Replacement Video Card

[gmcomber]

I'm new...be kind!

I currently am using an ATI X1300 256 video card. The video quality on standard tv has lots to be desired, running DVI>HDMI to a 32in Sony LCD...I know it will never be perfect. I've been up and down the forums on what to change in the Catalyst drivers and Sage, but I cannot get it anywhere close to what it is when the cable is plugged into the TV itself.

So what should I replace the video card with? <$150 would be a good budget number...tiger direct? XFX 8600GT?

Will be running HD when I can get my WinTV-HVR-1800 to work with QAM and Sage...but that's another issue.

P4-3.2ghz, 1024Ram, 320gb sata.

Thanks
G

[Crashless]

I'm not that familiar with AMD/ATI, but if you don't mind NVidia, I got a MSI 8600gts 256 passively cooled from NewEgg, it currently goes for $132 w/ MIR. I'm playing TF2 at 1080p w/ full settings (no AA) on my sharp HDTV via dvi->hdmi. Great card, and has full HD accelleration.

(I'm using Vista too BTW).

[visiontim]

I'm using a 2600xt to a Westinghouse 42 (DVI to DVI) and it looks great in QAM to my eyes. I use the ATI decoders because they look better than the PureVideo ones (in HD I can notice a difference between them).

TF2 rocks!

[phelme]

I think if you go up to an X1650 XT you'll be fine. I have a Sapphire I got for $85 (after rebate) that works great with all HD material I've tried. You don't need anything super high powered for 3D like an 8800 to run HD.

[Jesse]

Hi,

Are you certain this is not a capture issue? What is your capture quality setting? If you are set to capture at a lower quality then nothing will help the pq. Try "Best" or "Mpeg2max" if you have'nt already and see if that helps.

HTH

Jesse

[thatdude90210]

Before buying a new video card, let's see if your issue is the TRDenoise issue that's fixed here.

[gmcomber]

Ok...I've been playing around with all the settings. Did the registry entry for TRDenoise, and set the recording levels to Mpeg2max, no change. Changing between VMR9 and overlay, no change, change codecs, no change. Took out the splitter so the cable is basically a straight run from the poll (one straight through connector, shielded RG6 in the house), no change.

I also spent some time to setup WinTV properly. SD looks the same in WinTV as it does in Sage.

Now QAM is a different story in WinTV. I get a dozen QAM channels in WinTV and they look good. I would rate the PQ just a notch below a standard DVD in terms of quality...at least the QAM channels are watchable in WinTV...any SD channels forget it, I switch back to the TV tuner.

So is all this pointing at the video card, or the hvr-1800 tuner?
-G