount of CPU usage during playback, playback speed, audio sync, picture quality, etc.
Do a test.
Play back a recording and take a screenshot.
Blow it up 5x or 10x normal size.
Change decoders, and take another screenshot.
Blow it up, and compare it to the first.
Repeat as needed.
This will show you which one has the better playback quality.

[stefan]

On the other hand... if you can't tell the difference, then why bother? ;-)

[reboot]

Because, come the day when you do get that 42" plasma TV, you'll really be able to tell the difference.

[stefan]

By that time, I will have bought a new computer a long time ago ;-)

[reboot]

A new comptuer, but maybe not a new tuner card...just a consideration