On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 21:34:36 -0600, "Harkhof" wrote:


As I previously posted, the DVD video is not all that bad, and although I
agree that the software player is an intregal part of the solution, a video
card that handles scaling well is also desirable. Also, remember, I am
driving a fairly large monitor, and while even my old AIW 9000 Pro will
work, the performance is not what it could be with a higher quality, newer
tech card. I have a 9600 pro in that machine at the moment, which is OK, but
the x800xt does a much better job over all driving this monitor. The
question is not IF I will get another card, but rather: which one? Thus, the
request for recommendations from those who may have found a card that
handles this type of scaling better.

Id like to hear about it myself if there is a difference. The 800
obviously is a more powerful card to push higher resolutions so for
that its desirable. But usually that power is mainly used for high res
with all those gaming effects with a 3d engine. Im not sure how much
actually power you need for 2D static pics and just showing videos
whether it would come into play at all. Ive got 4 cards the 800XL ,
9600XT, 9600 and 400mx which I can use on 3 different systems -- two
AMD 64s 3000/3200 and an old AMD 1600 athlon. They can all play videos
etc OK , DVDs on my 19" 1280x1024. Sure you want to go beyond that on
your new widescreen higher res monitor but the 400mx which is ancient
works OK up and not a heck of a lot different vs my 800XL on my 19" so
you got to wonder if a 800XT is overkill if you arent playing games
for DVDs.

Im no expert but like others say I think the software makes the big
difference as long as the hardware isnt deficient in some crucial way
in terms of DVD playback. Well LCDs make a huge difference in other
ways not resolution. My big beef is that many PC LCDs and LCDs in
general have really poor blacks and dark shade contrast levels. Many
sites mention this and in dark scenes details disappear and it looks
murky. On my LCD 19" Viewsonic for instance and its rated well ---- I
was looking at UHHHHHHHH Anaconda some terrible flick about a giant
snake that eats people and it was very difficult to make out what was
happening in many dark scenes. Of course many will say who cares with
that movie. Traditionally its said that say with LCD tvs which I
assume is probably but I dont know this , better than many LCD PC
screens in black levels etc since its primarily used for movies and TV
---- are worse than Plasma and CRTs in this area.

The other thing is response too of course but that doesnt seem like a
big deal unless once again you are playing games and many of the newer
LCD TVs have improved response now because people are buying it for
gaming. The other is LCDs to improve response times have gone to 6 bit
panels which dither most of the shades they claim to get so places
like Anandtech point out some shades are impossible to get correctily
and theres problems like banding when they show shade gradations etc
in a gradual spectrum in tests.

I actually bought a LCD HDTV too and an using it for PC monitor now
26". The thing about it is ---- it seems to have superior black levels
etc vs my Viewsonic and they improved the reponse times so gaming is
not a problem. Ive tested it with some recently. One guy posted that
he still thought black levels were "crushed" on the movie Matrix but
frankly tons of people have bought this same LCD HDTV the Olvevia
Syntax HVX 26" its been on sale on and off continually since BF down
to 499 AR --- and the overwhelming majority seem to be pretty happy
with it. One thing the HDTV LCD tend to have lower res than obviously
the widescreen PC large

So in the movie are Im not sure the hardware makes a huge difference
but I maybe wrong. I havent seen it with my 800XL