Best option for DVD output to tv? On a budget, Please respond quikly and keep on top

[Turin39789]

Okay so a friend of mine calls me today to let me know that he got a dvd player for christmas and wants to be able to hook it up to his television. I would like to do this for as cheap as possible, but retain some performance. Do i need to get a Geforce 2 w/tv out or should i get a hollywood card or what? If I had this problem I know what i would do, but I need help for performance on a budget. Thanks for your help

 

[TERMIN8TOR]

I have the Elsa GF2 Mx card. I was also wondering if I should get the Hollywood+ card or the optional Video in Video Out (VIVO) module from Elsa. The costs are £76 for H+ and £30 for the VIVO (in the UK). If anyone owns the VIVO I would desperately like to know anything as to it quality for DVD on TV. Thanks

 

[Jugernot]

Definitely a hardware dvd decoder card! Video cards just can't produce the same sharp vibrant output of a hardware dvd solution. The Hollywood plus is probably the best decoder card out there.

 

[Workin']

Get an external scan converter. Then you can have TV-out on ANY computer.

 

[RC5Bri]

I've got a Hollywood + card, and I prefer it to the TV out on my video card (Asus V3800 TNT2). The only problem is that the H+ uses a video pass-through cable, which lowers the quality of picture on the monitor.

 

[pdo]

what kind of budget are we talking here. Is he a gamer? If not I would suggest a Matrox G400 DualHead. It's better to go this route than to get the Hollywood+ since it won't output MPG or Divx which you might wanna watch later on.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

choose one:
1. any decent ati card with tv-out.
2. realmagic hollywood+.
3. dvd player (dvd player should mean consumer desktop dvd player for tv, computer's should be called dvd-rom drive)

 

[Turin39789]

He is not a gamer, so i dont really have to worry about that. He is willing to go about 150-160, but if i can do it for under 100 it would be much better

 

[Turin39789]

I've started to look at some ati cards, how far back can i go and still have excellent dvd on a tv? rage fury pro? xpert with rage 128? Im new to this whole ATI thing so any help would be apreciated

 

[Playitagainsam]

If you really want to take the cheapest way, buy a hardware decoder, like Hollywood Plus, Creative DXR3 (basically the same card) or the older Creative DXR2. DXR2 cards, like the Creative CT7160 should be dirt cheap, like $20 or so, and despite whatever people say, they have an excellent video quality. The only drawback I'm aware of with a CT 7160, over a DXR3/Hollywood Plus, is that it cannot output to the TV anything else besides DVD's. You can't watch VCD's with it.

But if your friend wants an economic solution, the CT 7160 is the best. Check things like pricewatch.com and such...

 

[BenSkywalker]

For ~$100 go with a Hollywood+ and pick up the optional remote control that can be used with it.

Not taking anything away from the DxR2 or DxR3(I have one myself and have been extremely pleased), but they don't have the remote control option to the best of my knowledge(believe me, I've looked).

I would suggest forgetting a video card, there TV output is well below that of a decent dedicated MPEG2 decoder, this amplifies itself if you have a decent to high end TV that you are outputting to(much less of a factor if you are dealing with something like a 27" GE or another low end TV). I have seen the TV out on pretty much every reasonably current video card and must say that I have yet to see any that come close to matching the TV DVD playback of a dedicated MPEG2 decoder board when paired with a decent TV(ie- Sony Wega, Panasonic SuperFlat etc).

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

no there is no need to tie your computer into this. just buy a set-top dvd player. They are cheap, and you can get one for about 120-150. They are much more flexible than pc's and will cause you less trouble. Plus the picture quality will be better.

 

[hotrodder]

creative has refurb dxr3 for 60 or new for 80. i've had a refurb for about
6 months with no problems.

 

[pdo]

I used to have a Matrox G400 DH outputting to my Wega and it looks excellent.

 

[Laz]

You can't compare t.v output of a video card to that of the Hollywood, the Hollywood is much nicer. It is comparable to a settop DVD player and has output for AC3 sound. I ran mine without the computer passthrough cable (only t.v. out) and it worked fine, I no longer use it as I bought a settop player, but it works great if your t.v is near the computer and has a s-vid input (I think it also comes with a converter to RCA plugs). I think I still have it somewhere with (2) 25 ft lengths of s-vid cables and a coupler and all cables. I also have a Radeon and even though that has the nicest t.v. out of any video card I've owned, it doesn't compare to the Hollywood +.