[mythtv-users] time for a new graphics card

[Andrew Cope]

Brian Wood wrote:
> 
> On May 9, 2006, at 8:23 AM, Raphael Pooser wrote:
> 
>> Hi folks,
>> I've had some good advice from the list, so now I'm asking about
>> graphics cards.
>> I know it's been discussed to death on the list, but I want the  
>> absolute
>> latest up to date advice today in order to make the best decision.
>> The fan in my 9600pro is dying out, and so it seems to me a good  
>> excuse
>> to replace the graphics card rather than the fan itself since I can
>> probably get a low end fanless card for about the same price as a
>> "silent" fan for the 9600pro (sadly it does need a fan, or a new  
>> bigger
>> heatsink which probably would run me $10-$20 anyway).
>> A while back, it seemed like everyone was saying a geforce FX 5200 or
>> 5600 were the best cards you could get for TV out.  Basically, has  
>> that
>> changed recently, what condition are the latest Nvidia drivers, as in
>> does resizing the image and adjusting over/underscan actually work?
>> This post I guess is really about "Nvidia card to get", because
>> essentially I don't plan on getting another ATI card until they fix
>> their linux driver problems, end of story - the TV out problem is a
>> ridiculous travesty.  They're great for gaming in windows; I've only
>> used one nvidia card in windows, but that same card was the best  
>> display
>> adaptor I've ever used in linux.
>>
>> What I plan to do with it: use XV not XVMC because I think XV keeps  
>> the
>> processor time low enough (on a 2400+), no HD content either, just
>> straight forward SD.
>> It needs to be able to output 640x480 and 480x480 both on the TV  
>> screen
>> properly sized so that the TV overscans it properly.  I will be using
>> the svideo output port exclusively.
>> Thanks for all the help folks.
>> Raphael
> 
> 
> Personally I don't see how you could do any better than a 5200 if the  
> machine is a dedicated Myth box. "Better" cards might help with  
> gaming or even CAD work, but not Myth.
> 
> Just my opinion though, and if somebody has a better card to suggest  
> I'm willing to try one.


Does the 5200 have a heat-sync or a fan?  This is important when you're
building something for the living room.

Cheers
Andrew