Video Card Choice

[zysurge]

I'm planning to replace my existing BeyondTV machine using a Dell Optiplex 270 I was given by a friend. It's a desktop case with onboard video, so I'm in the market for an low profile AGP video card to put into it. I've narrowed it down to two choices:

Powercolor R96L-LC3
http://www.powercolor.com/product.asp?id=39
This is a Radeon 9550SE based card. It has DVI and S-video out with passive cooling.

Asus N6200/TD
http://usa.asus.com/products/vga/n6200td/overview.htm
This is an nVidia GeForce 6200 based card. It has DVI and composite out with passive cooling.

I'd like to be able to use nVidia's DVD Decoder and/or PureVision, so I'd prefer the Asus card. But, it doesn't have s-video. Will composite be that much of a poorer connection method?

Anyone have any recommendations or have one of these cards already? Maybe someone knows of a low profile alternative I haven't run across yet?

Here's what else will be in the machine:
P4-2.4 GHz, 512 MB Pc2700, Happauge PVR-500MCE, WD 3200JB

Thanks in advance,
Eric

[dlandrum]

I had an issue playing DVDs using a dongle that came with my 6600GT:
nVidia Drivers restrict DVD play

a DVI cable circumvented the restriction

[BenH]

Do not count on speed with a 9550SE . SE means 64bit . A regular 9550 is about mainstay . I would like a 6200 AGP . They have more pipelines than a 9550 .

What is your display going to be ? If it is Standard TV composite and Svideo can look a like . It depends on the quality of the signal and cable and not the cable type .

[zysurge]

I'm using a standard 27" TV - nothing hi-def at this time. I figure if I ever go hi-def, I'll be using the DVI, so the s-video vs composite will be a non-issue at that time.

So I should be able to get a good (great?) output using composite and a short, high quality cable, like something from BlueJeans Cables?

As for the 9550SE, I realize the SE is 64 bit, but does that matter as much since this will be a dedicated media PC? I don't plan to do any gaming on it.

Thanks for the responses,
Eric

[BenH]

It is hard to predict the future . The SE will not handle Hi Def WMV if it becomes popular enoguh to want it . I think the 6200 might cope . My 9600 barely copes . It is not playbable though from the last demos I tryed quite a few months ago . I do not really think Hi Def WMV will be popular .

The SE will be fine for now with mpeg2 with hardware enocoders . Without hardware encoders the other will do better . I wonder if the 6200 will have a much better picture on composite . The DVI level will be the same .


Does the 6200 AGP composite look better than 9550 se svideo or composite ?

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by BenH

It is hard to predict the future . The SE will not handle Hi Def WMV if it becomes popular enoguh to want it . I think the 6200 might cope . My 9600 barely copes . It is not playbable though from the last demos I tryed quite a few months ago . I do not really think Hi Def WMV will be popular .

The SE will be fine for now with mpeg2 with hardware enocoders . Without hardware encoders the other will do better . I wonder if the 6200 will have a much better picture on composite . The DVI level will be the same .


Does the 6200 AGP composite look better than 9550 se svideo or composite ?

If you are at all planning to go Hi-def in the future, I would suggest looking at how your video card will work with what-ever HD capture device you end up with.

I had an Nvidia graphics card that I just loved and worked fine with all my standard definition capture cards. I went the high def route and got an ATI HDTV Wonder (off the air) capture card. It worked but there were issues. That capture card really worked best when paired with ATI's own video card. Which they recommended to be a Radeon 9500 or better.

VERY important .. make sure your video card has DX-9 support. HD capture (at least with the ATI HDTV Wonder) just won't work right without it. You can get the best info quickly on card capabilities by going to the Newegg web site. They have a nice set up with verbose details and multi-view images. I found my Radeon 9600 there. A Visiontek model of the ATI 9600. Spotted it right away as it had everything I need. A nice well designed "passive" heat sink, 256 MB DDR, 8x agp, DX-9 support and all kinds of output capability. (I only use the VGA to feed a projector in a home theater)

I would have preferred to use my old Nvidia Card, but it just didn't have the horsepower or the DX-9 on card firmware to support the HDTV.

Plan for the future or you'll be collecting graphics cards like me.

