OT Graphics card.

So that I can watch TV programs about motorcycling on my PC, I need a
decent graphics card. Up til now I've managed with the on-board VGA,
but this Pinnacle telly card thing seems to be struggling with that.

So, what's the best bet? Apart from the tv-watching I don't play games
or owt like that. Mainboard's got PCI-E and some HDMR thingy.

TIA.

--
--

Paul.
CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird (Buen mueble de patio)
And a pushbike of some sort.
BOTAFOT #4
BOTAFOF #30
MRO #24
OMF #15
UKRMMA #30

Ovejas y buitres:
http://obscuredomainname.org

 

For future proofing then a
http://ati.amd.com/products/Radeonhd2400/index.html

Would probably fit the bill quite nicely.

 

I've got sitting in front of me an nvidia GeForce 6200TC 128MB PCI-E
card, that I bought by mistake at the end of last year.

you're welcome to have it if you can suggest some way of me getting it
to you.

 

Keep it cheap is my guess - TV actually doesn't make much of a demand
on todays graphics cards. I've used an old GeForce 4600 for years (high
spec in its day mind you). Basically, anything with the right kind of
TV-out port should be up to it, so unless you want anything else from
the card (like the occasional game or something) you should be able to
spend peanuts.

A card like this one:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=337060&view=detailed#ProductTabs

should work fine with the RAM it comes with (128M). It says it works
with Vista, which I guess means it should work with Media Center if
thats what you use for your GUI. It also has a port for most kinds of
TV, including standard (s-video) and high def (hdmi).

Brian.

 

Oh, I remember you saying that now. Not that I've any idea about the
card.

That's jolly decent of you old chap. You could either come and have a
beer and bring it with you or maybe get somebody to chuck it through
the post office door with a fiver attached and I'll reimburse you?

--
--

Paul.
CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird (Buen mueble de patio)
And a pushbike of some sort.
BOTAFOT #4
BOTAFOF #30
MRO #24
OMF #15
UKRMMA #30

Ovejas y buitres:
http://obscuredomainname.org

 

45 euros would get me this:

http://cgi.ebay.es/Ati-HD-2400-PRO-256-PCI-E-HDMI_W0QQitemZ230198792630Q
QcmdZViewItem

or a fiver might get me the thing that darsy's got spare.

--
--

Paul.
CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird (Buen mueble de patio)
And a pushbike of some sort.
BOTAFOT #4
BOTAFOF #30
MRO #24
OMF #15
UKRMMA #30

Ovejas y buitres:
http://obscuredomainname.org

 

Your money - your choice.

ATI have always been strong on quality video playback (google - Avivo) over
the last few years, where as Nvidia seem to lead by pure graphics
performance - but are catching up with their video playback enhancements
(google - purevideo).

If I was putting a gaming rig together for someone I'd go down the Nvidia
route, if I was putting a media center device together I'd use an ATI
solution.

 

it was "shit hot" a few years back, and now just run-of-the-mill. But
it's decently specced and has VGA/DVI/TV out, so should do what you
need.

There's a fairly high chance I'll be spending a few days in Alora in
May, if you could wait that long.

I'll see how much it'll be to post.

 

As I discovered when I tried to plug my shiny new Apple 23" LCD panel
into my desktop ATI don't always conform very well to the DVI spec on
their cards. It would display graphics modes OK but all the text modes
(like the BIOS setup screens) wouldn't display at all.

Switching to an NVIDIA card solved the problem - they *do* conform to
the DVI spec properly.

Conclusion? I won't be buying ATI at any point soon - not if I want to
be able to play any display in that I want..

Phil.