[mythtv-users] alternative GPU - graphics cards with open sourcedrivers question

[Chad]

On 12/8/05, Todd Ignasiak <ignasiak at gmail.com> wrote:
> For more info on the S3 graphics, check out the OpenChrome project and
> mailing lists.  They have a lot of info on the various chips and the subtle
> differences in features/support.
>
> I think the easiest (maybe only) way to go is to get a motherboard with
> Unichrome video.
>
> Also,  I think S3 Graphics is owned by VIA, aren't they?   Are they at risk
> for going under?
>
>
> On 12/8/05, Bob < spam at homeurl.co.uk> wrote:
> > Todd Ignasiak wrote:
> > > I looked into these a while back, and I was unable to find any
> > > standalone video cards available for purchase.  With the video
> > > processing capabilities they have, the S3 products would make ideal
> > > HTPC video cards.
> > >
> > >   As you mentioned, the Unichrome is available integrated into many
> > > motherboards.   S3 also announced a couple new models recently, the
> > > S25 and S27.
> >
> > I belive these are PCI Express models
> > http://www.s3graphics.com/en/products/index.jsp but I'm
> sure someone
> > could put them on an AGP card with a converter like some of the Nvidia
> > cards, I think it's the 6600s that are natively PCI-E but have AGP
> > versions available through the magic of a little chip.
> >
> > > If you can find one, there are still a few questions..  Does the
> > > driver from the unichrom project support these chips?   Do the
> > > standalone cards have the same MPEG decoder capabilities as the
> > > unichrome?
> >
> > Don't know but I'd have thought their'll be plenty of similarities
> > though one big difference is going to be in memory handling, I'm pretty
> > sure the on-board unichrome GPU uses some of the system RAM but an
> > expansion card model won't.  As for the MPEG stuff, the specs claim
> > acceleration and given the man hours involved in developing such a
> > feature it's probably the same~ish but I'm speculating.
> >
> > > I currently use an Nvidia FX5200 (it's fanless, and supports XvMC
> > > MPEG2 acceleration).   But, I would like to replace it with a card
> > > that has open source drivers.. if something is out there.
> >
> > Me too, lets hope a the turnover provided by the VIA boards is enough to
> > stop S3 going under (as everyone on /. seems to think it will) until a
> > major card fab puts the chips on something we can buy and thus promote
> > better support for open source software from hardware manufacturers.
> >
> > --
> > tveeprom: Hauppauge: model = 34132, rev = J158,
> > tveeprom: tuner = Philips FM1236 MK3 (idx = 58, type = 4)
> > tveeprom: audio_processor = MSP3416 (type = 14)
> > (new type Model 401)
> > model name      : mobile AMD Athlon(tm) XP Processor
> > cpu MHz         : 2277.214
> > cache size      : 512 KB
> > (Plenty o' grunt on an ECS k7s5a MB)
> > Knoppmyth R5A16 (unmodified)
> > http://mysettopbox.tv/CHANGELOG.txt
> > MythTV 0.18.1
> > _______________________________________________

As for 'not wanting to get a new motherboard' I wouldn't worry too
much (depending on why you are concerned ;) ).  I have found a couple
of outlets where you can grab motherboards with the chipsets that
support unichrome on them for ~20-30 bucks (that's less than the cost
of an Nvidia standalone) that also have a few other niceties
integrated.  I know, most of us are probably anti-integrated, but it
really isn't so bad for 25 bucks ;)

Go hunting for a board to suite your needs before ruling it out, you
may be happy with your find.

Chad