Help on my next purchase

[Milkman]

OK I need some guidance from the Sage...well sages. I am very close to purchase Sage, but haven't quite taken the dive yet. I will also make one other purchase that I hope will make my viewing experiance on my HTPC even better. I currently have an AMD 2400 with a FX5200 video card in my HTPC. It's conected via a Hauppage 350 to a 32" SDTV. I like the picture, but I would of course like it better as always. What would make the picture that much better a HDTV or a better video card. I may actually already have that on my home machine with my ATI 9700pro, but don't know if I should switch it to the HTPC. Would it be better or not add that much?

As far as the TV the funds are limited so a large HDTV would be out of the questions, but a smaller $700 or less one would be or maybe I should upgrade the processor...although that would be a stretch. Let me know what everyone thinks. I've got a little funds burning a whole in my pocket and I need to know which way to spend them.

Chris

[PGPfan]

Hi Chris,

To me, I'd save the money and try to add to it to get a good (large?) HDTV display. Anything else like a better processor, or video card will get you a better picture in theory, but since the limiting factor is the SD display you'd never see the benefit.

-PGPfan

[natesneat2000]

Definitely an HDTV - for SD the 350 will probably give you a pretty good picture, and you can get the Sage interface through it.

[Milkman]

<sigh> I was hoping somebody would say a lowly $300 video card...instead of a $1500 to $3000 TV. I guess I'll keep my pennies in my pocked. Any thoughts on what TV I should be looking at. I saw some DLP TVs at Best Buy and the picture looked pretty great in my book.

[mlbdude]

I just upgraded to HDTV. Sage and all my menus look awesome through DVI. Recorded shows look horrible. With the higher resolution you can see everything. They actually looked better on my SDTV just outputting from the SVideo on my video card. However, DVD's now look so good it makes up for it .

[stanger89]

Here's an idea of probably the best value going:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....9&type=product
Although I'd go to one of your local hifi shops and try and get a 48315 (it's got DVI).

FWIW, this is what you get with, what's probably best described as an entry level HDTV (Mitsubishi WT-46809 via RGBHV)
The setup:
Geforce 6800 via VGA/RGBHV to Mits

Pictures:

1. Sage Main menu at 1776x1000i
2. IE/Desktop at 1776x1000i
3. IE at 960x540p
4. Demo material at 1776x1000i (posted approx the shot here for comparison, that one is via printscreen) - R.O.D. recorded with Sage
5. More demo - The Day After Tomorrow, DVD

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by mlbdude

Recorded shows look horrible. With the higher resolution you can see everything. They actually looked better on my SDTV just outputting from the SVideo on my video card.

I'm sorry, with my source, it's definitely better after being run through Sage

[natesneat2000]

Perhaps neither how's your remote? What about cable/sat service? Got enough tuners and storage? Maybe just post your specs now.

[Milkman]

I have a firefly remote, comcast digital cable. I have tons of storage. My main hobby is taking pictures and there all on hard drives and backed up on even more hard drives. I have a Harman Kardan 430 with Polk speakers. Well I will have all Polks in the future.

AMD 2400
Albatron Kds Pro II Motherboard
Chaintech AV710 sound
Nvidia FX5200 video
Gig Ram

I think that about covers it.

Stanger thanks for the tip on the TV. I'll have to take a look at it an more at some places around here to see what I like.

[mlbdude]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I'm sorry, with my source, it's definitely better after being run through Sage

Its not really Sage's fault. All SD material looks worse whether going through Sage or not. That is just a known downside to going to HD. SD through Sage does look better to me than just off the cable line since the 250 removes some of the noise and detail, but now what I get in Sage looks much worse than what I saw before with my SDTV. However, the more digital content you have the better off you will be.

[natesneat2000]

Have considered getting surround sound? Either with compouter speakers and a 7.1 soundcard, or with a real receiver and speakers or HTIB (just do spid/f passthrough).

If you want a serious upgrade, or already have 5.1, the TV sounds like your weekest link. If you save $100 a week, you can get a $1500 tv in 15 weeks... not sure how that helps, but its true.

[Milkman]

I already have surround receiver and your right the TV does sound like my weakest link. That and my underpowered computer surround speakers. All in time though.

Ahhh...15 weeks it is then.

Thanks,