need video card advice for windows xp

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 4:30 pm

Ah, I can wait for some good pics to download, they're useful. ^_^

I don't think my graphics card has any 'output' like the ones you guys have shown - the closest it has is the blue monitor port and some odd ports next to the microphone input. One is a ->((*)) IN and the other a ((*))-> OUT - I took them to be more audio components since they don't say anything about video (and they're right next to the microphone input slot, and they're pastel blue and green, not really matching any color-coded pics I've seen online).

I haven't actually gotten the television yet, it's being shipped and should be here by Friday, so I'm hoping to run out and get a card this weekend. Looking at the cards recommended, I'd probably opt for one that has everything (like the last Radeon one).

But a question. o.o If I get a new video card, does that have to replace my ProSavage card, or can I have both and use the new one *just* for viewing on the TV? I haven't had any problems with my graphic card and I'd rather not reconfigure everything if I can have both and only use one when I want to.

Regardless, thanks for the information. ^_^ I did try reading about this, but you guys explain much better than formal 'buy this now' sites.

DaNuKa_SAN · Post by **DaNuKa_SAN** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 4:54 pm

unless ur running linux...and are able to reprogram the kernel to run two graphic cards...

in a word...no...u cant have both graphic cards on at the same time sorry^^

so ur doomed to switch my friend

9800 XT!!!
w00t!^^

TaranT · Post by **TaranT** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 3:11 am

Arigatomyna wrote:Ah, I can wait for some good pics to download, they're useful. ^_^

I don't think my graphics card has any 'output' like the ones you guys have shown - the closest it has is the blue monitor port and some odd ports next to the microphone input. One is a ->((*)) IN and the other a ((*))-> OUT - I took them to be more audio components since they don't say anything about video (and they're right next to the microphone input slot, and they're pastel blue and green, not really matching any color-coded pics I've seen online).

Good guess: those 1/8" holes are for audio. The color coding can vary from PC to PC.

I haven't actually gotten the television yet, it's being shipped and should be here by Friday, so I'm hoping to run out and get a card this weekend. Looking at the cards recommended, I'd probably opt for one that has everything (like the last Radeon one).

But a question. o.o If I get a new video card, does that have to replace my ProSavage card, or can I have both and use the new one *just* for viewing on the TV? I haven't had any problems with my graphic card and I'd rather not reconfigure everything if I can have both and only use one when I want to.

If the ProSavageDDR designation is correct, then your PC has no video card. ProSavageDDR is the name of a chipset (i.e. a group of circuits) that includes among other things a graphics device. It's what they call integrated, or on-board graphics.

In order to add a new card, one of two things has to happen. You can turn off the onboard graphics by changing a setting in the system BIOS. Or the PC will automatically turn it off when it sees that there is a real graphics card in a slot. I've seen both options in different PCs. There is a third possibility that the onboard graphics can't be disabled and that the PC will not accept a new graphics card.

Which possibility exists depends on the maker of the PCs mainboard. Different mainboards can use the same ProSavageDDR chipset. You'll need to review the manual or check the BIOS menus (just ask if you don't know how to bring those up). I'm guessing you have a PC made by eMachine or HP/Compaq or similar. If you can tell us the name and model number, we can probably look it up on the Web. (Same for the TV model.)

As I mentioned above, you'll also need to know if the PC has an AGP slot. Without an AGP slot, your choice in video cards is limited. If you open up the case, there should be some white PCI slots and hopefully one brown slot. That's the AGP slot. This slot is made specifically for graphics cards and you'll find that all (?) of the newer, high-end cards are made for AGP. Some cards will work with the older PCI slots, but there are fewer of those.

Here's another issue:

Resolution is limited by the Digital TV used. While the PC is capable of outputting high resolutions, the HD-Ready set is often fixed to the high-definition TV standards of 480p or 1080i at mere 60Hz cycle (known as refresh rate on a PC). A proper signal must be generated from the PC to display an image, and not adhering to the signal frequency can damage your HDTV.
source
(NOTE: the transcoder they describe here is not needed for DVI, but: "Recently, DVI based HDTV displays have appeared on the market which may allow you to by-pass this article, but video timing issues as explained still apply.")

And more here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... ecttv.mspx

The thing is, TV resolutions are not - as a rule - compatible with PC monitor resolutions. They are usually quite a bit less than what a PC is capable of generating. It only becomes a problem when you're using a PC connector like DVI or that blue VGA connector. And it's possible that one of the latest video cards will be designed to handle all of this easily.

If your PC has a normal TV output connector - like composite (yellow), s-video (yellow with several holes), or component (red-green-blue) - then it's not necessary to worry about resolutions.

If it all sounds complicated...well, it is. As much as I know about this stuff, I'd still have to do a lot of research before attempting something like this.

madmag9999 · Post by **madmag9999** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:12 pm

if all you need the card for is getting signal out to your tv and moniter then just get the ATI 7000. if you will be gameing or something then get something along the lines of what danuka said but id suggest a cheeper version like this one. there is no persay reconfiguering when you swap vid cards or in your case put a card in and disable the onboard chip. all you do is turn of the comp put in the vid card, turn the comp on, go to the bios and disable the onboard card then hit save and exit. then when it restarts install the drivers and your done. id suggest you get omega drivers for it, u have to download them and its a 27mb file but they really give you better preformance/quality.

