Video card suggestions

[emcnish]

I want to prove out a home built PVR over the store bough DVD burner/Tivo solutions to myself and my wife. I have an extra 2.2 GHz system for the test and I'm going to get a Hauppauge 250 ('cuz that's all Fry's carries on the shelf, I'd rather the 350 because of Sage's support.)

My question is what is the cheapest video card I can get away with?

I'll upgrade later if all proves out but I don't want to sink a lot on this test.

Thanks!

[salsbst]

I'd recommend an nVidia 5200fx. I use that for my server (which drives a small TV in the study).... it's perfectly serviceable.

I'd also recommend that you don't use a 350 -- more trouble than it's worth.

[Scriber]

On the cheap side I second the 5200FX. Try to get a fanless version if possible.

Though I wonder how that compares with a 9600 since they are about the same price at NEWEGG.

[salsbst]

I actually have a 9600 that I use on my client (main) HTPC for its component outputs to a 1080i HDTV. If you have an HDTV whose best input method is component, then a 9600 is a decent choice. But if you're using TV OUT (svid or composite) then I think nVidia is a better choice.

[Scriber]

I hope this does not to highjack the topic b/c this is a good question but....

I thought most (all?) HDTVs have DVI/VGA input - preferred vs component input?

Also, I thought that the 9600 supported VMR9 and the 5200 did not (or at least not as well). Incorrect?

[salsbst]

Those inputs are preferrable if available. Not all HDTVs have them. Mine doesn't.

9600 does ok w/VMR9 -- I use it on my HTPC. But for a TV whose best input is svideo or worse, I don't think VMR9 makes any sense. If you are gung ho for VMR9, a card stronger than the 9600 is probably in order.

[emcnish]

Originally Posted by salsbst

I'd also recommend that you don't use a 350 -- more trouble than it's worth.

Just curious... why? I've only seen good things about the 350.

Thanks for the replies!!!

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Scriber

I thought most (all?) HDTVs have DVI/VGA input - preferred vs component input?

Most new ones do, but if they're more than 1-2 years old they're almost certainly limited to component.

[Scriber]

Originally Posted by emcnish

Just curious... why? I've only seen good things about the 350.

Poke around here a bit since there's been lots with issues incuding me. The issues relate to chipset issues with the 350 and Sage OSD. I've not followed this lately to know if they've been fixed or not. Setting aside OSD, the 350 output PQ is better on SDTV at least w/o tweaking.

I have a 350 but don't even use the output. I really should sell/trade for a 250 +...

[emcnish]

I just opened the case of my test machine. There's already an nvidia GeForce 2 MX card in it. I did some looking but couldn't find how it compares to the 5200 FX suggested. All I know is that it does have a TV out. Is the 2MX good enough for a test or should I splurge the $50-$100 for the 5200? I'm guessing the MX isn't good for games but maybe good enough for testing Sage and the 250???

Thanks again for all the great advice.

[stanger89]

It would be good enough for a test, it would let you know if/how Sage/250 work, but odds are the 5200 (being about 3 generations newer) would offer better picture quality.

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by emcnish

Just curious... why? I've only seen good things about the 350.

Thanks for the replies!!!

While there are problems with stability on the PVR-350 (on specific motherboards and driver sets), I still say that it's got the best picture quality that you can get short of having component out to an HDTV.

[JasonJoel]

I use three different cards Svideo out:
1. Nvidia Geforce 2 MX100
2. Nvidia Geforce 3 Ti200
3. Nvidia Geforce 5500

The really old Geforce 2 card has pretty poor output.

The Geforce 2 card has VERY good output, but very few adjustments. So if you aren't really happy with the amount of overscan, you only have limited adjustment capability. It just happens that the amount of overscan is about perfect on my TV though.

The Geforce 5500 also has very good output, as well as a pretty decent amount of size/position adjustments.

Now, I do NOT use VMR9, so I can't comment whether any of those cards have enough horesepower for that. Overlay looks too good, and is too smooth.

Also, I have an ATI 9600 which I tried. But no matter what I did it was somehat 'fuzzy/soft' looking, and at certain resolutions it sort of... 'pulsed' on the screen which was VERY annoying.

Jason Bottjen

[salsbst]

Also, I have an ATI 9600 which I tried. But no matter what I did it was somehat 'fuzzy/soft' looking, and at certain resolutions it sort of... 'pulsed' on the screen which was VERY annoying.

That soft/fuzzy look is why most people think nVidia's s-vid beats ATI.

The pulse thing sounds like a hardware/electrical problem that AFAIK is not commmon to ATIs/9600s.