How To Get Best Video Quality For A Htpc?

[hired goon]

G'day,

I'm building a HTPC and I want the best possible picture quality. I'm assuming that the variables here are TV tuner, video card, OS, and decoding software (other things such as monitor and processor, etc being constant).

So what should I be looking for in each? I have a Digital Now TV tuner card, but I don't think there's much of a difference in quality compared to other tuner cards, right?

For video card, I'm thinking of a Nvidia 7600GT or similar, but another poster reported much better image quality using an Nvidia 8800 card. Expensive, but apparently there is a 8600GT coming out soon which is cheaper and doesn't have the gaming stuff that is not needed for a HTPC. Although in general, how much difference does the video card have on quality (assuming the video cards are capable of displaying the resolution without running out of puff)? I mean, I look at the Nvidia PureVideo chart and there's a lot of cards that seem to have the same features (eg, GeForce 7900GTX vs 7800GTX). Which one should be chosen?

There was some chatter on another thread that a video card may produce better output on Windows rather than on Linux. I assume that the reason for this is that the drivers for Windows are more stable. Has anyone else noticed this? I was thinking of using MythTV on Linux but if video quality on Windows is higher than I may opt for MediaPortal.

I'd hate to build and configure a HTPC and then find out I made choices that reduced video quality.

edit: and, even after all this, will I ever get a better quality image than provided by my Topfield SD PVR?

--Geoff

[sold]

So what should I be looking for in each? I have a Digital Now TV tuner card, but I don't think there's much of a difference in quality compared to other tuner cards, right?

There's no difference in video quality between tuner cards. It all comes down to the software.

Although in general, how much difference does the video card have on quality

In terms of output quality (colour, etc.) I personally don't think there's a lot of difference. It's mainly the de-interlacing/bad-edit correction/etc. abilities where the differences are.

Which one should be chosen?

I'd go with a 7600GT as the minimum. Then depending on budget look at the 8XXX series. However I'm not sure what the cooling options on the 8XXX are like in terms of noise and available aftermarket coolers.

There was some chatter on another thread that a video card may produce better output on Windows rather than on Linux. I assume that the reason for this is that the drivers for Windows are more stable. Has anyone else noticed this? I was thinking of using MythTV on Linux but if video quality on Windows is higher than I may opt for MediaPortal.

I think a lot of it is due to the lack of any of the top MPEG2 decoders that are available on windows (PowerDVD 7, PureVideo). If you want the best quality I'd stick with windows (it will also allow you to run FFDShow if you want to upscale DVDs/TV).

I'd hate to build and configure a HTPC and then find out I made choices that reduced video quality.

edit: and, even after all this, will I ever get a better quality image than provided by my Topfield SD PVR?

You should and will give you HD if nothing else

[myrantz]

There was some chatter on another thread that a video card may produce better output on Windows rather than on Linux. I assume that the reason for this is that the drivers for Windows are more stable. Has anyone else noticed this? I was thinking of using MythTV on Linux but if video quality on Windows is higher than I may opt for MediaPortal.

I'd hate to build and configure a HTPC and then find out I made choices that reduced video quality.

Can't say for Windows.. But in Linux

1) With newer Nvidia video cards, you can't really set hue/saturation/brightness/contrast easily. The Xv extensions isn't there. (I think the newer xorg has added more support, but I can't confirm this yet, at least I know it's still black & white OSD for me via XvMC). If you have no idea what I just said, I think the safe bet is to go for Windows first.

2) Different cards does make a difference. I am back to using my 6600GT now, and do notice a difference compared to my old FX5600 (though I prefer the 5600 as I can easily fine-tune the settings inside the HTPC rather than my panel).... However, the 6600 is fast enough for me to watch HDTV with subtitiles now.

3) All things being equal, if the source is good, the video quality from MythTV is amazing (E.g. L&O Criminal Intent). When it's not, there's alot of stupid artefacts like motion blur, jagged edges, etc that I don't know how to fix in MythTV (e.g. last year's F1).

