[mythtv-users] Cable Box and PVR-350 Question

[Bob]

Kevin Kuphal wrote:
> Chris Ribe wrote:
> 
>>Only slightly on topic, but is there any good reason apart from saving 
>>space in your in case, to get a PVR-350? 
>>
>>I recently upgraded my frontend to make it HD capable, and I am 
>>thinking about using the old parts to build a remote FE/SBE.  I 
>>thought about getting a PVR-350 t oget anouther tuner + tv out on a 
>>single card, but then I realized a cheap FX5200 w/ S-Video out and a 
>>PVR-150 cost about $60 less than a PVR-350.  ($36+68 vs. $169).
> 
> Many people report that the TV-out of the PVR-350 is superior to most 
> cards so for the slightly higher cost, many feel they are getting the 
> best output and also it does this without using XvMC which an FX5200 may 
> require depending on the CPU you are using.  Even if you have the CPU, 
> the PVR-350 then does that superior output with little to no CPU usage.

But the TV out of the PVR 350 is only designed for outputting MPEG2 SD 
content, if you have HD content or use another codec it’s not worth it, 
(I heard rumor it can now output MPEG4 with some new / experimental 
drivers and fair bit of work from both you and your CPU).