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:55 pm

TaranT wrote:Resolution is limited by the Digital TV used. While the PC is capable of outputting high resolutions, the HD-Ready set is often fixed to the high-definition TV standards of 480p or 1080i at mere 60Hz cycle (known as refresh rate on a PC).

Okay, I have the television now and it does have a composite video in section set at 480i/480p. It also has a VGA port and a DTV (not sure what this is >.>) but those are all in the same area so I think they're three types of connectors I could use depending on what card I get. I guess this means it doesn't have the DVI input. ^_^;;

If your PC has a normal TV output connector - like composite (yellow), s-video (yellow with several holes), or component (red-green-blue) - then it's not necessary to worry about resolutions.

Are there video cards that have component outputs? Or would getting something to convert from VGA out (on the video card) to component in (connecting to the TV) settle the resolution problem? I've seen converters like this for sale when I was searching the internet. I definitely don't want to hurt my television if using the VGA causes problems.

One thing, the television also has 4 S video input slots (and one output) - would the resolution be less of a problem if I got a card with S video out and connected it to one of the S video inputs on the television?

[And I think I'll let RadioShack install the card I get - I'm not competent to open up my computer and start messing with the inside. o.o ]

madmag9999 · Post by **madmag9999** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 7:46 pm

i use svideo for my comp and it works farily well. and im sure you can install a vid card yourself. its not hard at all. when you are ready to do it one of us can walk you through step by step. its really easy.

klinky · Post by **klinky** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 12:44 am

You probably won't run in to any problems using S-Video. S-Video won't look as good as a direct DVI input, but if all you want to do is watch movies you should be ok.

Radioshack is about as qualified as you are for installing a video card. >_>

It's really not that hard... :/

TaranT · Post by **TaranT** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:44 am

Arigatomyna wrote:Okay, I have the television now and it does have a composite video in section set at 480i/480p. It also has a VGA port and a DTV (not sure what this is >.>) but those are all in the same area so I think they're three types of connectors I could use depending on what card I get. I guess this means it doesn't have the DVI input. ^_^;;

If there is a VGA port (blue 15-pin), then the manual may have instructions about connecting to a PC.
As for "DTV":

Pioneer Electronics wrote:Digital Television (DTV):
Refers to a group of 18 U.S. digital broadcast formats set by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) to replace NTSC, the current but aging television system. Each of the formats uses a different combination of standards for resolution, aspect ratio, frame rates, and progressive/interlaced scanning methods.

Not sure how that relates to what you see. If it's a white connector like the one on klinky's picture above, then it's a type of DVI connector.

Are there video cards that have component outputs? Or would getting something to convert from VGA out (on the video card) to component in (connecting to the TV) settle the resolution problem? I've seen converters like this for sale when I was searching the internet. I definitely don't want to hurt my television if using the VGA causes problems.

ATI sells this little device that plugs into the DVI port on the graphics card and provides the three component jacks. Since it's a standard DVI port, I'm betting this will work on other brands of video cards as well.

One thing, the television also has 4 S video input slots (and one output) - would the resolution be less of a problem if I got a card with S video out and connected it to one of the S video inputs on the television?

Resolution settings would not be a problem at all. Just plug it in and go. S-video isn't too bad. It was the default high-quality option before HDTV came along. All the cards I've seen that have TV-out had an S-video jack; e.g. the Matrox G550 that I mentioned earlier.

And I think I'll let RadioShack install the card I get - I'm not competent to open up my computer and start messing with the inside. o.o ]

As the other guys said, they're usually an easy install. If you Google on "how to install video card" a whole lot of sites come up. Here are two of the better ones:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... ocard.mspx
http://www.directron.com/howtovideo.html

badmartialarts · Post by **badmartialarts** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 10:25 am

The ATI cards pictured above have S-Video outputs, so if worse comes to worse and you can't go full digital signal, you can opt out for that.

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 7:57 pm

klinky wrote:...but if all you want to do is watch movies you should be ok.

Mostly I want to watch amvs on it - without running around and burning dvds (since my dvd player refuses to read cdrs). I also want to use it as a sort of 'big screen' for displays. It's really hard showing people things when they're all crowded around my little moniter. For movies - dvds/vhs I can just hook up my dvd/vcr player or my ps2. What I want is to be able to use my tv instead of my computer monitor - without hurting my tv.

The television is used, so I don't have a booklet with it. I even had to buy my own remote for it. ^_^;;

I think I'll get a card with multiple ports - vga and s video - and then get some connectors so I can try the three component jacks. That DTV section I mentioned is just another 'component' area - it looks the same as the 'component' section, it just has a different name and two extra 'audio in' ports.

I'm going to have to shop around more before settling on something. ^_^;; At this point I may just get a long vga connector and replace my monitor with my television - no card necessary (the monitor connects to a vga port just like the one on my television, and I can reset my graphics to display at television resolution manually - at least according to my computer 'help' folders).

I just thought the quality would be better with an actual card designed for PC to TV use.