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Video/Audio Cards for a Media Computer

S

soltrain

Senior member
I'm putting together a computer that will hook up to a home theater thing I'm building in my basement. I already have a nice sony reciever, speakers, and a sub, but am building a computer that would hook up to the reciever and the TV so I can play music, VCD, DIVX, DVD, pictures over my home theater TV and speakers. I also plan to set up a small monitor on the side so I can show winamp playlists, control the computer etc..

I've got most of my components, but am not sure what the computer's video and sound cards will be. I'm thinking about the Extigy for the Sound card as it has a nice breakout box, and has many outputs to hook up to my reciever. Good idea?

On the other hand, I have no idea on what a good video card should be.. I need it to have dual output, (hopefully be able to run through the TV and the monitor at the same time (at different resolutions?)) and to be able to have good DVD/VCD playback onto a TV. My friend has informed me that some video cards are better at outputting to TV than others, as some will leave a black bar at the bottom of the screen? I don't need 3d preformance, just a S-Video out, and monitor out.. should I be looking at a Matrix video card? should I get two video cards so I can output in different resolutions to two different sources (ie. 320 for TV and 800x600 for monitor), or can good video cards do this?

If anyone has a computer like this, or can recommend a good video card for this purpose please help out.. thanks.
 
well...to start you'd need a videocard with a good TV out function such as a Matrox or ATI card.

Then you'd need a soundcard with Digital out for surround sound etc. I recommend the Soundblaster Audigy or Hercules Game Theater Xp. The Audigy has a internal box that allows you to plug Optical in and out Coax digital audio in and out etc and has a remote

The Gametheater XP has an external box with the same basic functions, but the better part about this one is that you can move the box wherever you want within the length of the cable between the box and the soundcard. This allows more freedom so you can move it away from your computer and closer to the receiver etc.

Whichever you pick it will be a great soundcard with probably everything you need.
 
anyone have any specific reccommendations on video cards to use? should I go for an ATI all in wonder? Doesn't the AIW output black bars on the bottom of the TV screen?
 
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