[mythtv-users] Video Card for Mythtv

[Joe Votour]

> Hello,
>
> I have a question about what type of video card to purchase in order to
> HDTV
> enable my Mythtv Box.  My existing mythtv Box has a PVR350 but I just
> purchased a TV that supports HDTV (720p and 1080i) and I can pull the
> video
> though firewire from a  Scientific Atlanta 3250HD cable box; I've tested
> it
> and it works great.
>
>>From what I understand the PVR350 Tv-Out cannot play HDTV content so I'm
> going to have to purchase a new Video card.  My questions are:
>
>
>    1. My TV has a vga connector on the back, should I go VGA -> VGA or
>    should I buy a card that supports TV-Out and use the Svideo inputs?
> I've
>    read conflicting information that says both are better.
>
>    2. Should I go with a GEForce card?  The research I've done seems to
>    indicate that powerstrip/linux/mythtv work well with the GEForce cards.
>
>    3. What type of GEForce card should I purchase; I've been looking at
>    the GEForce 7300 or the GEForce 7600GS.  My CPU is a 1.8Ghz AMD
>    Sempron so I'm assuming I need a beefy video card.
>
>    4. Based on http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/mythhd.php the Nvidia driver
>    does not support 1080i so I'm thinking I need a card that does 720p
> (which I
>    read is superior anyway).  If anyone is using a card that supports 720p
> in a
>    mythtv box please let me know the model.
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Nik-

For HD, you'll need to either use a VGA, DVI, HDMI or component
connection.  S-Video cannot handle the high resolutions necessary.

My CRT HD monitor only has VGA and component, so I use VGA for MythTV and
component for my XBox.  VGA works fine at 720p, and that's the resolution
that I use, because it's the native resolution of the monitor.

Any nVidia card, 5200 or higher should work absolutely fine.  I previously
used a 5200, and now use the onboard video of a 6150.  My CPU is powerful
enough to do it without XvMC, but XvMC also worked on both cards.

You may, or may not be able to get HD working with your CPU, and you will
likely need XvMC.  I was using an Athlon 3200+ (socket 754) and needed
XvMC to get HD to play back smoothly, but there are others who have had
success with lesser processors.

-- Joe


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