NVidia or ATI for HTPC PVR system? Which of the two cards?

[alm99]

I am trying to compare between these two cards for a PVR system to sit with my tv and receiver. I need to have good TV-out to a 32" SDTV. I understand I won't get easily readable text. Mine only concern is picture quality when playing back video like recorded shows or a dvd. Between NVidia and ATI Radeon which would be the better bet?

ATI Radeonhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102305

NVidia

 

[edblor]

Personally, I'd go with the ATI. Image quality is usually better (this opinion varies of course ), and I guess I am just a fan of ATI vod cards.

If it is simply TV-Out that you are concerned with though, the cheapest card that has that feature will be your best bet (assuming ANY other features are irrelevant).

Edblor

 

[LW07]

I would go with ATI. ATI is better than nvidia

 

[fliguy84]

I don't know about those two but you probably want something that has component out like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133151

also purevideo might help with that dvd playback

edit:

found a cheaper version here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121542

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: fliguy84
I don't know about those two but you probably want something that has component out like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133151

also purevideo might help with that dvd playback

edit:

found a cheaper version here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121542

Looks like the memory size is different between those two cards.

 

[moonboy403]

for dvd play back using your computer

use ffdshow which is better than what ati AND nvidia have to offer

it's free of charge and has better quality

ffdshow works better if you have a faster processor, video card wouldn't really matter for ffdshow too!

 

[moonboy403]

btw...i haven't tried ati's avivo

but i did try nvidia's purevideo and i think it's overrated

purevideo seems too soften the picutre much more than i'd prefer

 

[crazydingo]

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2691&p=15

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_catalyst_5.13_video_quality/page12.asp

 

[Cookie Monster]

Asus 6600LE AGP 98 USD

This is what you are looking for. Perfect for HTPC. It comes with pure video, so it will offer better dvd quality playback, and with soon driver update (FW85) it will support h.264 acceleration if your into that. Also rumours that it will do 720p 1080i.

You should be looking for 6600LE or 6600 type cards, that are AGP and have passive cooling.