Graphics card issues....

[stogie5150]

I have a Gateway HTPC with a 8500 GT nvidia card in it. I am using HDMI to my plasma tv. Nvidia, in their infinite wisdom, and bowing to MS/Vista, one cannot dualview one's monitors anymore, you can only run one at a time. So, when I want to watch DVB on my TV I have to switch from the computer monitor to the TV. The TV does not FACE the PC. Know where I am going here? Pain in the butt.

On top of that, the nvidia's output will NOT fill up my 42" Plasma screen. It leaves a black border all the way around. I've tried every adjustment that the nvidia software offers, to no avail.
When I had my old PC with my 7600 GT with analog component outs, I did not have this problem.

So, Santa brought me a little cash, and I am ready to ditch this card. Question is, are any of the new cards BETTER for our uses than the old 7600GT? I like the looks of the new ATI cards (2400XT,2600XT I think). I want analog HD out, no HDMI. I do not intend to do any HD or BD watching, just DVB and downloaded SD video.

Help a Brutha out.

 

[vfrjim]

I think it would be easier to downgrade to winxp and it will solve your problems.
I have a 8600GT and a 7950GT running XP Pro with no problems.

If you do not want to do this, you could try some of these drivers, LaptopVideo2Go - Download NVIDIA Drivers & Setup Installation Files (INF)

they worked for me when I was playing with Vista

 

[stogie5150]

The 8500GT is the problem, from what I have read on AVS. I have read that the ATI cards still allow a dualview mode in Vista. Nvidia says they deleted it on the 8500/8600.

I am looking real hard at the ATI Radeon 2600XT. It has dual DVI AND component out.

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100208L Radeon HD 2600XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

 

[brentb636]

I'm running the ATI 2600HD XT in the GDDR4 memory version. It works just fine in Vista or XP. I prefer XP, being of sound mind.

- DVB setup --
Athlon X2 4600+
2GB RAM
Windows XP Pro,
Virtual memory on Ultra160 10000rpm drive
ATI Radeon 2600HD XT, 256 MB GDDR4
Genpix Skywalker-1
DvbDream 1.4h

 

[digiblur]

I tried the analog HD on one card and didn't look good at all. The DVI to HDMI was beautiful. I suggest getting a wireless mouse/keyboard combo to run the box from the couch. I have the gyration air mouse and couldn't do my TV viewing without it since I don't even have a monitor hooked to my HTPC except for the big screen.

The air mouse is a big plus since you can use it as an optical mouse or in the air.

Gyration - GO 2.4 Optical Air Mouse and Compact Keyboard Suite

 

[stogie5150]

I tried the analog HD on one card and didn't look good at all. The DVI to HDMI was beautiful. I suggest getting a wireless mouse/keyboard combo to run the box from the couch. I have the gyration air mouse and couldn't do my TV viewing without it since I don't even have a monitor hooked to my HTPC except for the big screen.

The air mouse is a big plus since you can use it as an optical mouse or in the air.

Gyration - GO 2.4 Optical Air Mouse and Compact Keyboard Suite

When I had my 7600 GT AGP in my other computer it was fine over component. The main problem I have is the HDMI ( I guess that's the reason) is causing all kinds of issues handshaking with the GC when I hand it off from the computer monitor to the TV and back. Here lately every time I ask it to hand off back to the computer monitor the whole computer freezes and I have to pull the plug, turn off the TV, and then reboot the whole thing with the TV off for it to work. THEN I have to reset the resolution to my monitor's native. Its getting to be a real PIA. Thus why I want a card with component out.

But, Newegg has jacked the price on that card 50.00 since I posted that link. So now its out of my price range.
As long as the Neusat HD stays working the only thing I'll use the PC for is 4:2:2...so I may just leave it.

I thought about picking up a used 7600 GT PCI on Ebay from someone that is upgrading and try that. I dunno just yet.