What is the ideal Video card/ tuner combo

[wayner]

Ok, everyone seems to like the PVR 250 cardas a tuner, but what video card should you use with it?

I would like to build a HTPC with a video card with component video out. I would like to be able to drive my TV (a 16x9 rear projection TV with component in, but no DVI in) plus an additional monitor that would be ore of a controller or screen used for web browsing - the videos would all be watched on the big screen.

Is it worth getting one of the ATI AIW cards and using it in combination with a PVR-250 so that I have two tuners?

What is the difference between the ATI AIW 9600,9700 and 9800 cards?

[_Shorty]

perhaps there are some, but I'm not aware of any video cards with component video out. Would be nice to hear if someone else has seen them.

[Julia]

I like using the PVR-250 in conjunction with my AIW 8500DV card. That way I can stream as well as have a nice hardware encoder for the archiving of shows. Though there are some gotchas until multiple tuner support is part of Snapstream.

Julia

[wayner]

Originally posted by _Shorty
perhaps there are some, but I'm not aware of any video cards with component video out. Would be nice to hear if someone else has seen them.

The ATI cards that are 9600, 9700 and 9800 all have component out for both the regular cards, plus the All in Wonder cards. I believe you have to buy the adapter separately for the 9600 cards.

This is supposed to give a MUCH superior picture on a TV than the S-Video out.

[_Shorty]

thanks for the info

[Winter_Lion]

Yes, Ati and Nvidea have made cards for sometime now that feature component video in and out. Most of the same cards also feature Super VHS out, which of course is the connection to use if your monitor or telivision supports this. I just replaced an older Ati rage turbo pro(32 mbs ram) that had component in and out and s-vhs out. It also had hardware dvd decoding. It was a great card for multimedia but had become outdated almost overnite because of game issues(wouldn't play new games). I replaced it with a Nvidea(64 mbs ram) and the games play extremely well, but I miss the multimedia features of the rage card. I am planning an upgrade to a All in Wonder card to get back that flexibility that made video editing and viewing so much easier. The trick to picking out a video card that has what you need and want is to do your research. Some cards that excel in multimedia applications don't get the press that the gamer cards do because the companies involved are driven by gamer sales. Money talks and we all know what walks.

[peter]

Originally posted by Winter_Lion
Yes, Ati and Nvidea have made cards for sometime now that feature component video in and out. Most of the same cards also feature Super VHS out, which of course is the connection to use if your monitor or telivision supports this.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think you mean composite, rather than component....

[cmasters]

Keep in mind that when using a component out connection it was intended for use with a HD TV for 480p, 720p, or 1080i resolutions. Normal TV users don't get the same improvements.

[crush157]

All in all, I replaced my ATI AIW 7500 with a Nvidia GE Force FX 5200 due to the ability to control overscan. Also, the Nvidia card has a sharper image as well on the TV OUT over the ATI card.

[Winter_Lion]

Originally posted by crush157
All in all, I replaced my ATI AIW 7500 with a Nvidia GE Force FX 5200 due to the ability to control overscan. Also, the Nvidia card has a sharper image as well on the TV OUT over the ATI card.

Thanks Crush, I will check out your reccomendations. Like I said its all in the research. Thanks again!

[wayner]

Originally posted by Winter_Lion
Yes, Ati and Nvidea have made cards for sometime now that feature component video in and out. Most of the same cards also feature Super VHS out, which of course is the connection to use if your monitor or telivision supports this.

As Peter mentioned, I believe you are getting component and composite confused. If your TV supports it component is the way to go.

Composite out is 1 RCA jack, usually yellow.

Component is 3 RCA jacks, red, green and blue and is often labelled Y,Pb,Pr. You will only find this on newer and (usually) HD capable TVs.

Here is the basic rule for quality for analog video (DVI is digital):

Component is better than
S-Video (or S-VHS) which is better than
Composite which is better than
RF (although RF also can carry audio)

[_Shorty]

I beg to differ, 480i is still subject to improvements over s-video using component video.

Originally posted by cmasters
Keep in mind that when using a component out connection it was intended for use with a HD TV for 480p, 720p, or 1080i resolutions. Normal TV users don't get the same improvements.

[cmasters]

I am sure users experience will vary with different hardware, but on my TV I see no difference so for me the component adapter was a waste of money. Once I upgrade to a RPTV though I will hopefully be able to recoup that.

[SHS]

The ideal video card/tuner combo for component would be the Xcard and PVR 250 or any other Hardware MPEG Encoder but BTV dosen't support the Video Renderer rigth now but there one catch to this the Xcard dosen't dsiplay the UI on the TVset unless they support Xcard OSD so only real option here is JovePlayer but that still lot work that need be done with app.

[Winter_Lion]

Hey guys this is great!
I think we are getting the in's and out's of video cards and tvs covered to the nth degree here.
And yes Peter, you were correct in your response, I was confusing my component and composite. My sincere apology for putting my foot in my mouth. I do have a 32' top of the line Toshiba with all the connections so far discussed. You would think I would know better. Sorry again, I didn't mean to mislead!