[mythtv-users] TV-Out: AITech Scan Converter vs CX2587x

[John Kelley]

Hell, if your TV has component RGB inputs then by all means use them!
You will get MUCH better quality than anything else you could do. The
Analog VGA to Component converters shsould run for the same amount as
the VGA to SVIDEO/Composite converters albeit with a HUGE quality
advantage.

	- John

-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at snowman.net
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at snowman.net] On Behalf Of Richard
Lee-Morlang
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 5:45 PM
To: mythtv-users at snowman.net
Subject: [mythtv-users] TV-Out: AITech Scan Converter vs CX2587x


Hi people,

I don't think this is a FAQ, since I can't find any specific information
about it anywhere. My question is: Can anyone comment on the quality of
the CX2587x TV-Encoder chipsets in comparison to the AITech Web Cable
Plus VGA to NTSC scan converter? I've read lots of stuff endorsing the
both products, but I can't find any information that directly or
indirectly compares them to each other.

I'm trying to find a TV-out solution for my MythTV box. I tried out a
NVidia Ti4200 card with a Philips SAA7104 chipset. The color gradiation
is horrible, and there are horizontal interference lines travelling up
the screen. To make matters worse, switching video modes in X locks up
the machine hard. I can't even cleanly reboot. 

My wants, in order of priority are:
1) Good quality S-Video output
2) Fits in an AGP 4X slot. (So much for the Voodoo3000 I bought.)
3) Reasonable 3D performance. (On par with a GeForce4MX would be great.
GF2 is acceptable.)
4) Not ridiculously expensive.

Based on this, I see three options:
* An NVidia Ti card with the CX2587x chipset. Seems like it'll be hard
to find one. Lockups might still be a problem.
* An ATI Radeon 9000 with the AITech Web Cable Plus. A bit expensive.
Can use the adapter on future cards. I'm not clear on whether the ATI
will do hardware scaling while my tuner card is capturing.
* An NVidia MX card with the AITech Web Cable Plus. A little cheaper
than the ATI. Probably a bit slower 3D-wise. Lockup concerns again.

For various reasons, I'm not really happy with any of these choices, but
I don't see that there are any alternatives left. My only other option
would be to build a VGA -> Component RGB cable and hook that into my TV.
I'm not even sure if that will work, and if it will, then I'll have
cabling issues to deal with anyway.

So in case anyone forgot the question.... ;-)

Can anyone comment on the quality of the CX2587x TV-Encoder chipsets in
comparison to the AITech Web Cable Plus VGA to NTSC scan converter?

Related links:
Comparison of Philips, Chrontel, Brooktree and Conexant TV encoder
chips:
http://tvtool.info/english/tvchips_e.htm

A database of NVidia cards and the TV encoder chips used on them:
http://tvtool.cust.nearlyfreespeech.net/cardbase_h.htm

Manufacturer info about the AITech Web Cable Plus
http://www.aitech.com/wc_plus-details.htm

Thanks,
Rick



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