Help choosing videocard for playing DVD on TV while working on PC

[phillyTIM]

Hey guys! What videocards are out there that I can put in my PC that will allow me to work at my computer monitor screen (like surfing the net) while at the same time playing a DVD output to my regular TV via S-Video cable?

I'm looking for both of these functions/connections to be in the same card.

Thanks, in advance, for your help & suggestions.

 

[MustangSVT]

i dont know if the cards do dual output simultaneously? why dont u just get a DVD decorder? then u can have it out put to a TV without any loss in pc performance. i think i saw one cheap (like $25) at compgeeks. other then that maybe RadeonVIVO or AIW will do it.

 

[Hanky]

You have two choices:

- a MPEG2 decoder card (Hollywood+ for example)
- or a Dual-Head video card

 

[phillyTIM]

So will any video card with a monitor head and an S-Video (or TV-Out) head allow me to do both, work at the monitor and play DVD on TV), at the same time? [Like the ATI Radeon 64 Vivo or the Leadtek GeForce MX card with the S-Video port?]

 

[GT578]

I have an old Creative DXR2 decoder card that outputs to TV and the monitor simultaneously. I used to watch DVDs on my TV and minimize the DVD window on the computer and still use the computer for other tasks. I don't know about other cards but the TNT2 Ultra I have only outputs either to the TV or to the monitor...doesn't output to both screens at the same time.

 

[RobsTV]

Most cards will not allow you to have 2 different screens at same time. Normal cards with video output will either disply the same thing on both video and monitor, or blank out monitor when you select video output. Another option is simply add a cheap $15 second video card to your system. As long as your DVD software allows multi-monitor, then you are set.

 

[Hawk]

Your best bet is probably get a decoder card. Those usually let you show a movie on the TV out and doesn't interfere with your monitor's display. And it's always nice to have dedicated DVD hardare decoding. Those cards are $30 or less now I think.