[mythtv-users] OT: Good and cheap TV-out

[Brian Wood]

On Jun 24, 2006, at 2:49 PM, Mercury Morris wrote:

> On 6/24/06, the bcpino <bcpino at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> hello all!
>>
>> My MythTV system consists in three machines: a backend and two  
>> frontends.
>>
>> The backend is only used as backend.
>>
>> I'd like to use the backend as a backend/frontend and connect it  
>> to my TV
>> through Svideo.
>>
>> The backend configuration is the following:
>> - Intel Celeron D 2.53 Ghz
>> - 512 MB RAM
>> - 160 GB IDE HDD drive
>> - Integrated Intel video card (don't remember if it is a 915 or a  
>> 950).
>> - 2 x Hauppauge PVR-150
>> (I only use it to store SD contend, and my FLAC/OGG/MP3 library)
>> - MythTV 0.19
>>
>> It has enough power to serve the 2 frontends (LiveTV and stored  
>> files) and
>> record a show very smoothly, no complains at all.... just SD, no  
>> HD where I
>> live.
>>
>> I think I'd only need an aditional video card with tv-out. My  
>> problem is
>> that I don't have a AGP slot, just PCI-Express and standard PCI  
>> slots.
>>
>>
>> - What do you advise me?
>> I have heard the Geforce 5200's are very good for it, the problem  
>> is that
>> they only come in AGP 8X or old PCI interface without DVI (future- 
>> proofing).
>>
>> -What card do you advise me now?
>> I need a cheap PCI-Express Geforce card, just for MythTV (no 3D  
>> gaming),
>> with DVI.
>>
>> I also have problems because there are plenty brands, some of them  
>> with
>> problems, like the Mad Dog or Asus Geforce 5200.
>>
>> Thanks for you help
>
> Hundreds of cards are available.  To pick just a single place to look,
> try newegg.com.  Several cards there, under 60 dollars.


I don't know about "hundreds of cards" if you want a PCI-Express  
interface.

There is a 5300, which is, I believe, a5200 with a PCIe interface,  
but I hear they are very difficult to find.

There is also a 7300, an inexpensive PCIe card, I've seen them for  
around $60 with  TV and DVI outputs.

There are 6600-based cards,around $80 with the features you want.

I wouldn't go with a straight PCI card if you can avoid it.