High quality TV Out

[zorro]

Which one gives me the best quality? (Lets assume the mpeg video is stored at a high quality)

1. TV out on Hauppauge 350
2. TV out on Video Card
3. Use VGA-to-TV convereter
4. Any other option?

I need make a purchase decision based on your replies.

[reven]

if you dont have HDTV, i would say the 350 or the XCard (only the OSD is limited to 256colors, so the menus dont look very good). If you have HDTV, setup your gfx card DVI output to the DVI input of your tv (or if you only have RGB, get the ATI DVI to RGB converter, but you need one of their newer cards for it to work).

[mikerm19]

I use TV Out on my video card with the RCA adapter (Since my TV doesn't have SVIDEO), it looks great to me!

[bluesxman]

Also, TV out quality will obviously vary depending on the graphics card. Do you have a make/model or budget in mind?

[zorro]

Quote[/b] ]Also, TV out quality will obviously vary depending on the graphics card. Do you have a make/model or budget in mind?

I have no knowledge of Video cards. Could you please recommend me a card that gives me good TV out quality. ATI 9200 SE seems cheaper (under $50). Will that produce good TV Out? Thanks.

[reven]

all the ATI have the same tv out (well the 9x00 series). but the SE are really bad cards, the 9550 is a good card, cheap, and still good performace. that said, the 350 output is still far better.

[bluesxman]

I've heard very good things about the Matrox G450 but it is pricey and does not have good 3D support, so you need to decide if this machine is only going ot be used PVR or whether you want it for games etc..

I'm sure someone will correct me if this is wrong, but I thought the PVR-350 will only output video (not the desktop) again, this may be a consideration based on how you want to use your pc.

[Scooby]

I have an ATI Radeon 9600 and an X-card. The X-card output is so much better, it's like comparing a pirate VHS tape to DVD. The X-card output to the TV is indestinguishable from a standalone DVD player, it's that good. Plus you get a remote control and sensor for it as well.

[reven]

the 350 outputs everything displayed in the gbpvr window. so you get full control over gbpvr, menus, pictures, etc. but you dont see any part of windows. which in my opinion is a good thing. but 350 only plays back mpeg videos. no divx, xvid, mov etc.

[zorro]

Thanks, you are guys are great. Now I'm down to 350 or xcard.

Has any one made a comparision between these two? Which one do you recommend? I remember reading issues like DVD 5.1 audio decoding with 350. Is it there with Xcard also?