SageTV - video image too dark

[jlmdxtv]

System: SageTV4, ATI 7500, WINDVD4, XPRPO, PVR500, DELL 4500

I've used SageTV as a recorder and watched the shows long after they were recorded using WINDVD 4.0. With "Hardware Color Acceleration" tuned on in the WINDVD settings the picture is sharp and bright; without it, it's way too dark and washed out.

I'm now trying to use SageTV's viewer to watch shows but the image is too dark - it looks like WINDVD without the hardware acceleration turned on. I've tried all of the SageTV Video Setup options like changing: "Overlay" / "default" / Intervideo CODECs / etc but can't seem to brighten up the SageTV image.

"Hardware Acceleration" is also set to FULL under Display Properties tab of the video card in the control panel.

I'm using an ATI Radeon 7500. Would upgrading to an ATI 9200 help me with this? Might I need different CODECs? Other suggestions?

Thanks all, john

[mlbdude]

Sage has no control over your display color settings. Look in the ATI drivers for color settings. Be aware that VMR and Overlay will have seperate contorls. You can often use a decoder to modify output settings but that is not desireable as it can cause image problems.

[jlmdxtv]

mlbdude,

Your advice was spot on.

I turned OFF "write combining" on the ATI graphics driver and the picture brightened right up.

Thanks, john