[mythtv-users] Matrox G400 Dual/Head TV-Out

[Jeff Williams]

Scan converter option is interesting and I'll look more into that.  I did read a thread about them on here about a week ago.

Generally, nvidia cards do "just work" if my experience with my GeForce 4 (which I just used as a test against the G400) is any indication, at least as much as any graphics card could under Linux.  You do need the official nvidia drivers, I believe, which are probably the best-supported Linux drivers of any graphics card maker right now.  Then all you need to really do is set up XF86Config to know the limits of your TV and use it as a monitor.  But Linux itself will boot straight to the TV on its own (console mode - the TV out on nvidia cards is enabled in hardware by default), so you can even boot straight away without having a monitor attached.  Overscan, etc. can also be set in XF86Config.

Scan converter might still be easier, but I just worry about the quality loss.  Anywhere that you know of with some actual reviews of different scan converters?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: William Preston [mailto:bpreston at networkusa.net]
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 12:02 PM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Matrox G400 Dual/Head TV-Out
> 
> 
> > I got my G400 TV-out working using the framebuffer method (official
> drivers will turn macrovision on and limit you to 640x480, so 
> I've read),
> but I will say that I honestly don't think it's worth it and 
> am currently in
> the market for another card myself.  There are a couple 
> problems with TV out
> on the G400, even if you get it running:
> 
> My feelings about the card are about the same.  I had to 
> monkey with fbset
> for a while to get a centered picture, but most of my time was spent
> monkeying with the colors for the TV/Out on the card.  
> They're _really_ off
> by default for me, and I still haven't managed to get an 
> acceptable image
> out of the second head.  The first head, attached to a 
> monitor, seems to be
> fine.
> 
> Unless the Nvidia cards with TV/Out 'just work', meaning it's 
> simple to get
> the TV/Out centered and with proper colors, I'm of the 
> opinion that getting
> a scan converter (though it'll put you back $50+) is worth it.
> 
> 
> 
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