[ocujos]

There's no difference in video quality between tuner cards. It all comes down to the software.

True, but there are differences with the driver stability and tuner sensitivity. It can vary a lot between different cards.

[nexx]

I've been out of this scene for a while now, but if you opt for FFDShow/software filtering....my advice to you is this: Intel Core 2 CPU. These things are fast. Incredibly fast. Allowing some top quality deitnerlacing & filtering for HD video.

Although I'm not sure how well FFDShow is optimized for multithreading. If so..the Quad-core will just eat up anything you throw at it.

[hired goon]

G'day,

Thanks for the all the info, dudes. Dunno if I'm any closer to a solution (I'm not really keen to build my HTPC using Windoze...) and video cards/motherboards/power supplies and their associated cooling issues just make my head spin.

3) All things being equal, if the source is good, the video quality from MythTV is amazing (E.g. L&O Criminal Intent). When it's not, there's alot of stupid artefacts like motion blur, jagged edges, etc that I don't know how to fix in MythTV (e.g. last year's F1).

Yeah, I'm noticing that on my 50" panel when using the SD Toppy. I wonder if PureVideo on Windoze would improve things in this area?

--Geoff

[Ata]

Building a HTPC is not that difficult, and saves you the need to buy a number of non-upgradeable components on and on and on. I have had a HTPC for 7 years and have never looked back.

Wrt software I don't have experience with Linux MythTV, but MCE is hard to beat for functionality and quality. Don't get me wrong, I work exclusively on Linux on my job and am not scared of all the intricacies of setting up a Linux-based HTPC. However, I don't think the software, in particular hardware drivers would be as mature.

There are plenty of cool HTPC/MCE cases with powerful yet quiet PSUs, most of them will do a very decent job.

For CPU, go with a dual core system, both AMD and Intel will do, because decoding of Blu-ray / HD-DVD A/V streams (you know you will want it soon) will require that much power.

For a grahics card, get a passively cooled Nvidia 7600GT or wait for a 8600GS/GT, and use purevideo decoders -- best to buy the latest Theatertek for the ultimate DVD experience and the drivers. Also, turn on AA to 4x, AF to 16x, and turn off any optimizations in the NVIdia control panel.

Tuner card does not matter as long as it has mature drivers that can suspend/resume without problems and won't lock up your HTPC/MCE computer. I have Leadtek DTV1000

(covered in a mamoth thread in this forum) and they have been good to me.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the ultimate PQ of your favourite shows, movies, and sport!

-- Ata

[hired goon]

G'day,

Wrt software I don't have experience with Linux MythTV, but MCE is hard to beat for functionality and quality.

Does MCE still have limitations in the number of tuners, or with multi-channel audio? I've been toying with Media Portal and it seems okay so far, but I may check out MCE if MP fizzles out.

For a grahics card, get a passively cooled Nvidia 7600GT or wait for a 8600GS/GT, and use purevideo decoders -- best to buy the latest Theatertek for the ultimate DVD experience and the drivers. Also, turn on AA to 4x, AF to 16x, and turn off any optimizations in the NVIdia control panel.

Dunno if I can wait till the 8600GT gets released (or even how much it will cost). Is there any difference between the Leadtek/ASUS/Albatron/Gigabyte/etc 7600GT cards?

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the ultimate PQ of your favourite shows, movies, and sport!

Well, this is the thing. You say "ultimate PQ", but would a 7600GT/PureVideo/TheaterTek/whatever combo give a better picture than a HD Toppy STB, for example? I assume that a STB would have a fairly limited video processor (given the price), but then a STB doesn't need any games logic either, so ...

--Geoff

[TheShape]

Hey guys,

I just bought a twinhandtv alpha 7045a and it only seems to display interlaced channels, ie: CHannel 7 and 2 HD are 576i / 720i instead of 576p/720p.

