Video Cards

Currently, I'm using the tv-out on an old Voodoo3 card to play divx on TV. I'm looking to upgrade this little bitch to something more feature-filled per se, preferably with video in for PVR/DVR. I'm looking at the AIW 8500 and 9700 series and the Nvidia Personal Cinema. Performance won't really be an issue since it won't be used for graphic intense programs, gaming, etc. I'm looking for video in/out quality. I've tried my GeForce4 card, but it seems to have fading/discoloration problems on tv-out, even after fiddling with the drivers. The Voodoo3 has some convergence issues, but color is very vivid. Haven't had first hand experience with ATI cards though, any thoughts or recommendations?

Hey Zack,

I am running an ATI Radeon 7000 series here, and I use it to watch movies/tv all the time, quality is pretty impressive, and I only paid like 30 bucks for this card.

The newer Radeons are supposedly even better, some of them having component out jacks so you can hook it up directly to your HDTV. The high end Geforce4 cards are usually pretty good too, but I am very happy with my cheap card (I am getting rid of my time warner dvr now, and replacing it permanently with my home built dvr), so I would probably recommend the 9700 series.

I am currently using ATI's el-cheapo card as well, the all-in-wonder. It serves it's purpose quite well for my video streaming needs.

Tell us a little about your home-brew pvr.....

It's quite simple actually... utilizing a barebones mini-ITX (probably one of those cubes). Fit it with a cpu capable of real-time divx encoding, a P4-2.4 should do it. Upgrade sound with an Audigy/TB card. Just ordered a Radeon 9000 AIW from the New Years sale at newegg.

Software wise, if I can get my hands on MCE2004, that'd be nice, but I think ATI's Multimedia Center software does the job. I still need to confirm if ATI's PVR function uses their proprietary video format or if you can choose the encoder.

I think I might need an RF wireless keyboard, preferably one with on-board touchpad or mouse. One of those presentation style remote controls is sufficient too. Haven't found one of those yet.

MCE2004 is hard to get unless you have an MSDN subscription (universal). If you are planning on watching TV etc, better off getting a Hauppauge PVR-250/350 series card, since they do mpeg2 encoding on board (so your CPU won't be pegged continiously. MCE2004 does put a wrapper around the mpeg2 file, so it's uesless on other machines. I don't think there is a HDTV connector for the 9000 series, just the 9800 and higher (might be wrong tho), but check it out, I believe the connector is a seperate product.

Also check out these products:


http://www.gyrationdirect.com/product.asp?sku=2439706
http://www.gyrationdirect.com/product.asp?sku=2439705
http://www.gyration.com/gyromouse.htm

ATI's software that came with my TV Tuner allows me to encode in AVI, several MPEG formats, and Windows Media Format.

electron said:

I don't think there is a HDTV connector for the 9000 series, just the 9800 and higher (might be wrong tho), but check it out, I believe the connector is a seperate product.

Click to expand...

The HDTV connector is just a DVI to RGB adapter. It's included in the 9800 package, but you can get it separately for any ATI Radeon 8500+ card.

I think I found my keyboard/mouse:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/se...5&sku=I106-1010

Know anywhere else I can get it? Tigerdirect does not get business from me.

I have a wireless RF keyboard with a built in mouse pointer but recently switched over to a Ultra GT Cordless Optical Mouse. It works great!! My server is down stairs below my entertainment center and the RF works quite well through the floor. The unit is easy to hold and use. I didn't find myself using the keyboard much and this is way better than the pointer device built into the keyboard as well as small. Check it out

http://www.gyration.com/ultragt.htm


John

zack said:

electron said:

I don't think there is a HDTV connector for the 9000 series, just the 9800 and higher (might be wrong tho), but check it out, I believe the connector is a seperate product.

Click to expand...

The HDTV connector is just a DVI to RGB adapter. It's included in the 9800 package, but you can get it separately for any ATI Radeon 8500+ card.

Click to expand...

Who sells these cables?

Forget the keyboard/mouse situation.. the All-In-Wonder remote has a mouse function on its 'joystick' thing. Keyboard won't be that big a deal, I can use an old wired one.

You can always use a virtual keyboard with that remote, so no need to worry about that. I do like that remote, but I am trying to consolidate all my remotes, otherwise this is what I would go for.

What does everyone thing about the GrandTec video cards?

I never heard of them before, but I just found this really cool piece of hardware, very useful with htpc's, relatively cheap too:

http://www.grandtec.com/ultimateEZ.htm

and I definitely like this card:

http://www.grandtec.com/eguard.htm

I think it's time for this site to start evaluating cool products

Yea, I have both of those in stock. I sell a lot of those video cards. It's nice that they come in 4, 9, & 16 port models.