[nanook105]

Originally Posted by Rich A

If you are at all planning to go Hi-def in the future, I would suggest looking at how your video card will work with what-ever HD capture device you end up with.

I had an Nvidia graphics card that I just loved and worked fine with all my standard definition capture cards. I went the high def route and got an ATI HDTV Wonder (off the air) capture card. It worked but there were issues. That capture card really worked best when paired with ATI's own video card. Which they recommended to be a Radeon 9500 or better.

VERY important .. make sure your video card has DX-9 support. HD capture (at least with the ATI HDTV Wonder) just won't work right without it. You can get the best info quickly on card capabilities by going to the Newegg web site. They have a nice set up with verbose details and multi-view images. I found my Radeon 9600 there. A Visiontek model of the ATI 9600. Spotted it right away as it had everything I need. A nice well designed "passive" heat sink, 256 MB DDR, 8x agp, DX-9 support and all kinds of output capability. (I only use the VGA to feed a projector in a home theater)

I would have preferred to use my old Nvidia Card, but it just didn't have the horsepower or the DX-9 on card firmware to support the HDTV.

Plan for the future or you'll be collecting graphics cards like me.

Did you try a 6600GT with the ATI HDTV Wonder ?

[zysurge]

I *think* I've found a card that combines everything I wanted. It's an nVidia 6200 AGP Low profile card with passive cooling, but unlike the Asus card, it has S-Video out.

http://3btech.net/panvgefx258x.html

It's an off-brand, but I'm thinking that shouldn't really be an issue, right? I'll still be able to use nVidia's drivers, and then their DVD Decoder software.

Thoughts, anyone?

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by nanook105

Did you try a 6600GT with the ATI HDTV Wonder ?

No I didn't. The Nvidia card I had only supported DX-8. I think the key thing was DX-9 support. The Radeon 9600 I ultimately got had on-card firmware to support DX-9. I suppose that any card with 128 or 256 RAM and DX-9 support might work okay. I didn't try one though and wanted to optimise my HD support for the ATI HDTV Wonder capture card. (back then I was using the MS XP MCE 2005 for HD)

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by zysurge

I *think* I've found a card that combines everything I wanted. It's an nVidia 6200 AGP Low profile card with passive cooling, but unlike the Asus card, it has S-Video out.

http://3btech.net/panvgefx258x.html

It's an off-brand, but I'm thinking that shouldn't really be an issue, right? I'll still be able to use nVidia's drivers, and then their DVD Decoder software.

Thoughts, anyone?

Does it have DX-9 support? If not, I'd forget it. By the way, my ATI Radeon works fine with the Nvidia Decoder.

[zysurge]

Originally Posted by Rich A

Does it have DX-9 support? If not, I'd forget it. By the way, my ATI Radeon works fine with the Nvidia Decoder.

Yes, it does. With the NV44a core, it fully supports DX9.

I'd love to go with a Radeon, but the only low profile one I've found is the 9550SE, which many people have pointed out is a 64 bit card. The nVidia 6200 is substantially more powerful.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by zysurge

Yes, it does. With the NV44a core, it fully supports DX9.

I'd love to go with a Radeon, but the only low profile one I've found is the 9550SE, which many people have pointed out is a 64 bit card. The nVidia 6200 is substantially more powerful.

Ah .. low profile .. wasn't thinking of that. I assume that case is a "bookshelf" type low profile ?? FWIW, I've tried all kinds of cases. For a PC PVR that would be running 24/7, I've found the low profile type cases to not have enough air flow. Usually the only exhaust they have to remove the hot air is that of the power supply fan and one or two anemic 60 mm case fans. If you are not going to be running it 24/7 though, it might be okay. I tried a few different low profile cases (tested 24/7 without a capture card but with a controlled high current draw) and they proved to be lacking in several areas. Limitations to CPU coolers because of the small height factor and smaller fans were a couple. Plus the power supplies were limited and replacements with better power handling capabilty were hard to implement because of their non-standard physical sizes. Just something to think about.

[TV Scheduler]

Originally Posted by nanook105

Did you try a 6600GT with the ATI HDTV Wonder ?

I did, and it works fine. As much as I hate ATI, I liked their 9800 Pro better then the 6600 GT.

If I can get a replacement fan from those clowns I'll go back to the 9800.

Bob