What's the ultimate video card

[gbluhm]

I am looking for recommendations for a high-end video/graphics card for my HTPC. I only use it for Sage in 1080p and do no gaming whatsoever.

I am currently using a Gigabyte card based on the NVIDIA 8600GTS chipset and am very unsatisfied. I am using the NVIDIA PureVideo decoder and am getting jerky movement and lousy deinterlacing. Also, but somewhat less importantly even with the latest release of drivers the desktop size cannot be adjusted to compensate for the TV overscan. The NVIDIA forums indicate that many have the same problem with the 8800 chipset.

The ATI Radeon 3000 series (3400, 3600, 3800) have a very intriguing write-up on the ATI web site but apparently these boards aren’t available yet.

What do you all see as the ultimate video board for HD1080p?

[rlvogel322]

I'm not sure what the ultimate would be but the new G92 (Nvida based 8800GTS) has been getting some pretty good reviews.

Personally, I would hold off and use the money that you would spend on a new card and get yourself a HD Extender when they're available.

That's my plan. It will also help with trying to get sound drivers and the likes on my WHS.

[mattdcknsn]

If you are looking at ATI vid cards keep an eye out on the dual GPU core ones coming out.

[gbluhm]

Do you have any numbers on the card you're thinking of. I find the ATI numbers confusing.

Has anyone used one of the video (as opposed to gaming) oriented cards such as Matrox. Does Pinnacle still make video cards?

[mattdcknsn]

Here is what I found, I dont use ATI cards so I dont understand their numbering scheme either.
http://game.amd.com/us-en/unlock_radeonhd3870x2.aspx

I think their dual GPU core graphics cards end with "x2".

[SHS]

This best way to go is with SageTV STX-HD100 Media Extender becuase you get REAL Hardware Decoder
mattdcknsn that high end gaming card not so much gear for media

[rlvogel322]

Originally Posted by gbluhm

Do you have any numbers on the card you're thinking of. I find the ATI numbers confusing.

ATI 3870 X2 manufactured by various vendors. Just became available this week.

[osburnfamily]

Personally, I own an 8500GT (Using the latest drivers from nvidia) & run the Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 decoder. For audio I use AC3Filter Using DSFMgr I set the PowerDVD Decoder & AC3 Filter to the highest merit. In Sage I set the Decoders to 'Default' (even though you can see PowerDVD, setting it to PowerDVD doesn't always work & may default to the Sage decoder). I also run SageTV in VMR9 with FSE Enabled and output DVI-to-HDMI on my 1080p LCD. Lastly, I have TWO HVR-1600's. 1 Svideo from my Dish (The analog signal), and 2 QAM HD Sources.

All that said, I can record all three sources & watch one of the HD recordings without any hickup/jerkyness at all.

You should be able to get the same performance on your 8600GTS. Both chipsets use the PureVideo 2 (not 1 or HD) hardware decoder. The link below shows a great comp. chart.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...its#Features_3

If you get the above configured & you STILL have problems, you'll want to check elsewhere for the problem (ie, harddrive speed, CPU speed/type, signal strength of the HD QAM or OTA).

just my 2 cents. hope it was helpful.

[fyodor]

I second this. It's possible to waste a lot of money on video cards and a lot of time on system configuration without getting satisfactory results. Maybe it works for a while and then some update or new piece of software messes up the rendering architecture or screws up the drivers. An extender isn't much more than a good video card.

Originally Posted by SHS

This best way to go is with SageTV STX-HD100 Media Extender becuase you get REAL Hardware Decoder
mattdcknsn that high end gaming card not so much gear for media

[dadavo]

I have an ATI HD2600Pro and have no problems play HD DVD and Blu-ray content at 1080p. I have also used the HD2400Pro for 720p and it also performed well. In both cases only about 15 - 20 % of my CPU was utilized. You can get the newer ATI cards but if you are only doing HD playback it would be overkill.

[sandor]

the ultimate would handle HD with no problem, have HDMI out and be fanless.

[Crashless]

Hmm. I agree that you should be able to get excellent results with that video card. I have one too but I am using Vista, but I thought Purevideo HD had been ported to XP.

Are you sure the Purevideo Codec is configured properly. IIRC, it is surprisingly difficult to get setup to take advantage of the hardware acceleration. When setup correctly, you should be able to get a VERY GOOD picture. I don't think you need a new card.

As for resolution settings. Have you given Power Strip a try? I know a lot of people really like it, and it does what you need. There's a trial to test it out.

Edit: A quick look at the manual, it it seems you should be able to adjust the desktop overscan within the driver as well. Has something changed lately?

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by sandor

the ultimate would handle HD with no problem, have HDMI out and be fanless.

One of the best descriptions of a STX-HD 100 Extender.


Gerry

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by SHS

This best way to go is with SageTV STX-HD100 Media Extender becuase you get REAL Hardware Decoder
mattdcknsn that high end gaming card not so much gear for media

+1 for the STX-HD100

[CollinR]

I have an MSI8500GT HDCP&HDMI fanless and under $100.

Never had a trouble but my display (Dell 50" plasma) has limited input capability and will not provide a 1:1 pixel over HDMI. SageTV has no problems allowing for this with it's overscan corrections but for web surfing (the reason not to get an extender) it's no dice. Performance over VGA is dandy.

[thatdude90210]

You guys forgot to mention one very important thing about the STX-HD 100 extender... you can't buy one at the moment.

[GTwannabe]

Originally Posted by gbluhm

I am looking for recommendations for a high-end video/graphics card for my HTPC. I only use it for Sage in 1080p and do no gaming whatsoever.

I am currently using a Gigabyte card based on the NVIDIA 8600GTS chipset and am very unsatisfied. I am using the NVIDIA PureVideo decoder and am getting jerky movement and lousy deinterlacing. Also, but somewhat less importantly even with the latest release of drivers the desktop size cannot be adjusted to compensate for the TV overscan. The NVIDIA forums indicate that many have the same problem with the 8800 chipset.

The ATI Radeon 3000 series (3400, 3600, 3800) have a very intriguing write-up on the ATI web site but apparently these boards aren’t available yet.

What do you all see as the ultimate video board for HD1080p?

I assume you are still running Windows XP? I had the same problems with the 8500GT in my HTPC until I gave Vista a try. The trick is you need to be running the Aero desktop. The Athlon x2 2ghz system in my sig plays 1080i/P HD content at a rock-solid 60fps under Aero. If you disable Aero and use the Basic desktop, it tears and drops frames, hovering around the mid 50's.

Throw a spare hard drive in the system and give Vista (Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate) a crack. Your video card is more than capable of perfect HD playback in Sage, so don't throw away money on a different card.