considering EVGA/NVIDIA to replace ATI/AIW

[Hactar]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.video (More info?)

I have a glorified VCR / mini-HTPC that displays only on a non-HD TV (no
monitor), and plays sound through two speakers. I used to have an ATI
All-in-Wonder 8500DV with Beyond TV 3 (snapstream.com). It worked well.

I was reinstalling XP to fix an unrelated problem when the AIW died. ATI
declined to repair/replace it, citing a "power surge" (which is likely BS),
and I'd wanted to get away from ATI anyhow (they don't allow unlicensed
drivers to work, and I might want to put Linux on here), so I looked
for a card powered ny an nVIDIA chip. I'm thinking about getting this:

http://newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-163

A closeup of the breakout box connections is here:

http://nvnews.net/reviews/evga_personal_cinema/images/PodConnect.jpg

That omits the box's connections to the soundcard's "Line In" and "Headphone
Out", which are visible here:

http://newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=14-122-163-01.JPG

Is there a good reason I shouldn't get this card? Thanks.

--
-eben ebQenW1@EtaRmpTabYayU.rIr.OcoPm home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar
CANCER: The position of Jupiter says that you should spend the
rest of the week face down in the mud. Try not to shove a roll of
duct tape up your nose when taking your driver's test. -- Weird Al

 

[Hactar]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.video (More info?)

In article <ccti6h01k66@news4.newsguy.com>,
J. Clarke <jclarke@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> Hactar wrote:
>
> > In article <ccs9p10308g@news4.newsguy.com>,
> > J. Clarke <jclarke@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> >> Hactar wrote:
> >>
> > I was, at one time, trying to get XFree86 with MythTV or Freevo or some
> > PVR software running under Linux. I was unable to get the AIW to use
> > TV-out. Apparently ATI has threatened driver writers who don't pony up
> > with the DMCA. I don't know how that works with non-US developers,
> > though.
>
> I'd be interested in seeing a credible source for that claim, given that ATI
> is not a US company.

I can't find it, so maybe it's not true. It was difficult to find last time,
and it fit with my preconceptions, so at that point I stopped looking.

> I suspect that somebody pissed somebody else off
> and until the necessary reconciliation occurs or somebody else decides to
> rewrite the drivers it's never going to happen.

Yeah, so if TV output is important under Linux now, don't buy an AIW.

> >> If you're talking about Linux, with nvidia you use the nvidia drivers or
> >> nothing.
> >
> > Yeah, but IIRC that's only good for monitor, not TV.
>
> Regardless of what it's good for, those are the only drivers available.

Sure, but TV-out is what I need (no monitor).

--
-eben ebQenW1@EtaRmpTabYayU.rIr.OcoPm home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar
CANCER: The position of Jupiter says that you should spend the
rest of the week face down in the mud. Try not to shove a roll of
duct tape up your nose when taking your driver's test. -- Weird Al