With this gfx card allow me to watch HDTV .ts ?

[reverend]

Hello all,

I've been reading up on my options to get better HD playback on my desktop PC, which I want to connect to a new Samsung E26R73 TV. Please forgive my ignorance on the matter, the options are a little baffling and I am unsure how far I need to go to get smooth playback of HD files in ts, mpeg or h264 format.

Right now I have an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ with 1GB RAM and an ATI Radeon 9250 256MB AGP card. A 1080i .ts file that found its way onto my hard drive did play okay in media player classic, but the de-interlacing was not smooth. Also, I am not sure if I am getting the full benefit of HD, as the Radeon is connected to my TV's vga port.

I am hoping to spend not more than about £60 on a new graphics card to get decent HD playback on my TV. Will one of the following cards do the job? (has to be AGP)

256MB Leadtek 7300GT AGP Manufacturer code A7300GT-TDH256

256MB Gigabyte 7600GS, AGP Manufacturer code GV N76G256D-RH

Sorry, I am not allowed to post any URL's yet as this is my first post. Both of these are from the scan website.

Also, I am assuming that the way to connect these cards to my TV (which does not have a DVI port) is with a DVI to HDMI cable.

Thanks for your help! If I am totally missing the point here in terms of the technology required, please suggest an alternative.

rev

[directhex]

vga is an analog connector, and is actually your best choice given your tv - the native resolution of the le26r73 is 1366x768, but it will only accept 1280x720 or 1920x1080 signals via the hdmi connector (therefore it would be scaled by the tv to the native resolution). doing the scaling at the same time as deinterlacing makes sense - and therefore vga is required.

ati's "avivo" h264 acceleration is better than nvidia's purevideo, which suggests an X1-series card to me.

[directhex]

oh, and samsung screens don't usually work with dvi-hdmi adapters anyway (the graphics card MUST broadcast valid hdcp data)

[reverend]

Thanks for your help directhex.

rev

[g8ina]

I'm using the XFX DVI 7300gs and it works quite well on HD stuff, inc 1080p See my HTPC post in HD Stuff.

[reverend]

Thanks g8ina.

I like the price of that card! I don't think there is an AGP version though.

rev

[djphatic]

Im currently searching for a graphics card upgrade from my X800XT, the main reason being HDCP support as my card doesnt have it and im having trouble getting powerdvd to work via my xbox 360 HD-DVD drive.

From what I have read I thought that Nvidia PureVideo performed better than ATI's Avivo, this maybe due to the current driver support but at the moment ive been looking for Nvidia cards and have shyed away from ATI.

The Leadtek 7900GS on Scan is a HDCP enabled card for just over £100 and would do a decent job at viewing HDTV.ts and is also a benefit if you plan to get a HD-DVD or Bluray drive as it already has HDCP but you would also need to get a HDCP monitor as well.

Hope this helps

[reverend]

Thanks for your help djphatic.

I emailed Samsung to ask them if there was a way I could connect a DVI out frmo a gfx card to the hdmi port on the TV. I got an interesting response. See my email to them, and their response below:

Hello Samsung,

My LE26R73 manual states that I cannot connect my PC to the TV with a DVI to HDMI cable. Why is this, and are there any workarounds for me to connect digitally an HDTV compliant PC Graphics card with a DVI port, to the Samsung TV's HDMI port?

Thanks

Dan


[Solution]
Ref: 2101780188
In reference to your enquiry. The vast majority of Home Theater HD
devices incorporate DVI-D digital signal. The vast majority of Videocards integrated with PC's incorporate DVI-I. DVI-D is a pure digital signal where DVI-I carries both a digital and analogue signal. There is no known work around for this

[directhex]

sounds like a stock answer

the reason you can't do it is because Samsung teevees will ONLY work with HDMI signals that contain an HDCP component - even if that component says "no encryption 'ere mate", the handshaking nonsense needs to be done

so only a graphics card with HDCP support will work (either directly with an HDMI cable, or with a DVI adapter)

[reverend]

Right,

I had thought that perhaps a graphics card that outputs DVI-D might work. Actually, I have an AGP ATI Radeon 9250 in the box right now, which according to the spec does output DVI-D. If I connect its DVI port to the HDMI on the TV, I do get an image. However, it centered and only takes up about 5o% of the total screen area

[reverend]

so I asked them if a DVI-D card would work. Their reply was:

[Solution]
Ref: 2101780188
In reference to your enquiry. If you have a video card which only
outputs DVI-D, It may work, However as Samsung have not tested the HDMI
connection in this method we are unable to guarantee compatibility. You
may still experiance a blankscreen.

[directhex]

Originally Posted by reverend

Right,

I had thought that perhaps a graphics card that outputs DVI-D might work. Actually, I have an AGP ATI Radeon 9250 in the box right now, which according to the spec does output DVI-D. If I connect its DVI port to the HDMI on the TV, I do get an image. However, it centered and only takes up about 5o% of the total screen area

that sounds like you're transmitting 1080p on a 1080i-only (or 720p) set

[reverend]

Thanks directhex,

That could well be the case. When I get home I will check the .ts source to see what it is. The TV is definitely only 720p or 1080i

[reverend]

I had a look at the source. It is 1080i. I forced my Radeon 9250 to output to the TV at 1920 x 1080 and the image now fills the whole panel. I can play the .ts fine with media player classic or vlc. It looks a little grainy, and the de-interlacing isn't up to much, but it works.

of-course, the Radeon has no hardware HDTV capabilities, so i must be missing the true benefit of HD, but at least the old Radeon works with the Samsung.

strange that.

thanks

rev