Is this normal for cheap cards? anyway i can get progressive channels (my mates fusion card gets them)

Thnx

[Pixels]

True, but there are differences with the driver stability and tuner sensitivity. It can vary a lot between different cards.

I second that. None of them seem to quote tuner sensitivity either and it's an important number for minimal artifacts in digital tv

[myrantz]

Yeah, I'm noticing that on my 50" panel when using the SD Toppy. I wonder if PureVideo on Windoze would improve things in this area?

--Geoff

Possibly (if they're not mere marketing hype that is).. However, in theory FFDShow should do a good job.

Linux have better developers, however, Windows have A LOT more developers. (No offense to all the software developers out there, but the idea that many monkeys put together in a room can write a novel comes to mind).

Add to the fact that documentions for hardware are readily available in Windows and hard to come by in Linux, means that for the foreseeable future, Windows will prob always be better.. E.g. I'm not too sure if you can play Blu-ray/HD-DVD on linux yet.

The only bane with MythTV is that it's deinterlacers isn't up to par. Since it's good some of the time, I'm willing to live with it.

[glennb]

Ok, my 2 cents from my experience.

The 7600GT should be sufficient for all HTPC needs, as there is generally not a big demand on the graphics card (up to a point). Of the brands you listed, I think Gigabyte are the only ones that make a passively cooled one (no fan) and this would be my pick. I'm currently using a passive 6600 from Gigabyte and it's fine.

Case & PSU is generally pretty straight forward, and www.silentpcreview.com is a good source of quiet components. Silverstone cases, and Seasonic PSUs are my pick and i'm very happy with my combo of the above.

Intel Core 2 Duo is the pick for bang for buck, as well as low power/heat output. Motherboard, basically anything from Asus or Gigabyte will be stable and have good support.

The software:

DVD playback: TheaterTek, FFDshow, Avisynth. This needs a bit of research and it requires a bit of time to set up, but the results can be outstanding.

HDTV Live Viewing: This is decoder dependent, so whatever software gives you plenty of choice. I haven't used MCE, but the Purevideo codecs are reasonably good in quality. My best results have been achieved on a DNTV Live card, using the DNTV live software, Dscaler & VMR 9, but my system is not powerful enough to handle the HD channels. Although the picture is stunning.

HDTV recording: Webscheduler is the EPG and recording freeware that is the best in terms of reliability and online support.

HDTV Plaback: I've tried the following on my system - Power DVD 7, WMP11 (with HDTVpump), TheaterTek, DNTV Live. I have trouble playing back some files at times with all of them, but for general quality, PowerDVD 7 is quite good. Files that I have errors on (10SD normally) will only play with DNTV Live for some reason.

In general, the quality of the viewing is mostly effected by the software side of things, and the hardware side is generally pretty easy, just keep it quiet.

[Ata]

G'day,

Does MCE still have limitations in the number of tuners, or with multi-channel audio? I've been toying with Media Portal and it seems okay so far, but I may check out MCE if MP fizzles out.

I think it's 2 tuners without a hack, 4 or may be even more with the hack. I haven't bothered as 2 tuners are generally enough for my family's TV habits.

Dunno if I can wait till the 8600GT gets released (or even how much it will cost). Is there any difference between the Leadtek/ASUS/Albatron/Gigabyte/etc 7600GT cards?

I am generally brand agnostic. My 7600GS card is Sparkle brand and performs admirably.

Well, this is the thing. You say "ultimate PQ", but would a 7600GT/PureVideo/TheaterTek/whatever combo give a better picture than a HD Toppy STB, for example? I assume that a STB would have a fairly limited video processor (given the price), but then a STB doesn't need any games logic either, so ...

It is a subjective answer, but I do believe that the quality of HTPC/MCE is better than any set-top box, or DVD player for that matter. I watch the 9HD loop without a hint of noise, jaggies, or blockiness at home. Any time I visit a retailer I am appalled at the picture they are showing during the loop.

-- Ata