From FX5200 to 7600GT or GS

sderuiter · 2007-01-04, 16:36

Hi,

I currently have a nVidia FX 5200 video card, and some money to burn. I have a Hauppauge 500 MCE dual tuner tv card and premium cables and connectors. Still, the TV image is not 'optimal'. Would I gain much in TV image quality if I purchased a nVidia 7600GT. I've read the 7600GS is the same card, with lower clock speeds. Would this hurt? I don't play games nor do I plan to. This is a pure HTPC.

Any ideas welcomed.

Roberdin · 2007-01-05, 00:48

What connectors are you using to connect to the TV? What precisely is not optimal about your TV picture? I used to have terrible problems with ground loops (well I think it was a loop, it seemed to cure itself whenever I made certain electrical connections between my TV and PC. It was often characterised by bands of lines superimposed over the picture and gradually moving downwards or upwards), and no better graphics card would cure that.

I presume, therefore, what you're looking for is a card that supports a better quality output than being able to render images in a faster time?

The highest quality output will be HDMI, but these are rare and your TV probably doesn't support it unless it is a HD set. Also, cards that do claim to support this are frequently lying and actually don't at all. DVI is great, but your TV is even less likely to support that unless it doubles as a PC monitor. Any analogue connections tend to be fairly poor, in my experience, although I've heard good things about component video (YPbPr), and SCART is usually a safe bet in the entertainment world.

hakuna · 2007-01-05, 08:26

A 7600GT uses the more of the Purevideo functions.
Swedish: http://www.minhembio.com/forum/index...owtopic=144234

wortelsoft · 2007-01-05, 08:49

The GT uses more power and therefore runs hotter. Most (all?) of the GS cards have passive cooling a few more expensive GT cards come with passive cooling.

sderuiter · 2007-01-05, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberdin

What connectors are you using to connect to the TV? What precisely is not optimal about your TV picture?

I presume, therefore, what you're looking for is a card that supports a better quality output than being able to render images in a faster time?

I'm using DVI to HDMI on the LCD. Yes, quality output is my main goal. The image isn't bad (I'll try to make a screenshot and upload), but could be better. Fast moving scenes (sports?) and dark scenes could be displayed better IMHO. As for fans, I don't care about sound, since the htpc is located in the basement.

Flerbizky · 2007-01-05, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by sderuiter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberdin

What connectors are you using to connect to the TV? What precisely is not optimal about your TV picture?

I presume, therefore, what you're looking for is a card that supports a better quality output than being able to render images in a faster time?

I'm using DVI to HDMI on the LCD. Yes, quality output is my main goal. The image isn't bad (I'll try to make a screenshot and upload), but could be better. Fast moving scenes (sports?) and dark scenes could be displayed better IMHO. As for fans, I don't care about sound, since the htpc is located in the basement.

When the HTPC is located in the basement, and sound is not an issue, why not go for a 7900xx where HDCP compliance is required ?...

My 0.02 Euros on a friday :-)

Cheers,
Steff

sderuiter · 2007-01-22, 08:30

For HTPC purposes, what would give a better picture quality:

1. Nvidia 7600 GS with 512Mb memory
2. Nvidia 7600 GT with 256Mb memory

Pricewise, it's almost the same.

Flerbizky · 2007-01-22, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by sderuiter

For HTPC purposes, what would give a better picture quality:

1. Nvidia 7600 GS with 512Mb memory
2. Nvidia 7600 GT with 256Mb memory

Pricewise, it's almost the same.

7600GT has a higher clockspeed + "Inverse Telecine" and "Bad Edit Correction" which will improve picture quality..

The 256+ megs of memory won't do anything to improve picture quality :-)

Cheers,
Steff

sderuiter · 2007-01-22, 11:53

Thanks. However, I'm still running an AGP system. According to this comparison, there is no difference in features between a 7600 GT and 7600 GS. Am I safe to assume a 7600 GS would suffice for better image quality?

Paranoid Delusion · 2007-01-22, 12:32

For a normal video output the GS version fine, HD output would most probably need the GT.

Your call

2007-01-04, 16:36	#1 (permalink)
sderuiter Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 35 Posts: 50 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My System	From FX5200 to 7600GT or GS Hi, I currently have a nVidia FX 5200 video card, and some money to burn. I have a Hauppauge 500 MCE dual tuner tv card and premium cables and connectors. Still, the TV image is not 'optimal'. Would I gain much in TV image quality if I purchased a nVidia 7600GT. I've read the 7600GS is the same card, with lower clock speeds. Would this hurt? I don't play games nor do I plan to. This is a pure HTPC. Any ideas welcomed.

2007-01-22, 12:32	#10 (permalink)
Paranoid Delusion Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cheshire UK Posts: 5,949 Thanks: 107 Thanked 180 Times in 161 Posts Country: My System	For a normal video output the GS version fine, HD output would most probably need the GT. Your call __________________ Ray\PD Check your codecs are fine with Filmerit. XP\Vista known issues FOR FULL SUPPORT PLEASE GIVE USER SPECIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT LOG's as per HERE

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2007-01-05, 00:48	#2 (permalink)
Roberdin Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 102 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What connectors are you using to connect to the TV? What precisely is not optimal about your TV picture? I used to have terrible problems with ground loops (well I think it was a loop, it seemed to cure itself whenever I made certain electrical connections between my TV and PC. It was often characterised by bands of lines superimposed over the picture and gradually moving downwards or upwards), and no better graphics card would cure that. I presume, therefore, what you're looking for is a card that supports a better quality output than being able to render images in a faster time? The highest quality output will be HDMI, but these are rare and your TV probably doesn't support it unless it is a HD set. Also, cards that do claim to support this are frequently lying and actually don't at all. DVI is great, but your TV is even less likely to support that unless it doubles as a PC monitor. Any analogue connections tend to be fairly poor, in my experience, although I've heard good things about component video (YPbPr), and SCART is usually a safe bet in the entertainment world.

2007-01-05, 08:26	#3 (permalink)
hakuna Portal Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bollebygd Age: 32 Posts: 353 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	A 7600GT uses the more of the Purevideo functions. Swedish: http://www.minhembio.com/forum/index...owtopic=144234

2007-01-05, 08:49	#4 (permalink)
wortelsoft Portal Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Age: 32 Posts: 374 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The GT uses more power and therefore runs hotter. Most (all?) of the GS cards have passive cooling a few more expensive GT cards come with passive cooling.

2007-01-22, 08:30	#7 (permalink)
sderuiter Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 35 Posts: 50 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My System	For HTPC purposes, what would give a better picture quality: 1. Nvidia 7600 GS with 512Mb memory 2. Nvidia 7600 GT with 256Mb memory Pricewise, it's almost the same.

2007-01-22, 11:53	#9 (permalink)
sderuiter Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 35 Posts: 50 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My System	Thanks. However, I'm still running an AGP system. According to this comparison, there is no difference in features between a 7600 GT and 7600 GS. Am I safe to assume a 7600 GS would suffice for better image quality?