Anyone used a HD card to upscale SD DVD's?

[DuncyBoy]

The 2400/2600 cards from ATI are on my to buy list for the near future for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray playback. I currently have:

Shuttle SN35G, Athlon 64 3000, 1GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Radeon 9600 Pro, On-board sound, PVR-150 Capture Card

in my HTPC. I've got an old P4 2800 HT and good ABit board to recycle when Hi-Def optical combi's come out at a decent price, all I'll need to add is an HTPC case and (maybe) a PSU, possible add another 1GB of RAM to make 2GB.

HOWEVER- I was wondering if purchasing an AGP 2400/2600 now and using it in my current set-up would make any difference for standard DVD's and Hi-Def files?

I have a Samsung R8740BDX LCD TV connected via DVI --> HDMI running Windows MCE.

I know that ffdshow is capable of upscaling and post-processing but my machine's just not got the grunt to do it reliably. It can't quite playback some 720 files without a struggle either

So has anyone on here used one of the new Avivo cards for upscaling? Or perhaps the nVidia equivalent?

I know AGP's slowly on it's way out but my current set-up's AGP and the board I plan on using for HD has AGP and 3D performance isn't an issue- just Avivo performance?

Cheers

 

[gareth170]

HOWEVER- I was wondering if purchasing an AGP 2400/2600 now and using it in my current set-up would make any difference for standard DVD's and Hi-Def files?

So has anyone on here used one of the new Avivo cards for upscaling? Or perhaps the nVidia equivalent?

u would see a big different. i use powerdvd theres a option on it to like upscale the picture. it looks near to hi-def quality..

also the 2400/2600 would free up your cpu when your playing hi-daf files...

 

[DuncyBoy]

Cheers for the swift reply, man. Good stuff!

Might try PowerDVD first, maybe they do a trial version.

Was previously using TheaterTek & ffdshow, maybe PowerDVD would run better.

Will try that first and if it doesn't work, get shopping

 

[Lanz]

For standard upscaling on normal DVDs, I doubt you'd notice much difference. Although the 9600 is pretty poor at mpeg2, even something like an old Nvidia 6200/6600 would be noticably better with mpeg2 due to purevideo.

You only really need these new cards if your looking at H.264 stuff i.e blueray/HD-DVD - But I dont think you can get an AGP 8xxx or X2xxx card yet can you? Ideally a 8400GS AGP or X2400XT AGP would be best, but I dont think they are available yet.

 

[gareth170]

For standard upscaling on normal DVDs, I doubt you'd notice much difference. Although the 9600 is pretty poor at mpeg2, even something like an old Nvidia 6200/6600 would be noticably better with mpeg2 due to purevideo.

You only really need these new cards if your looking at H.264 stuff i.e blueray/HD-DVD - But I dont think you can get an AGP 8xxx or X2xxx card yet can you? Ideally a 8400GS AGP or X2400XT AGP would be best, but I dont think they are available yet.

well i noticed a big different...

i think the 2400/2600 agp isn't out yet..

 

[DuncyBoy]

There are Sapphire and GeCube 2400 and 2600 AGP's out now, but won't post a link where

Think I'll try PowerDVD first and then see if that runs OK on current set-up.

 

[helmutcheese]

I found SD looked crap on my Sharp 46" 1080p Panel.

I tried using the PC with upscaling software etc, ended up I found out there is a box you can buy in USA (looks like a DVD Player) it scales all for you but cost a lot of cash.

Im sorry as right now I cant remember its name as this was last January, but its over on AVForums.

 

[DuncyBoy]

I found SD looked crap on my Sharp 46" 1080p Panel.

I tried using the PC with upscaling software etc, ended up I found out there is a box you can buy in USA (looks like a DVD Player) it scales all for you but cost a lot of cash.

Im sorry as right now I cant remember its name as this was last January, but its over on AVForums.

I had considered a Samsung HD-870 for about £60 but I prefer to just have an all-in-one PC for everything, makes life simpler

Have just read a few reviews for the PCI-Express versions of the 2600 Pro and although it gets top marks for upscaling quality it needs more power from a Molex connector
Not sure if the old Shuttle could manage that so it could be back to the drawing board...

 

[helmutcheese]

This was not a Upscaling DVD Player, its a box that ALL your SD feeds go into and it upscales to 720p or 1080i or even 1080p on the Top model ££££££.

I will find it later.

 

[gareth170]

I had considered a Samsung HD-870 for about £60 but I prefer to just have an all-in-one PC for everything, makes life simpler

Have just read a few reviews for the PCI-Express versions of the 2600 Pro and although it gets top marks for upscaling quality it needs more power from a Molex connector
Not sure if the old Shuttle could manage that so it could be back to the drawing board...

the 2600 doesn't need extra power...

 

[DuncyBoy]

the 2600 doesn't need extra power...

Weird- a guy on AVForums just said his did. Wonder if he means the 2900? I'm confused now

I'll do further reading at home- work access blocks most forums and gaming sites.

Thanks for the input thus far, to be continued...

 

[gareth170]

Weird- a guy on AVForums just said his did. Wonder if he means the 2900? I'm confused now

I'll do further reading at home- work access blocks most forums and gaming sites.

Thanks for the input thus far, to be continued...

yes the 2900 does need extra power... the 2400/2600 doesn't need extra power...