Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier with my Xcard.... - Page 4

SHS · #61 05-19-2005, 11:17 AM

I'm sorry jan smit but only some ATI and most Nvidia card are support

dbfresh23 · #62 05-19-2005, 11:34 AM

Unless that is specified directly in the dll file, a Matrox card w/ VIP should work. VIP is just a standard, shouldn't really care what kind of card it is so long as it has a functional VIP connector. I think i'm going to get an old Matrox card off ebay to test that theory.

SHS · #63 05-19-2005, 12:14 PM

Yes a specified directly in the dll file and registry I have all ready try dbfresh23 with few Matrox card G100, G200, Millennium and Millenium 2.
One's I haven't try are 3Dfx, Intel i740/i752/i754 or Real3D StarFighter (i740), S3Trio, S3Savage, S3Savage4, IGS, CHIPS, CHIPS69, Trident.

ErsatzTom · #64 05-20-2005, 06:06 AM

BTW, after getting the correct dll, my Xcard with the two soldered on pins is now up and running through the VIP to my video card.

I haven't figured everything out yet but so far it is great. If I can't get everything working just the way I want it I might work on making my plugin do just the MediaPlayer part. I'm very happy with this new arrangement.

t

jan smit · #65 05-20-2005, 08:05 AM

@SHS and @dbfresh23: You were right (again) SHS, this setup is not working with the Matrox G550, you can save the effort dbfresh23. I managed to get hold of an ASUS V8200 deluxe with 26 pin header and TV-out and that works with the 40 pin IDE cable (thanks to your inputs both). Fortunalely, because the two suppliers I tried are not prepared to ship the cable overseas. I then tried the same setup again with the Matrox without success, green screens again.
Xcard picture via the TV-out (s-video) of the V8200 looks good, but not as good as the picture straight from the Xcard. Another negative is that the TV-out picture does not completely fill my TV-screen, I get 4 black borders with at the inside a waveform shape. The NVidia driver allows me to move the picture in all directions, but not to make it larger. Maybe I am overlooking something and I would be glad to receive some advice. I may want to look for a card with a better TV-out, or maybe even a motherboard with 26 pin header and onboard (better) TV-out. Does anybody have any suggestions????

@ErsatzTom: since the picture straight from the Xcard looks better, I would still hope that you find a PAL-solution for your plugin. I hope (and expect) that that would solve some of the slow and unstable channel-switching, of which I can hardly believe that it is caused by lack of power of my system (Athlon XP 2600+, 512MB). Apart from this problem I like the plugin very much. If you don't intend to continue with it, please tell us so that we can concentrate on the alternatives.

Best regards, jan

ErsatzTom · #66 05-20-2005, 09:28 AM

I definitely have plans to continue work on the plugin. I would bring others on board who maybe have more time but you have to have an NDA with SD to get access to their SDK. A solution for your problem is my first priority when I crack open the code again. And now that I have my Xcard VIP project up and running that should be very soon.

t

fieldeffect · #67 05-20-2005, 05:08 PM

Tom - You'd share code with someone who'd signed the NDA? I got as far as talking to Sigma but they wanted implementation details for the application i'd be using it for. If I could tell them i'm working with you they might consider it.

Nick.

ErsatzTom · #68 05-20-2005, 09:05 PM

Oh, yeah. I'd make it open source if I could. I was just pretty darn happy to be able to work on it at all, though.

t

mikejaner · #69 05-23-2005, 06:31 AM

I found out I have the Xcard with the VIP connector......
I am not using it, so, if somebody want's to contact me etc...

something fishy · #70 05-23-2005, 07:12 PM

@ Jan smit
I had the same problem that you did. A program called TV tool was suggested for me and it works excellently when the nvidia drivers won't enable you to control over/underscan. I think it costs 12 euro. Google for it.
Some of the new epia boards have a VIP in (including the new SP). Given how cool these run this would seem an idea solution. Details and specs of the Epia boards are here:
http://www.viaembedded.com/product/index.jsp
Cheers
Eric

jan smit · #71 05-24-2005, 02:07 AM

Thank you, Eric.
I am playing with TVTool at the moment, which may be my solution. I'm still having some problems with switching between the two heads of the graphics card, sometimes that takes many tries and sometimes even fails.
The Epia boards look very attractive, but the problem there is that ther is only room for one PCI board (Hauppauge) after which there is no room for the Xcard.

Regards, jan

fieldeffect · #72 05-24-2005, 07:54 AM

Jan - Use a riser card to plug in two PCI cards.

The problem I had when doing that was that the combined heat of a Hauppauge TV card and an XCard in such close proximity in a small case made it get incredibly hot, but that's more of a small case / bad ventilation issue.

Nick.

mikejaner · #73 05-24-2005, 09:32 AM

So, the SP is probably a good client. I wish it had DVI-d output though

jan smit · #74 05-24-2005, 11:44 AM

It may be worth a try, but not for the moment.

Thanks, jan

dblaine2 · #75 05-24-2005, 07:23 PM

Can you tell if there is a model number difference between Xcards with, without and minus 2 pins on the VIP connector?

On their website it is PN 49402. Didn't know if there are any other identifying numbers on the card itself that may distinguish between them.

dblaine2 · #76 05-24-2005, 07:43 PM

I did a quick search and came across this...

Seems to be cheapest retail place to get an Xcard and according to the Bill of Materials comes with a VGA pass-thru cable so I assume it has a VIP connector.

http://www.provantage.com/buy-7SIGM0...2-shopping.htm

dbfresh23 · #77 05-24-2005, 08:57 PM

You probably don't want to buy a new xcard. Sigma has started removing the VIP pins on them, some are missing 2 and some are missing the header all together. Your best bet is to get one on ebay(after confirming that VIP is on it) or I'm pretty sure I saw a few posts up that mikejaner has one with VIP for sale.

You would assume wrong, the VGA pass through has nothing to do with VIP.

mediahome · #78 05-24-2005, 10:22 PM

Mike - I have a EPIA SP running with an Xcard and PVR250 in a 2 PCI riser. I assembled a custom cable to take the VIP out from the Xcard to the VIP_2 connector on the SP motherboard. The cable was a bit tricky but I finally figured it out. Only needed 10 of the 26 VIP pins to make it work.

At this point I have Sage menu's overlayed on the Xcard out to the VGA or Svideo outputs. I am now awaiting the new DVI-02 adapter so that I can output to my HDTV. I am a bit concerned about getting a decent 1280x720 out of the on-board video thought. We'll see.

fieldeffect · #79 05-25-2005, 06:18 AM

Mediahome - It sounds like you're running almost exactly what I want for one of my systems.

How do you cope with heat from the XCard and TV card in a Mini-ITX case? And what is the TV quality like from the EPIA board's own TV Out?

I'm essentially trying to run something totally fanless (so using a 600Mhz CPU)

Nick.

dblaine2 · #80 05-25-2005, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

You probably don't want to buy a new xcard. Sigma has started removing the VIP pins on them, some are missing 2 and some are missing the header all together. Your best bet is to get one on ebay(after confirming that VIP is on it) or I'm pretty sure I saw a few posts up that mikejaner has one with VIP for sale.

You would assume wrong, the VGA pass through has nothing to do with VIP.

OK, thanks for the heads up. But going back to my earlier question, is there any other identifying numbers? I ask just because some people will quickly assume it has pins it has VIP and it may be missing 2.

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