[mythtv-users] Is this the GeForce4 MX440 card to buy?

[malcolm-mythtv]

On Monday 09 February 2004 09:41 pm, Harry Orenstein wrote:
> From: "Malcolm" <mythtv at lds.dyndns.org>
>
> >Reply-To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> >To: <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> >Subject: [mythtv-users] Is this the GeForce4 MX440 card to buy?
> >Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 18:34:01 -0600
> >
> >I found this on newegg.com
> >
> >http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-139-134&catal
> >og=48&depa=0
> >
> >Is this the card you guys are refering to as having excellent TV out
> >quality
> >AND stable drivers that work?  Wanted to make sure before I purchase it.
> >
> >I already have a PVR-350 but think I will put it on the back burner until
> >ivtv gets a little more stable.  Sucks having a mythbox that crashes on
> >live
> >TV all the time.
> >
> >Thanks guys
> >Malcolm
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >mythtv-users mailing list
> >mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> >http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
> This is, in general, the card to which such references have been made
> (by myself and others).  HOWEVER: I should caution you that not all
> MX440 cards are created equal.  My card is a 64MB DDR 4X card made
> by PNY.  Other cards (possibly the Jaton) may work just as well but I
> have also heard that different cards use different tv-out chips and that
> not all tv-out chips support overscan settings in XF86Config when
> using the binary drivers from nVidia.
>
> I cannot tell you for sure which tv-out chips work and which do not, but
> perhaps someone else has that info.  You also may not be able to get
> the type of tv-out chip for the Jaton card without having one in hand
> (perhaps contacting Jaton would help?).  In the end, unless someone
> can tell you for sure that they have this exact card and it works well in
> ways you are still taking something of a chance (although, perhaps,
> less of a chance than you might be taking with other cards).
>
> As a slight side issue I should also mention that the picture on the
> NewEgg site shows that this card has a fan, so noise levels may or
> may not also be an issue.
>
> Hope I have pointed out some of the possible issues and that this
> helps you in your decision.
>
>
> -- Harry O.


Thanks for pointing that out (about the different TV out chips).  You may have 
just saved me from purchasing another TV out card that's not much good.... 
although the 350 will be great once the ivtv driver gets going.

I think for now I may just purchase a VGA to NTSC (svideo or RCA out) and just 
run Myth straight off my regular video card.

OR

What about those mini-itx boards (is it M1000?) that have s-video out with 
mpeg 2 decoders?  Are those a sure fire way to run a frontend only box 
without any problems?  All I'd need is the board and a cheap $30 case.  I 
already have a cdrom, and drives laying around although I imaging I could 
just make a boot CD for it and not even have a hard drive in it.  What's the 
TV quality on those like?

Thanks again
Malcolm