Latest video card opens new doors...

[StarvingForHDTV]

http://mirror.ati.com/products/pc/aiw9700pro/index.html

Allows you to use component outputs to hook up with your digital TV.  This can be used for gaming etc.  It can send out 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i.  A little bit pricey right now, but prices should drop in due time.

It sounds like Nvidia is moving in this direction as well.

I just thought I would pass along the information.

Starving

[borghe]

You are right in that NVidia is now starting to move in this direction. However ATI has been doing this for almost two years now. The 9700 Pro is able to do it now, but you have also been able to buy a cable for the 8500 that will allow you to do this as well. Even more, with my 8500 I can view 1080i on my HDTV and 1600x1200 on my monitor simultanesouly. I can actually upconvert a movie to 1080i and surf the web at the same time without any problems... although I rarely take advantage of the HD output/upconversion as my computer isn't really near my TV.

[StarvingForHDTV]

How does text look at 1080i on your HDTV?  I tried hooking up with S-Video through my video card once, and the image quality was horrible.  I'm curious to know how regular computer tasks look with 1080i component output from a video card.

Thanks in advance,

Starving

[HDTV Fan]

I also am trying to hoop up my PC to my HDTV.  Currently bought a NVidia card with s-video out for $39.  Hooked it up and yes it works, but quality is bad.  Words are blurry.  What can I do to get better quality?  I don't have DVI input on the tv so would just be using component.  The AVI 8500 sounds like it works with that additional converter to convert the VGA to Component. Any one have recomendations/solutions??
Thanks in advance.

Trying to surf on my TV.

[tazman]

Originally posted by HDTV Fan
I also am trying to hoop up my PC to my HDTV.  Currently bought a NVidia card with s-video out for $39.  Hooked it up and yes it works, but quality is bad.  Words are blurry.  What can I do to get better quality?  I don't have DVI input on the tv so would just be using component.  The AVI 8500 sounds like it works with that additional converter to convert the VGA to Component. Any one have recomendations/solutions??
Thanks in advance.

Trying to surf on my TV.

Sit tight and wait for the prices to drop.  I currently run a Ge-Force4 ti4200 dual head vga card with 128meg of ram on it.  I have that piped through a RGB to YPP transcoder box.  I run my desk top at 1280x720p which is the native res of my SONY.  My Nvidia card won't do interlace so 1920x1080i is out of the question.  Although it will do 1920x1080p and higher, of which my SONY dosn't support.  Nvidia's dual display setup is a pain in the "donkey" to get working right, let alone have it display the same desktop on 2 monitors at 2 different resolutions.  Don't get me wrong you can do it, but it's a pain to setup.   I'll have to check out the ATI when they get some more miles on them and they work out any potential problems.  As far as S-video goes forget about using it out of a computer for anything other than watching some movies.  It's only 480i.  No matter which manufacturers card you use, it will suck.

   Hey borghe, the ATI card you have now, is actually able to produce true 1080i?  Also hows the display drivers for setting up dual displays, is it relatively easy to setup and can you display the exact same desktop on both displays running different resolutions?  Does ATI's driver software have the ability to allow you to adjust horizontal and vertical timming frequencies? so that overscan and screen position can be adjusted?  That was something I found Nvidia lacked and I had to use PowerStrip to drive my card and get it setup properly for my SONY.   As far as reading text at 1280x720, it's not bad even on a 60" display.  I wouldn't want to use it as a full time computer display though.

[tazman]

Hey Starving, check your link out once, it goes to ATI, but says no matches found.

NEVER MIND I just looked at the date you posted it:blush:

[Mark Strube]

Now they just need to make a card that'll capture HDTV thru component or dvi...

[Greg Oman]

Well, it's not component or DVI, but the ATI HDTV Wonder does have the ATSC tuner (and an NTSC tuner if you care) and a reasonable collection of supporting software.

I just purchased one and am starting to experiment with it and using it as my pvr-- all the pieces are there, just a few minor connection issues.

So far, not a bad piece at all.

Greg O.

[Mark Strube]

The only problem is I'm interested in capturing programs that are only on cable HDTV.