Need some video card advice please

[73cuda]

First, I'm sorry if this has been asked but...

I'm using an ATI Radion X1050 card and Catalyst to control it. Now, it works but, the image is "soft" and it's very hard to adjust to get the proper brightness to contrast ratio, infact, I haven't been able to get this ratio right.

I've spent allot of time making adjustments through Catalyst and the picture is still "soft". By soft I mean just not sharp, almost as if the screen is real dusty. I've checked this on several monitors and TV's, they work great and when not going through this card, the pictures from satellite and even cable are bright and sharp.

Is there another software control panel that will help or do I just need to get a much better card ?

I appreciate any advice on this, I just can't deal with it anymore like it is.

Thanks

73cuda

[CollinR]

The extenders are usually better bang:buck, especially for SD content. If thats all you have get a media MVP and be happy.

[73cuda]

Originally Posted by CollinR

The extenders are usually better bang:buck, especially for SD content. If thats all you have get a media MVP and be happy.

Well, I did ask for "any" advice and I thank you for yours.

However, I don't want an MVP.

I need a video card with S-Video out and a very good quality picture. At least better than what this current one does. Or if there is better software for this card.

73

[gplasky]

Not a MVP. A HD Extender. $199 and probably better than any video card you'll pick up and less headache and adjusting and drivers and codecs and....you get the picture.

X1050 is probably not good enough. If you want to stick with ATI the 3400 series is getting good reviews (even playing HD) and the price is good. (In other words cheaper than my suggestion of the HD Extender.)

Gerry

[CollinR]

I like my MSI 8600GT with purevideo just fine, but the hardware decoder in the MVP is superior. My plasma (Dell) has a screwed up method for dealing with HDMI so I usually use VGA.

However that card was more $ then an MVP and the picture quality on SD is inferior. It's just the hardware decoder in the MVP, possibly a PVR350 and use it's decoder would have similar effect without an added box.

[73cuda]

Thank you both for your replies and help.

I actually started out with a PVR-350 when I first got STV and it caused allot of problems with my PC and took it out.

Gerry, How do I know which 3400 series to get ? there are several here...

http://wheretobuy.amd.com/gpus.html#...51%3BS-Video=1

I have PCI slots and PCI express slots

[gplasky]

I would definitely recommend PCI Express. Base it on your budget and get 512MB RAM if you can. But 256MB will siffuce. The 3800 series will of course have better performance. I originally recommended 3400 series for the price/performance bang.

Gerry

[73cuda]

Okay, Thanks for all the advice and help.

Much appreciated !