[mythtv-users] Xbox Frontend Vs PVR 350

[Joe Votour]

Jurgen,

As far as I can tell, the TV-Out isn't actually
handled by the nVidia chip in the XBox.  It's handed
by another chip (which differs depending on the XBox
version you get) - in mine, it's a Conexant 25871.  In
others, it's either a FOCUS chip, or a newer one made
by Microsoft/nVidia.

Unfortunately, I can't really say whether it's of
lesser quality or not, since I don't have another
device with a Conexant 25871 chip to compare it
against (yet).

That said, I would say the picture isn't as good
because the XBox still puts it out at 640x480 or
800x600, not the 720x480 mode, which is the correct
aspect ratio for NTSC TV.

-- Joe

--- Jurgen Kramer <gtm.kramer at inter.nl.net> wrote:

> On Tue, 2004-11-16 at 08:29 -0800, Joe Votour wrote:
> > I have previously used an XBox as my frontend, and
> I
> > now use a PVR-350.  If I ever get the time, and
> play
> > around with the new XBox distro, I might go with
> that.
> > 
> > The XBox works quite well as a frontend, but
> you'll
> > need to modify your XBox, either through a
> software
> > hack, or through a mod chip to run MythTV on it. 
> > Also, it seems that the themes don't work too well
> on
> > the XBox, I believe due to the larger font
> included
> > with the X server.  There's words chopped off in
> the
> > menus (which can be fixed by hacking the themes).
> > 
> > I have an XBox 1.0 unit, and the fan was driving
> me
> > nuts (the main reason why I stopped using it).  I
> > suppose I could have swapped the fan or at least
> sent
> > less current to it, I was too lazy at the time.
> > 
> > I find that the PVR-350 has better output than the
> > XBox, but it may be a matter of opinion.
> 
> Do you think this is because of the lack of docs for
> the Nvidia 
> chip or is the XBox always of lesser quality? I am
> thinking about buying
> one to use as a myth frontend.
> 
> > If I could figure out how to get xmame working on
> the
> > XBox, with sound, I'd probably be back to it in a
> > heartbeat (since xmame doesn't work too well on a
> > PVR-350).
> > 
> > -- Joe
> > 
> > --- Greg Miller <greg at icaboodlesites.net> wrote:
> > 
> > > I am building a Mythtv system for DVB and am
> trying
> > > to figure out the best
> > > way for a highquality frontend. At the moment I
> am
> > > thinking Xbox for the
> > > front end or a PVR-350. The advantage of the
> Xbox
> > > would be the fact that it
> > > reduces the load on the backend as the front end
> is
> > > seperated, and it would
> > > be something I can duplicate for multiple
> frontends.
> > > 
> > > Has any one compaired the two?
> > > 
> > > I've tried nvidia and ati card and the picture
> > > quality just is not there.
> > > 
> > > Greg
> > > 
> > > >
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