Video Card Questions

[WoodyTX]

I have no idea where to get this answer, so I'll try here; thanks in advance for your patience.

I'm running a Shuttle SN41G2 with WinXP and BTV 3.5 through the onboard nVidia GeForce 440mx videocard and S-Video to the television. Except for the "zoom issue", and oversaturated reds, it works fine.

I recently purchased an Infocus 4805 projector for movies and such, and am looking to get a basic videocard to run DVI and hopefully better color-balanced S-Video to the TV. Given the current state of video cards, is it possible to output both DVI and S-Video without manually changing the output, either in the OS or physically at the back of the computer? The image would be the same through either, and I would not need both images simultaneously, but would like to switch between them easily.

Any advice on videocards would also be greatly appreciated. I'm leaning towards a passive-cooling GeForce 5200 with DVI, S-Video, and D-Sub connections.

Cheers,

Woody

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by WoodyTX

I have no idea where to get this answer, so I'll try here; thanks in advance for your patience.

I'm running a Shuttle SN41G2 with WinXP and BTV 3.5 through the onboard nVidia GeForce 440mx videocard and S-Video to the television. Except for the "zoom issue", and oversaturated reds, it works fine.

I recently purchased an Infocus 4805 projector for movies and such, and am looking to get a basic videocard to run DVI and hopefully better color-balanced S-Video to the TV. Given the current state of video cards, is it possible to output both DVI and S-Video without manually changing the output, either in the OS or physically at the back of the computer? The image would be the same through either, and I would not need both images simultaneously, but would like to switch between them easily.

Any advice on videocards would also be greatly appreciated. I'm leaning towards a passive-cooling GeForce 5200 with DVI, S-Video, and D-Sub connections.

Cheers,

Woody

I'm running an Infocus PJ myself. One of the older X1s that is very similiar to the 4800. Feeding it with the VGA output directly will give you a much nicer picture. My X1 is a native 4:3 but does 16:9 and also 1080 as well. I run my default screen on the computer at 800x600. That will give you the best looking screen. Opps, maybe the 4800 isn't a native 4:3 ?? Don't remember now. I went with a native 4:3 PJ because I wanted to watch a lot of TV on the "big screen". I have a unique motorized masking system to totally eliminate the light spill caused by projecting a letter box or 16:9 frame with a native 4:3 projector. It's the best of all worlds. Also by using the 4:3 native I get maximum use of the screen in any mode. In other words when I'm watching a 4:3 the screen is 6 foot wide. When watching a 16:9 it's still 6 foot wide. If I used a native 16:9 PJ then when running a 16:9 it would be 6 foot wide, but when watching a 4:3, then it would be cropped on either side making the screen a couple feet less wide. I have a lot of old B/W films archived that are 4:3 and enjoy watching them on the biggest screen I can use in my small (6 seat) theater.

I tried S-video feeding the PJ and it was a lot less qualty than the VGA output of the video card direct.

[cosiz]

I only have experience with the 6600GT, and it is awesome! Mine will output 2 DVI or 1 DVI + 1 S-video, and the nVidea software is very flexible with configuration.

I have my Firefly remote set for the hotkeys I created with the nVidea software to switch between a dual monitor DVI output profile for when I'm watching TV in the same room as my computer (usually while working on that same box), and a DVI/S-video output profile for when I'm watching TV downstairs (I can still work on the computer upstairs, just don't have the 2nd monitor). Works great and I can switch the output configuration from anywhere in my small house.

I also have a hotkey profile switch to go to single monitor for playing games. Maybe nanook105 will post an answer since he has experience withboth the 5200 and 6600 cards.

Cheers,
Bryan

[nanook105]

The 5200 is a good card - probably the best for the price when it comes to a PVR solution (not the best for gaming). I still use 5200s on one of my BTV servers and three of my links. I use 6600s for my other BTV server and one of my links. I'm starting to play with HD, and they come with connections for component and dvi. If you have extra bucks, and are thinking about HD, then I would go with a 6600GT. If you are on a tight budget, and not looking at HD in the short term, the 5200 would probably be best.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by nanook105

The 5200 is a good card - probably the best for the price when it comes to a PVR solution (not the best for gaming). I still use 5200s on one of my BTV servers and three of my links. I use 6600s for my other BTV server and one of my links. I'm starting to play with HD, and they come with connections for component and dvi. If you have extra bucks, and are thinking about HD, then I would go with a 6600GT. If you are on a tight budget, and not looking at HD in the short term, the 5200 would probably be best.

