Intel GMA 950

[wrems]

I’m using onboard video (Intel GMA 950) with my Sage configuration. I’m watching and recording standard cable TV on a non HD 27” CRT through a wired MVP. I have had some troubles with getting really beautiful playback. It seems like, no matter what recording quality setting I choose with my PVR500 the picture quality is sub par. I get lots of diagonal; sometimes straight up and down lines across the entire screen, and on some channels playback is great (no lines).

My questions are these: Does it pay for me to buy an after-market video card? What type of performance increase could I expect with an aftermarket card versus my on-board video?

[mohanman]

I am using GMA 950 in my mac mini 1.66 dual and I can play back hdtv at 720 p with no problems. I also believe it can do 1080i with vlc player, but not others yet (for some reason). Therefore you shouldnt be having any problems at all hooking it up to a crt. Make sure you have the latest drivers and a good cable for connection. Make sure your settings are right too. for crt (with no hd) and svideo out, you can probably set it to 800x600

Mo

[amg]

If you are only watching via your MVP and not from the server then the video card does not matter at all. The patterns you are seeing are probably RF interference on the the input signal to the PVR500.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by amg

If you are only watching via your MVP and not from the server then the video card does not matter at all. The patterns you are seeing are probably RF interference on the the input signal to the PVR500.

Agreed. Your server's video output in no way has anything to do with the MVP. Anyone who tells you otherwise is nuts. What it sounds like is the PVR500 does not have a strong enough signal or as stated above RF interference. I have found that my PVR500's internal splitter is very subpar. My Avermedia Purity 3D 500 MCE has a much better output than my PVR500 even using the same cable run. My PVR500 has been regulated to capturing OTA SD Local Broadcast (my local channels thru my cable are horrible so I use the PVR500 for that and use my Purity 500 for Cable since my cable channels look horrible on my PVR500).