Picture Quality - MVP vs HTPC vs Cable

[observer_11]

I recently got my MediaMVP working and immediately noticed how much better live picture quality is than my HTPC. The MVP picture quality rivals my raw cable (analog) ...in fact I think it is better. My HTPC live picture quality has never come close to the original analog cable source quality.

I am using a Hauppauge 500MCE tuner, Gigabyte 6200 PCIe graphics (component out but 30 ft long cables), and nvidia video decoders in overlay mode. (I do not use VMR9 because I can not get video to pass the scrolling text test but with overlay there are no issues - video is 100% stutter free).

So both my mediaMVP and HTPC use the same video source (my analog cable), and the same tuner card (hauppauge 500MCE), but picture quality (sharpness, brightness, noise, blurring, etc) is MUCH better on the mvp. My obvious question is why?:confused:

At this point I am thinking it must be either the video decoder and/or its settings (pass-thru,overlay,etc) or the physical component cable connection to my 36" JVC CRT TV? I have previously tried different decoders and settings and settled on the nvidia purevideo decoder in overlay mode as the best I can do for picture quality.

I would appreciate anyones thoughts on this little mystery... Thanks

[metaphorplay]

Why is the MVP image quality better? Probably because the MVP is using its own internal TV-out circuitry, not your HTPC's.

I doubt it is the decoder if you get a good mpg picture when you look at it on a regular monitor. That would be a simple way to rule that possibility out. Two other thoughts:

One: the quality of the cable connecting the HTPC to your TV. If using coax, try one with top quality screw-on terminals. Just swapping cables, or handling them might improve picture quality--and then you know it is a cheap problem to fix.

Two: It could be the TV output on the graphics card, or be a need to tweak it. I don't have this graphics card, so I can't tell you how to tweak it.

In my case, the image quality off of my integrated Nokia 6150 TV-Out motherboard was average at first, but then became excellent once I replaced the cable. My MVP has its own tv output, and as with other Hauppauge products I have used, the picture quality is excellent.

[replaytv]

I think MVP has a drawback where picture is little dark on television. I can compensate that by increasing the whitebalance when capture; however, it is a little white when I view on computer. Does it happen to you?

Dan L.

[observer_11]

I like your suggestion of trying a direct DVI monitor connection instead of the TV-out for comparison - I'm going to try that next.

I'm using regular old RG59 cables to connect the HTPC to my TV (3 component cables). At each of the cable ends I have RF-to-RCA adapters. This is currently a 30ft connection (but that will change this fall when our basement is 'finished').

The TV-out on the graphics card is more difficult to troubleshoot. I doubt it's simply a limitation of the card's tv-out quality capability. Tweaking settings for video cards seems like a never ending road to journey down. Firstly there is the nvidia driver version, then there are the choices in codecs, graphs, registry settings, VMR vs overlay, hardware acceleration, and a gazillion other settings...

Hopefully it's just the stupid cable...lol

Why is the MVP image quality better? Probably because the MVP is using its own internal TV-out circuitry, not your HTPC's.

I doubt it is the decoder if you get a good mpg picture when you look at it on a regular monitor. That would be a simple way to rule that possibility out. Two other thoughts:

One: the quality of the cable connecting the HTPC to your TV. If using coax, try one with top quality screw-on terminals. Just swapping cables, or handling them might improve picture quality--and then you know it is a cheap problem to fix.

Two: It could be the TV output on the graphics card, or be a need to tweak it. I don't have this graphics card, so I can't tell you how to tweak it.

In my case, the image quality off of my integrated Nokia 6150 TV-Out motherboard was average at first, but then became excellent once I replaced the cable. My MVP has its own tv output, and as with other Hauppauge products I have used, the picture quality is excellent.

[Zato]

I'd be interested in hearing how this goes... I've never been 100% happy with my HTPC picture quality.