If anything, to insure future compliance make sure what-ever card you get has at least DX-9 on board firmware capability. Many of the newer hi-def stuff and advanced players and codecs require that. In short it can mean the difference of 50 percent CPU use during playback without it, as opposed to less than 10 percent with it.

I have a PC Xpress 6600 Nvidia card in my NLE machine. I also have a lot of ATI cards and was a big ATI fan. However in a lot of the more advanced requirements needed with the latest games and video stuff, I have to say I find the Nvidia graphics card to be better in many ways. I have an ATI 9600 Radeon in my HTPC and frankly it just has a lot of "issues". It's workable and does provide fine quality, but not very good with driver support, screen options and control. Right now I'm looking to replace it with some kind of Nvidia 6000 series card that has both DX-9 firmware support and passive cooling.

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by nanook105

The 5200 is a good card - probably the best for the price when it comes to a PVR solution (not the best for gaming). I still use 5200s on one of my BTV servers and three of my links. I use 6600s for my other BTV server and one of my links. I'm starting to play with HD, and they come with connections for component and dvi. If you have extra bucks, and are thinking about HD, then I would go with a 6600GT. If you are on a tight budget, and not looking at HD in the short term, the 5200 would probably be best.

I have to say that I thought you guys were blowing smoke. I recently realized that I needed more video memory in my BTV Link box, so I spent the extra $ to buy a 6600GT - WOW!

I am now running in 3D mode all of the time and the picture quality is a HUGE step above my old 5200.

Thanks for the serious tip!

[nanook105]

Originally Posted by optikhog

I have to say that I thought you guys were blowing smoke. I recently realized that I needed more video memory in my BTV Link box, so I spent the extra $ to buy a 6600GT - WOW!

I am now running in 3D mode all of the time and the picture quality is a HUGE step above my old 5200.

Thanks for the serious tip!

Yea - sometimes it feels like I am blowing smoke, because it usually isn't that good or different, but this is. And the 6600GT on a link PC is every bit as good as watching it on a server. I still use overlay, but I am going to try out the latest Nvidia beta drivers and beta decoder, and give 3D another try.

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by nanook105

Yea - sometimes it feels like I am blowing smoke, because it usually isn't that good or different, but this is. And the 6600GT on a link PC is every bit as good as watching it on a server. I still use overlay, but I am going to try out the latest Nvidia beta drivers and beta decoder, and give 3D another try.

I 've been tweaking and can now honestly say that I cannot tell the difference between BTV Link and my DCT6200 cable box. It's actually so good now that I can see some slight ghosting introduced to my recordings by the cheap CATV splitter/amplifier I am using. Nice.

The 1.02.50 decoder + 77.72 drivers combo is the other piece of the puzzle which makes things work beautifully. I'm running the 77.72 drivers in completely default configuration and have switched the 1.02.50 decoder to "prefer VMR9" and voila! Give it a try.

[nanook105]

Wow - I completely missed the 77.72 release of the drivers (thanks for pointing that out). I kept looking at the beta drivers page, and it still lists 71.84. Who woulda thunk that the released driver is newer than the beta . I'll have to give both of them a try.

[Wallysaurus]

Optikhog,
Which brand of 6600GT, and if it is actively cooled, how much noise does the fan produce?

Nanook105,
I see you're running the PNY card. How quiet/noisy is the fan on this card?

I'm real close to buying a new video card and have decided to buy some variant of the 6600GT. I'm currently outputting to a 32" Sony SDTV that has component inputs, but plan on purchasing a new HDTV by year's end. I've looked at the passively cooled cards by Gigabyte, but I'm not sure the cheap case (Atech B100, I believe) and PSU I'm currently running would dissipate the heat properly.

[nanook105]

Originally Posted by Wallysaurus

Nanook105,
I see you're running the PNY card. How quiet/noisy is the fan on this card?

The 6600GT on my server is in a closet in the basement, so I don't hear it. The 6600GT for my Link is sitting on a shelf above my TV. It is quieter than the fan on my CPU (not sure if that helps). I have to be very close to hear any noise.

[Wallysaurus]

Thanks Nanook105.

Wally

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by Wallysaurus

Optikhog,
Which brand of 6600GT, and if it is actively cooled, how much noise does the fan produce?

Mine is a Chaintech. The fan on it makes the same amount of noice as my 5200 did, really - I was expecting it to be louder but I can't tell the difference.