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

[mayamaniac]

I think I'm starting to understand, so its like a normal playback in SageTV on the computer monitor, only its using the Xcard's hardware to decode the video stream and the video card to render the SageTV UI. Is this correct?

Although I'm not sure how you get your video card to use the VIP input instead of software decoding, is there a setting somewhere in the video card properties?

What about deinterlacing, VMR9 tearing, and overall picture quality? If you were to output to the TV, what's the picture quality like if its through the video card's S-Video, especially compare to normal TV output of the Xcard or PVR-350?

[insomniac]

No matter what anyone says about their video card output, the xcard and pvr350 output is far better in clarity, sharpness, color representation, etc. I have had many GF cards (including testing my 6600 from my gaming machine). They looked great when tweaked for hours on end, but in the end dont hold a candle to the hardware output of either of these cards..

Your mileage may vary...

I.

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

I think I'm starting to understand, so its like a normal playback in SageTV on the computer monitor, only its using the Xcard's hardware to decode the video stream and the video card to render the SageTV UI. Is this correct?

Although I'm not sure how you get your video card to use the VIP input instead of software decoding, is there a setting somewhere in the video card properties?

What about deinterlacing, VMR9 tearing, and overall picture quality? If you were to output to the TV, what's the picture quality like if its through the video card's S-Video, especially compare to normal TV output of the Xcard or PVR-350?

[AWS]

I would have to agree with insomniac on his previous post. I used to use the 350 output but got tired of the heat issues and general lockups so I switched over to the nVidia decoders and am using a 6800 (std) with s-video. The 350 looked so much better (crisper, cleaner and more finer detail) but it just didn't work for me. I'm going the route of the VIP header with an XCard.

Speaking of that, I just won two eBay auctions on accident for video cards that have a VIP header on them. One is an Asus V8200 T5 Deluxe and the other is Ti200 that was pulled from a Compaq Presario. If anyone is interested in this Ti200 card, let me know. I'm not looking for any profit just want to get rid of it since I won it on accident. <shaking head>

[blade]

No matter what anyone says about their video card output, the xcard and pvr350 output is far better in clarity, sharpness, color representation, etc. I have had many GF cards (including testing my 6600 from my gaming machine). They looked great when tweaked for hours on end, but in the end dont hold a candle to the hardware output of either of these cards..

Are you just talking about the S-Video quality or the component as well? I currently have a 6600GT and it looks great to me; however, on certain shows I have deinterlacing problems. I have considered getting an X-Card just to see how it looks, but I'm running at 720p.

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by blade

Are you just talking about the S-Video quality or the component as well? I currently have a 6600GT and it looks great to me; however, on certain shows I have deinterlacing problems. I have considered getting an X-Card just to see how it looks, but I'm running at 720p.

For component or DVI output to your TV, it looks a lot better and more acceptable than S-Video. The problem is unlesss you have an HDTV, most likely your TV won't have component or DVI inputs. But with either case you still use a software decoder, and it can't compare to hardware decoding with proper resolution and interlacing to the TV. In fact, the 350's TV-Output picture quality looks better than what you see playing back on your computer monitor, nevermind S-vido output.

Back to topic of the Xcard and VIP, are there any PCI video cards that supports VIP and is it possible to setup this VIP method up with a PCI card? Reason I'm asking is I have a 6600GT for gaming and would like to keep that card in the machine.

[insomniac]

I must admit that I have not used component outs on any vid cards, but I believe that my statement would cary across to any component setups as well. Dont get me wrong, Im sure that component setups would look twice as good as s-video(which looks great), but I believe that you will still run into color "trueness" and clarity issues when comparing anything to hardware decoding.

Just my take on it...

I.

Originally Posted by blade

Are you just talking about the S-Video quality or the component as well? I currently have a 6600GT and it looks great to me; however, on certain shows I have deinterlacing problems. I have considered getting an X-Card just to see how it looks, but I'm running at 720p.

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

Back to topic of the Xcard and VIP, are there any PCI video cards that supports VIP and is it possible to setup this VIP method up with a PCI card? Reason I'm asking is I have a 6600GT for gaming and would like to keep that card in the machine.

There are some older Nvidia TNT2 PCI cards kicking around out there with VIP. I've been thinking about grabbing one and trying it out. Check out ebay, they can be had pretty cheap.

[cmaffia]

I am confused about the requirements for this new way to use the Xcard.
I understand the main video card has to have the VIP header which connects to the Xcard, but does the main video card have to have a TV out or does the TV connect to the Xcard? Please clarify
Thanks!

[mediahome]

When using the Xcard to VIP you are overlaying the Xcard video onto the PC Video card video. The combined video (with Sage menus) is output using your PC video card using whatever it and your TV is cabable of.

[cmaffia]

So if I am understanding correctly.. my video card would need to have TV-Out if I want to display on TV, yes?

