Is a "GeForce FX 5200" ok for TV-Out quality?

[mixedup]

Hi,

Just trying to get a PVR going on an older box. It has a GeForce FX 5200 and when I connect the TV-Out to the Video in (one yellow cable) on my old TV downstairs (once it's working I'll take it up to the living area with the good TV), but the screen quality looks really crappy.

Is the GeForce FX 5200's TV-Out quality not great?

If I had to pick up a card to use just for for the video out connection to my TV for my PVR box what a value-for-money card you would recommend? (PCI Express) Here's a link with the list of possibilities from my local store (i.e. which one of these).

Thanks

[rob11252]

You have plenty of choices.
If you think of buying Nvidia card, see this:
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/video-...tby=priceA

Nvidia makes GForce 8500, 8600, 8800 series cards but as far as video quality all of them are pretty much the same. They use hardware acceleration (not with EVR rendering though), which is importand with older processors. Mine is set up DVI-->HDMI and I am satisfied with it.

Since you plan to have the computer in living area, noise may be the issue. You may choose to go with fanless card then.

[JEF]

My computer has a GeForce FX 5200 I will try it out on my TV tonight (after my wife has gone to bed).

[agidius]

that is the card I had until I upgraded to HD

[nitrogen_widget]

I have a 5200 also.
It looks just fine on my TV.

Make sure you are using a good cable.
The really thin ones won't cut it.

Also, the windows resolution needs to be 720x480 so it matches the TV resolution.

And make sure the TV is the primary monitor.

One more thing, don't expect to see the desktop very clearly.
You won't.

But, video will look good.

[mobiusnz]

I used to use one of these some time back too - Had no problems with it.

What resolution are you running? Back when I had one I was using it on a Sony 4:3 TV so I just ran at 800x600 which scaled fine - Obiously windows didn't look the best but TV was fine through it.

As mentioned above for the best output you should match the output resolution to the resolution of your TV - For Australia I thing it should be 720x576.

[mixedup]

thanks guys - I'll try (will have to be tonight) then:
* making TV the primary
* adjusting the resolution as you'd suggested to 720x576 for Australia (was 800x600)
* try it on my decent tv that is the target

Question: The output from the card is just a small circular connector with about 5-7 or so pings around the edge, and I have a cable that converts this so just 1xRCA for the video in. Is this OK? It has a DVI output too however I don't have a DVI on my TV(CRT).

[stustunz]

also set refresh freq to 50hz
if you have trouble getting the resolution set to what you want you can either use drivers pre 100.xxx (different drivers do give very different results)
turn down the fiicker filter till the picture is nice)
or use power strip
under 3d settings (video driver properties)
turn off antistropic filtering etc(you can turn them back on one at a time once you are upo and running)
leave force wait for vertical sync on

the circular plug is svideo its slightly better than composite(what your tv has) but if thats your only option its fine just make sure you keep the cable short and use a reasonably good one (doesnt need to be monster cable but not to small either they dont have decent shielding if to small)

[ajst2duk]

You have plenty of choices.
If you think of buying Nvidia card, see this:
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/video-...tby=priceA

Nvidia makes GForce 8500, 8600, 8800 series cards but as far as video quality all of them are pretty much the same. They use hardware acceleration (not with EVR rendering though), which is importand with older processors. Mine is set up DVI-->HDMI and I am satisfied with it.

Since you plan to have the computer in living area, noise may be the issue. You may choose to go with fanless card then.

Yeah EVR is harware accelerated in Vista, I've got both 8600 & 9600 decoding h.264 with around 5% CPU

[whurlston]

Yeah EVR is harware accelerated in Vista, I've got both 8600 & 9600 decoding h.264 with around 5% CPU

Only in Vista though. EVR is not accelerated on XP.