X-Card just ordered

[Crowdx42]

ok, just ordered the Sigma X-Card. I already have a pvr250 and waiting for new motherboard and cpu. I am gonna use the X-card in the PII 350 machine and then network back to the new box to watch shows etc via the client. This should work ok? All the client is doing is pulling material back off the PII 350 server? It is an Athlon 1800+ cpu and so I think I should be fine with it running the client. It will have a 200 gig hard drive, think I will encode to that drive instead of the local drive on the server. The weak ling currently on the server is now memory, it only has 160mb of memory, so far just playing in software mode on the tv, it doesn't seem to be a problem, thinking it might come into play though if I am recording at the same time as playback?
Any comments?

[Opus4]

It is difficukt to follow the changes in your plans, since each new thing is in a new thread. So, I don't remember what your setup plans were. But, your server w/the xcard will be used for tv playback, right?

- Andy

[Crowdx42]

Sorry will keep the thread here.
Yes, I plan on using the X-card on the server that is used for playback, there will be a PVR 250 in this machine also.
I may add a second PVR 250 later but at present I want to get things setup and working before I spend more cash.
I presume that Sage will automatically use hardware playback once the X-Card is installed.
Full machine specs so far.
PII 350 (old ibm computer)
160 mb PC100 memory
8 gig local hard drive (Basically to install the OS onto)
PVR 250 with silver remote control
SB Live Souncard (that is not definit yet, have other cards, including onboard audio)
X-Card when it arrives.

So that is the system spec to date.
Anyone see any problems here?
Patrick

[SHS]

Crowdx42 just so you know Xcard dose not display SageTV nor the Client GUI on the TV but the Video clip it self will be display on the TV also keep in mind that Xcard only work's Full screen mode like old Voodoo1/2 dose but there no way switch in to FullScreen Mode with Sage using a PC Monitor so the only other option is for you make use of VIP that 26 Pin Header like did but that only works with few Video cards what kind of Video are plan to use?.

[Crowdx42]

I am not understanding?? From the posts here I thought that the X-Card could play everything back from Sage and that it could only not display the desktop?
What use is the X-card then for a PVR solution if I cannot use the Sage TV interface with the X-Card, I thought that Sage used it's hardware to decode the MPEG2 stream?
Will Sage 2 be able to do this OR can Snapstream utilise the X-Card's hardware decoding.
Don't see a point in it if it can't decode Sage TV mpeg stream

[Opus4]

Originally posted by Crowdx42
I am not understanding?? From the posts here I thought that the X-Card could play everything back from Sage and that it could only not display the desktop?
What use is the X-card then for a PVR solution if I cannot use the Sage TV interface with the X-Card, I thought that Sage used it's hardware to decode the MPEG2 stream?
Will Sage 2 be able to do this OR can Snapstream utilise the X-Card's hardware decoding.
Don't see a point in it if it can't decode Sage TV mpeg stream

I believe I told you this in a previous thread: The xcard can play all the SageTV recorded shows, but it cannot currently display the OSD, i.e. the SageTV interface. That has to be shown on a monitor. I have no idea whether SageTV will ever support displaying the interface through the xcard. See this post and this one in one of your previous threads.

SageTV uses the xcard's hardware decoding.

- Andy

[Crowdx42]

So, if I am watching live tv from a PVR 250, how do I output to the tv screen? I still need a video card with a TV out just to watch TV? Also then when watching recorded shows, is it the X-Cards player that is used for playback?
So I would need to output from my box? One from the video card to the tv and the other from the X-card to the tv? Correct? Or can one switch via the vid card passthrough and so get to the desktop that way?
Getting quite confused why folk would be using this card if sage is not compatible?

[SHS]

SageTV with X-Card can only play the MPEG2 file or Home Made DVD it self with no problem.
Sage it self will make use of Xcard decoder no problem there.
But depend on how you hook up the Xcard which dosen't have 2D/3D part like an ATI or nVidia video card do you unstand that?.
There a few way to Hook up Xcard
1: 2nd Monitor with no passthough cable hook up.
2: VIP 26 header this will give you widows mode on your PC Monitor you have by the cable or make one.
The one thing I can't try becuase my GF2 MX 400 didn't have S\Video output so I have no idea on weather not I could make use of desktop on TV as well.
3: TV Output.


My system is make use of VIP and at same time by use Xcard output to my TV with S-Video or Composite or Component output from the Xcard.

[stanger89]

SageTV can use the Xcard (decoder and output) for all the video you have in SageTV that the Xcard supports (MPEG2/Divx), this includes both Live and prerecorded TV (live is actually pre-recorded). However Sage cannot now send it's UI or OSD out the Xcard so you will need one cable from the Xcard to the TV for video and one from the video card to the TV for the Sage UI (Menus/etc) and Windows stuff.

[Crowdx42]

Not sure that my wife will like that, was hoping for an output that would cover all that.. does the PVR 350 do the same? i.e. not display the UI of Sage?
Luckily all the vid cards I have at present have tv outputs... getting kinda confused though how people are using their setups,,, would've thought the setups would be like TV and very seamless.
Patrick

[salsbst]

Originally posted by Crowdx42
[B]So, if I am watching live tv from a PVR 250, how do I output to the tv screen? I still need a video card with a TV out just to watch TV?

No, you can see the video on your TV when it is connected to the Xcard.

So I would need to output from my box? One from the video card to the tv and the other from the X-card to the tv?

If you want to use the Xcard to render the video on your TV then you will have no way (currently) to see the SageTV GUI on the TV at the same time.

[SHS]

Do any of your video card have 26 pin header on top card what kind card is it ATI or nVidia?.

[salsbst]

As of SageTV v2, PVR 350 can display the GUI and the video all at once.

[salsbst]

Originally posted by Crowdx42
getting kinda confused though how people are using their setups

I think the majority are either using a video card or a WinTV PVR 350.

[SHS]

salsbst there is way but I have not try it my self becuase my nVidia GF2 dosen't have S/Video output on GF2 card it self
If rigth I'm 100% sure can do this with VIP and reg Video card

[stanger89]

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Not sure that my wife will like that, was hoping for an output that would cover all that.. does the PVR 350 do the same? i.e. not display the UI of Sage?
Luckily all the vid cards I have at present have tv outputs... getting kinda confused though how people are using their setups,,, would've thought the setups would be like TV and very seamless.
Patrick

The 350 does output the Sage UI (menus) over the TV out, but is limited to MPEG2 playback no Divx and no DVDs.

[salsbst]

Ah, I didn't realize VIP could display video "behind" an OSD.

[salsbst]

Is the 350's "no DVDs" limitation a macrovision and/or CSS thing? If you can find a way to defeat macrovision and CSS is this still a limitation?

[SHS]

Yes it can that why I like VIP salsbst

[Crowdx42]

My Video card that I want to use is a Vivo 64 card from Ati. It has some decoding onboard but really needs more cpu power.
It has both S-Video and rca inputs and out. (S-vid might be only in, not sure).
Could the X-Card be routed with the video card outputting to the the vga in on the X-Card? And allow switching that way?
What is VIP ?
Patrick