Help needed in HTPC Design!

[Omniver]

Folks, I could use some help in moving Sage off my office computer to a dedicated HTPC. Here is what I have in spare parts:

1. Athalon 1.5GHz PC
2. Hauppauge 350
3. NVidiia GeForce 2 GTS w/ S-Video out
4. Sound Blaster 5.1 Live!
5. 200GB Disk Space
6. Dedicated Comcast Tuner
7. USB-Uirt

In my Family room I have:

1. 57" HDTV
2. Full 5.1 system (Sony/Cambridge Soundworks)
3. Comcast HDTV Tuner
4. Sony Progressive Scan DVD

My plan is to have the PC in the basement under my family room and run S-Video, Audio and USB (usb-uirt) wires up. I don't plan on using the HDTV for DVD playback since I have a DVD player already. My questions are:


1. Is there any real benefit to running VGA to the HDTV instead of the S-Video since the recordings are not HDTV? I've seen posts that recommend using DVI (I have a DVI input), but the cost of the cable is pretty high and I only have two HD inputs on my TV, currently being used by the HDTV receiver and Progressive Scan DVD. If I'm not going to be pushing anythin except 480i recorded content, what is the value of VGA/DVI over S-Video?

2. Is there any real benefit to running anything but stereo L/R up from the PC since 5.1 is not recorded and encoded. The ditigal inputs on my receiver are full (HDTV receiver, DVD Player), so I'd have to run three wires (Front L/R, Rear L/R, Center/SW) to plug into one of the open 5.1 inputs on the reciever.

3. Given my NVidia GeForce 2 GTS video card, what codecs should I be using for playback (remember no DVD is planned).


Any help appreciated.

-O

[kny3twalker]

first VGA and DVI will be huge benefit, svideo on a video card is much different than on a svideo lets say
Svideo is scaled and interlaced after being deinterlaced already

VGA and DVI will not scale the image or interlace it
it will be the biggest thing you can besides codecs to improve quality

given that your CPU is not the fastest, you might consider upgrading your video to something that supports DX9, a 9500+ could give you the component output option as well
a 5700+ might be another good option

one thing to consider unless you have a high end DVD player you will get a better picture using your computer as a DVD player
some of the best codecs are nvidia Decoders(nstant media) or you can get them with TheaterTek 2 DVD software

also if you really do not care about using the computer for a DVD player even though what I mentioned above, you could probably get by with just right and left
but if the option is available to use spdif or someother digital connection, it might be better(especially considering Full 5.1 system (Sony/Cambridge Soundworks))

svideo is really crap when outputted onto a TV, no matter if to a HDTV or SDTV

DVI will give the best picture if that helps

VGA or component are other options though

one thing if you are planning to use svideo from the pvr 350
that is comparable to svideo from a DVD player since they both use hardware decoders
you could do this but you will still get better quality using DVI, VGA or component

also search the forum for pvr 350 hardware decoder issues

it has problems with end of file locking up SageTV
not SageTV though, worthless drivers for the pvr 350 decoder

[jsturtevant]

For audio you might consider a USB audio device like: http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.proc...eed.PHI+PSC805

I have a similar setup but have mine in the garage, this way I can watch TV while working out with the audio out or in my family room with the audio out of the Phillips. So I used an S-Video and a USB cable only. My TV is older and only has S-Video. You can also put a USB DVD-ROM drive in your family room.