video card question.....

[bboy486]

decorder card vs video card with tv out
what are the advantages/dsadvantages of each.

I need a card that has tv out and can be hooked up to a 16 x dvd rom pioneer.

i was not planning on using it for gaming, cuz i cannot find a pci graphic card with dvd-out and dvd decoding (does one exist)?

also it needs to be pci cuz that the only slot my mobo has. please advise.

i need it to have a crisp picture on my television... and the ability to support widescreen if that is an option.


I was thinking of using a Extigy to bypass the onboard sound on my mobo, but i dont know if there is a better external sound card to use for movie? suggestions?

[magomago]

If your motherboard doesn't have a AGP slot then perhaps you should seriously consider getting a new computer. How old is yours?


Btw, ATI released a ALL IN WONDER VE PCI card recently

[bboy486]

its actually a via motherboard, a mini itx ....
it is a fairly new mobo, and te reason it hs no agp is because it has onblard soundand video (but it can be disabled in bios is upgraded)......

so then i hope u understand my orginal post a little clearer...

sorry for not mentioning the mobo

[D_Knife]

For hardware DVD decoding you almost can't beat a hollywood plus ( + ) card. It supports excellent qaulity TV playback and audio decoding all onboard - on the audio side it supports DD and Dolby surround sound - either via digital or anologue
Most of the other DVD decoders use the same chipset and surrounding chips so you can use RealMagic's tested drivers
it works in all Win32 platforms as well

Cons -
In 2K/XP the card looks to the drive for playback region - no probs if you have a region free DVD drive or an older non-regioned drive (like me)

The player interface is a little clunky

Adv -
Stunning TV output
plays every Mpeg 1/2 combo I came across - even really odd sized ones
Good Audio support

Hope this helps

[bboy486]

your said it plays mpeg1 and 2 but i need it for divx which i thought was mpeg layer 4. ... am i missunderstood or am i correct?

[bboy486]

Also what are your thought on the creative Pc-DVD rom with DEcoder card?

pro's and con's?

[D_Knife]

your said it plays mpeg1 and 2 but i need it for divx which i thought was mpeg layer 4. ... am i missunderstood or am i correct?

Realmagic has a version which will also play Divx / Mpeg 4 called the Xcard http://www.realmagic.com/products/xcard.htm
- but you didn't mention this in the first post - only connecting to a DVD-Rom - which means mpeg2 ( or mpeg 1 )

The Creative cards use the same chipset as the Realmagic - they seem to have a monopoly on this chip

[bboy486]

"The Creative cards use the same chipset as the Realmagic - they seem to have a monopoly on this chip"

This doesnt make sense, if creative uses the same chipset as realmagic, then how can it have a monopoly on the chip?

either which way, yea i am using it for divx and dvd rom movies.... thats all.... i thought i entioned that, if i didnt im sorry....

so whats the verdict?

[bboy486]

Also does the creative decorder card support divx?

[musher70]

HAVE U EVER HEARD OF A SETTOP DVD PLAYER?
OR PERHAPS A VCR?

its never worth the effort....

[crahak]

ATI does make some PCI cards, if they do mpeg2 decompression, not sure, but they ship with the cinemaster engine and dvd player software. If your machine is recent, it will play fine. Those cards are cheap too. DivX will play fine as long as you have say, a duron 800 with 128 megs or better. I've never tested those other cards and can't say much about them. Seen some reviews and they didn't seem too bad anyways.

musher70: yes, those don't play DivX, especially not the VCR. Believe me, I've tried to stick the CDR in the tape slot (ok, maybe not.)

[bboy486]

well this is my mobo and processor:


FIC PC barebone system Falcon CR51 with VIA C3 933 EBGA processor
SDRAM 168 pin Memory, Audio AC' 97 Codec onboard, Video Integrated AGP with 2D/3D Graphics Accelerator , with a pci slot

VIA Apollo PLE133 chipset, VIA C3™ E-Series (EBGA package)

[crahak]

That's what I thought, you have the processing power to decode it all by software means, no need for an hardware decoder. You can buy one of these inexpensive (about 50$) and real good ATI radeon, PCI version, it will come with a dvd player that will install cinemaster engine, then you can use zoom player for a better DVD player interface, and also to play divx/mpeg/whatever else files. Just ake sure you download the nimo codec pack as well, and you should be in business for real cheap

I'd skip the extigy and get a normal PCI sound card, unless you want DTS anyways, a SB live 5.1 oem (at 30$ish) should do it fine.

Then you get more or less what is called a HTPC... lol
My HTPC/divx player project page: http://divx.reallybites.com

[bboy486]

so no need for any decorder card... well the on board graphic does not have a tv out function... and I want to play Divx onto my television....

all i have is the pioneer 16 dvd rom and stuff..... I need a software prog that will supprt divx ,dvd, and tv.. and I figured only graphics cards will do that?

i would not be able to get both the video and sound card... so i would have to choose between the two...

so if i got the ati video card... what should i do about sound???
I thought the Extigy would be a really good way to hook up my computer to my surround sound speakers?

and HTPC?
what the HT stand for?

[crahak]

I'd get the cheap vid card so I can hook it to my TV (those PCI radeon's have a TV out on them, and it's all you need for that).

The sound card, well, I don't like extigy's myself (big waste of money for a card I don't like at all anyhow), and that AC97 onboard at leat does hookup to a home theather, just no DD/DTS.

That way you have picture on TV and still sound on your surround speakers, which is a good setup anyways.

HTPC = Home Theater PC. (Which sounds like what you want, and it doesn't need to be expensive to be enjoyable) More infos, see my website

[bboy486]

but the thing is that i want the DD/dts... so then what should I do for that?

when are u going to do an update for your site... i like what you got going on.... I am goin to devour info from there, so that I can make my "htpc" the best i can.....

ok so this is where i stand...

128 megs ram (pc 100)
the mobo and processor mentioned below
10 gig harddrive, just to start.... probably using my other computer as a server or something.

a mouse/ (is there a way to not need a keyboard)?

pci radeon + remote control cuz im lazy.....

pioneer dvd 16X

and win 98 i think to try the programing on your site....

and a hande to attach to my mini itx case

the only issue... sound how i get dolby and dts ....

[bboy486]

also will i be able with the Radeon to only use a Tv and not a Monitor?

cuz i dont plan to use a monitor

[crahak]

Well, I know of no cards with a TV out and digital audio. There could be one (I don't recall exact specs and all of every card ever made lol) but in PCI version... I can't help much there, unless you use the extigy I guess...

Thanks web1000's FTP is having some issues lately, and I get short on time too sometimes, but I'm always working on it I got lots of parts of the whole thing made/figured out now, have to put it all together now (and bug free too! lol)

[bboy486]

when you write the code, just make sure that you write it for us dummies out there, cuz i do not know anything about code but i do want ot program according to your instructions.....

im even usin win98 se as per ur site!

btw do know the answer to my above post about ati and tv-out/monitors...

[crahak]

I failed to see the post completely

Every radeon card I came across worked great As for the code, it will take some time 'till I release it, but it's getting there

[bboy486]

Posted: Jan 05 22:45

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also will i be able with the Radeon to only use a Tv and not a Monitor?

cuz i dont plan to use a monitor

and i need a card that supports rca tv-out cuz my tv does not have s-video

Posted: Jan 05 22:25

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but the thing is that i want the DD/dts... so then what should I do for that?