Originally Posted by mediahome

When using the Xcard to VIP you are overlaying the Xcard video onto the PC Video card video. The combined video (with Sage menus) is output using your PC video card using whatever it and your TV is cabable of.

[cmaffia]

Can anyone recommend a PCI Video Card (can't use AGP in any of my systems - built in videoboard and no AGP slots) with TV-OUT and VIP header?

[mediahome]

Depends on what the combination of your video card and TV are capable of. If your TV has a "PC Video" (9 pin DSub) input then your video card would not need an SVideo or Component Video, etc. out.

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by cmaffia

Can anyone recommend a PCI Video Card (can't use AGP in any of my systems - built in videoboard and no AGP slots) with TV-OUT and VIP header?

I asked this question before, but I think no one has tried PCI video cards, so we are on our own with this one, unless someone else would like to test for us. The one thing I'm not cleared about is how does the video card know when to use VIP and when not to? Is there a Properties setting somewhere you have to change? It's bizarre in this thread that no one can explain what's this all about and how it works without making it sound more confusing.

[cmaffia]

I am clear how it works
Xcard output passes through VIP cable to primary video card. Pretty simple

I am just looking for a model number of a PCI Video card with either S-VIDEO or Composite out that has the VIP header.. anyone??

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

I asked this question before, but I think no one has tried PCI video cards, so we are on our own with this one, unless someone else would like to test for us. The one thing I'm not cleared about is how does the video card know when to use VIP and when not to? Is there a Properties setting somewhere you have to change? It's bizarre in this thread that no one can explain what's this all about and how it works without making it sound more confusing.

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

The one thing I'm not cleared about is how does the video card know when to use VIP and when not to? Is there a Properties setting somewhere you have to change? It's bizarre in this thread that no one can explain what's this all about and how it works without making it sound more confusing.

There are no settings files to control the VIP connection. The only thing you need to do is copy a dll(which I or a few others here would be more then happy to provide you with) to the system32 directory. Once that file is installed it will automatically pass the video to the player on the monitor display or to the tv via tv out on the video card.

I was going to buy a PCI video card w/ VIP last week, but I've been avoiding ebay a bit since getting taken for $1100 a few weeks ago.

[cmaffia]

Yuck $1100 bux???
Can you send me or post those DLL's I found a PCI card that I put in my mom's computer, exactly what I need, PCI with SVIDEO and has the VIP header. Its a 32MB TNT2 Viper from Diamond

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

There are no settings files to control the VIP connection. The only thing you need to do is copy a dll(which I or a few others here would be more then happy to provide you with) to the system32 directory. Once that file is installed it will automatically pass the video to the player on the monitor display or to the tv via tv out on the video card.

I was going to buy a PCI video card w/ VIP last week, but I've been avoiding ebay a bit since getting taken for $1100 a few weeks ago.

[krass]

Just making sure that I have all of this thread straight before I purchase an Xcard.

So, we hook the VIP cable between the Xcard and the Display adapter (yes, provided it has the 26-pin connection) and pipe the video from the Display adapter to the TV. And from what it sounds like, or what I'm gathering is that the video is overlayed on the signal from the Xcard and sent to the TV? If this is the case, is the video that is overlayed for the OSD, and if so, is the quality good enough for WAF? And we will also need the DLL and register said DLL in the System32 directory.

I'm assuming that people that have this configuration haven't had nearly the number of lockups that the 350 owners (like me) have had? And also have not had the Audio Sync issues using the SP/DIF?

I would finally like to get my PVR working the way it should have almost a year and a half ago.

Thanks for the help!

[cmaffia]

My video card that I will use as primary has 25 pins and the configuration looks exactly like this ............. . ...........
Will it still work with my Xcard??

[cmaffia]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

I have tested my GF256 and GF3 Ti200 and both work so there is a good chance yours will also, but don't hold me to it!

How many pins of the 26 does your Ti200 have? The one I am looking at has 25 (missing pin 15)

[krass]

Cmaffia -

Looking at the quote below, I'm not sure that it will work without pin 15 being there. If you could solder a pin into the solder point where 15 should be, it may work, but looking at your representation of the VIP, you may have to build a custom cable.

Edited: Did some more research on the VIP port and it is what I thought it was, so you would have to build a custom cable seeing as how the VIP is 13x2 and your diagram was showing a 25x1. That or you meant to have 14-26 right under 1-13.

Originally Posted by mediahome

Are you sure those 24 pin xcards are not usable? It is my understanding that Sigma only uses 10 of those pins anyway - 8 data lines, clock, and a ground.

Pin Signal

1 DATA00
2 GND
3 DATA01
5 DATA02
7 DATA03
9 DATA04
11 DATA05
13 DATA06
15 DATA07
17 CLOCK

You might try a 26 pin cable to connect to the VIP on the video card and see what happens.

Matt