Chaintech GeForce FX5600XT: Microtune Tv Tuner...?

[syf3r]

Does anyone know what the model number of the Microtune TV Tuner is that's being used on the Chaintech Gforce FX5600XT (model# FM6P) card? I'm trying to find out if it's 8-bit or if it's a newer generation of tuner chip, etc...

Also, a side question, does anyone know the rated voltage of this FX5600 card? My AOpen mobo is picky about AGP voltage.

/syf3r

 

[syf3r]

Nobody knows what the tv chip on this card is?

I've got a call in to Chaintech and they said they would get back to me with the specs, but I'm not holding my breath. They were very curious about why I wanted to know. Hmm.. maybe because it's my money and I want to know what I'm buying? :roll:

/syf3r

 

[rbV5]

AT's article shows the first batch of FX Personal Cinema using MT2050 which is the tuner used in Pinnacle?s PCTV Stereo card, but they weren't sure what it was going to ship with. . Funny, I thought they used the Phillips tuner like ATI (ATI dumped the microtune chip used only on the 8500dv)

I'm interested in the newer personal cinema line myself, so I'll see what I can find out.

 

[syf3r]

Yeah, this review at firingsquad also says it's the Microtune chip (but no model#) but when I called Chaintech the guy thought it was a Philips chip. He is supposedly going to get back to me with the exact details. I'm mostly interested in knowing if it's an old-gen 8-bit chip or if it's a newer 9- or 10-bit chip.

/syf3r

 

[rbV5]

What about the VIVO chip though? Isn't the ADC done on the VIVO chip rather than the tuner itself. I'm not real familiar with Personal Cinema, but with AIW the video processing/ Capture itself is done with the VIVO chip (Rage Theater, Theater 200), while the tuner simply decodes the frequency.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: rbV5
AT's article shows the first batch of FX Personal Cinema using MT2050 which is the tuner used in Pinnacle?s PCTV Stereo card, but they weren't sure what it was going to ship with. . Funny, I thought they used the Phillips tuner like ATI (ATI dumped the microtune chip used only on the 8500dv)

I'm interested in the newer personal cinema line myself, so I'll see what I can find out.

My eVGA G4MX440 Personal Cinema uses the Philips. The audio glitches on this thing just refused to be corrected though, despite driver updates and playing with various connection configs. Typical first gen bugginess I guess.

 

[syf3r]

Punisher, how was the image quality on the CATV-in connection?

/syf3r

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The TV veiwing looks good on my 9yr old 36" JVC CRT TV. The 2D on this card when using a monitor is actually quite good so I guess eVGA didn't cheese on the 2D IQ filters like they do with their other cards. I think it's limited to 8x6 res for TV but I'll have to check the doc. to be sure. I did have to increase text and icon sizes in the properties to be able to use the TV as the montior. FOR DVD, SVCD, DIVX it's awesome with my SN45G w/ Sounstorm. I don't use nVDVD though, it blows, I prefer MSI powerDVD 5.1 over it. The MX plays games like the Hulk and Ghost Recon no problem too so it's even OK for older games.

For capturing TV though, this thing is a bust. The audio is just FUBARed. I have to tweak the nV mixer settings just to make the audio bearable. It has either this muddled or tin like sound depending on the show and what it's broadcast in that is annoying as heck. If I capture on highest res. it looks good, it just sounds terrible EDIT: the audio levels from various sources will be too low also, and I have to continously adjust volume when switching between DVD, TV, games, and captured stuff.

 

[syf3r]

Well, no response from Chaintech yet. I'm not really all that surprised. Maybe I'll give them a call today to pursue the question, or maybe I'll just go with another vendor altogether considering their support doesn't seem to care.

/syf3r

 

[rbV5]

Looks like it uses the Philips SAA7174HL VIVO chip (9bit ADC) with the Microtune tuner chip. If its built like MSI-8918 Personal Cinema FX5200 Link

I looked for the VIVO chip at Philips, but it wasn't listed on their site, so I'm not sure of the specifics. I'll look further when I get a chance.