Xcard revisited

[chrispy]

I tried searching to find some new info on the Xcard and Sage TV. No luck. Sorry if this is a repeated question.

I have been running the Xcard just fine with normal TV using the VGA output. I have always had a problem with screen sizing on a 42" Samsung when using the VGA connecter and DVDs.

Finally I am trying to resolve the issues. FYI all my DVDs are ripped. I could never get say a letterbox DVD to fill the box correctly with the VGA no matter what setting I invoked. It even got to the point that it would change randomly.

Recently I switched to Svideo. Seems like more than a decent enough picture, and I am able to fill out the screen on appropriate DVDs. Problem is what am I loosing? In other words is this the ideal situation?

FYI, I do have a 350 and a higher end ATI Wonder card (model fails me). The HTPC is a headless unit, that I use a Airpanel to get to. So I am not sure if using the output of the ATI card is an option. This is one of my reasons for using the output of the Xcard.

I am using the newest beta version of Sage TV. Although now I am having issues with some of the DVDs hanging (ripped or in the DVD drive). Hopefully that issue will be resolved as the beta matures.

Another question. Does anyone know how to determine what format a ripped DVD is in? Talking about letter box, 4:3, etc . For example I have "The Wall" DVD that the case informs me that it is in widescreen. How could I determine that as a ripped DVD?

Thanks in advance,
Chris