playing video files direct to TV / TV-out

[pglenn]

I am looking for a solution, either software or hardware or combination thereof, that would allow me to play video files (avi, mpg, etc) direct to a TV using a video card/TV-out connection. I dont want to have my whole screen output, just the playing of the video file formatted to fit a TV screen. I already use ATI all-in-wonder but I dont like having to "format" the playing of the video so that the "least" amount of computer background screen is visible along with the video.

Is this possible? any suggestions or setups would be appreciated. I guess I am looking for something similar to emulating a DVD-player using my PC, with the DVD or video output being directed to my TV/TV-out rather than the monitor.

Patrick

[rvl123]

Just fullscreen it.

If there are widescreen bars, there is no way to get rid of them (unless you zoom).

If the quality aint good, you can't do anything about that either.

Sorry man.

[pglenn]

It is not the quality or the "wide-screen bars" that is my problem. It is just that when playing out to a TV I would like for JUST the video to be output thru my card and NOT everything that I see on my PC monitor - video and screen background and icons and all - output to my TV. I can obviously make the video play in "full-screen" but this usually results in poor quality and-or distorting and-or loss of some of the picture.

I just want some hardware, software, or combo solution that will output JUST the video, in TV format, that would be similar really in functionality to a DVD player that outputs a video to TV in "TV-format"

Patrick

[tgm4883]

im not an expert on this but i do have some experience. It sound like you need better quality source to do what you want it to do. Can I ask what it is your trying to send to the tv?

[SVCDummy]

The thing you are looking for was once available as a software package and I had it specifically for my old Matrox video card. The only problem was the software chewed up enough CPU time that the output to the TV was always choppy or unstable. The reason was the software package had to constantly reference it's window on the computer screen for changes to the window size and all the other crap that the OS requires it to manage in order to extrapolate the video data from the rest of the screen.

Overall it just was not worth the effort and I would imagine that everyone else that purchased the card and software back then abandoned it as quickly as I did.

While the systems available today are much faster and probably better able to handle the task, the windows operating system has also changed a bit and become even more cumbersome to work around possibly negating any positive effect. Also (aside from you) there is probably not a great deal of customer demand for it so why spend development dollars writing it again.

Not trying to be rude or anything but I just doubt any other company has approached the subject recently.

[thayne]

Get an Xcard...
http://www.sigmadesigns.com/products/xcard.htm

Use the Ver 2.0 drivers adn app from their website, ver 1 was weak and thats what it ships with.

[pglenn]

I visited the site and first glance it does appear to be what I want...

What are the supported file types that I could play? avi, mpg1/2/3/4, etc? and what display types on the TV would be supported for video play (wide-screen, letterbox, etc) or would the video be re-formatted to fit the TV? for instance, if a video file is formatted as 720x320 would it display on the TV in the same dimensions with "black borders" above and below or would it display 'stretched' vertically to fit the TV screen?

lastly, if you are currently using it, what PC setup would you recommend or is their requirements sufficient (theirs do seem low)?
- Intel® or AMD-based PC with 200 MHz or higher CPU
- 64MB RAM (128MB RAM for XP) and 10MB free hard disk space