Powerstrip alternative

2004-10-05, 13:43

Does anyone know of an alternative to PowerStrip? Anything that can output a TV resolution from a standard graphics card. Preferably open source.

I've never heard of anything that could do this in the same way. Its a shame that we have to get proprietery software of hardware solution to do this. Do we think it might ever get added to MediaPortal? I assume that it is extremely complicated. Is it beyond even us?

sickboy · 2004-10-05, 18:22

If you have a ATI card, there comes a tool with the Omega driver called MultiRes.
I use that tool, and i have a resolution of 720x576

2004-10-06, 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickboy

there comes a tool with the Omega driver called MultiRes.
I use that tool, and i have a resolution of 720x576

Sorry for being dumb, but what is the "omega driver". Where can I get it? I am currently using the latest Catylst drivers.

2004-10-06, 03:09

OK, found omegadriver.net
thanks

A quick scenario though that you might be able to answer off the top of your head.

I have an ATI 9600xt AIW. I have a LCD monitor (1024 x 768) which is the primary display. I also have an old tv connected to the s-video connector (via a SCART socket connector, its a very old TV set

)

Currently, when I want to run use myHTPC, I run the primary monitor at 800 x 600 and clone it via catlyst driver to the TV. Its less than ideal.

What I really want to do is this:
Run the primary display at 1024 x 768, output to the secondary monitor (by extending the display?) in native PAL resolution (352 x 288 or 720 x 576???) at 50Hz.
I know MediaPortal doesn't support multi-monitor mode at the moment.
Is it possible to (with either catlyst or omega driver, or another tool) to get this happening? What do you advise? I think MediaPortal (and WMP output) will always try to display on the primary monitor.

This is one of my big three problems to fix before I switch to MP fulltime. I cannot wait any longer.

Big thanks to anyone who can help.

SiLenTYL · 2004-10-06, 05:43

Most nVidia graphic card can use TVTOOL

but i believe its not free and certainly not open-sourced

2004-10-06, 15:02

I have now installed the omega drivers and the multires tool. There are two options which are fairly close:
800 x 600 47Hz (interlaced)
720 x 576 (32bit) 60Hz

Which do you think will work best in the long run?

Is there any advice on how to get closer to the setup I outlined in my previous post?

Thank you in advance if anyone can help.

htpcman · 2004-10-08, 22:55

Hi Forbes,

I have a similar setup i.e. TFT w 1024 res and TV/Projector with S-Video. and an ATI 9600 (not AIW).

I have set the ATI Catalyst driver to "Theater" mode in the "overlay" section and this gives the following:

when there is no overlay i.e. video playing I get a clone of the TFT running @ 1024x768. As soon as there is a video playing the S-Video will go to Fulscreen in native PAL resolution.

You may want ot set the "overscan" option in the Displays/TVsection to get FS for the computer screen as well.

Hope this helps

htpcman

2004-10-05, 13:43	#1 (permalink)
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	Powerstrip alternative Does anyone know of an alternative to PowerStrip? Anything that can output a TV resolution from a standard graphics card. Preferably open source. I've never heard of anything that could do this in the same way. Its a shame that we have to get proprietery software of hardware solution to do this. Do we think it might ever get added to MediaPortal? I assume that it is extremely complicated. Is it beyond even us?

2004-10-08, 22:55	#7 (permalink)
htpcman Portal Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Forbes, I have a similar setup i.e. TFT w 1024 res and TV/Projector with S-Video. and an ATI 9600 (not AIW). I have set the ATI Catalyst driver to "Theater" mode in the "overlay" section and this gives the following: when there is no overlay i.e. video playing I get a clone of the TFT running @ 1024x768. As soon as there is a video playing the S-Video will go to Fulscreen in native PAL resolution. You may want ot set the "overscan" option in the Displays/TVsection to get FS for the computer screen as well. Hope this helps htpcman __________________ Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000G, P4 2.8 G, 512 MB RAM Nvidia GF 6200, onboard audio S/PDIF out DVB-S Technisat Skystar2 HDD Samsung 200GB, 7200 rpm DVD-ROM Toshiba SD-M1612 RPC-1 DVD-RAM LG GSA4040 WinXP SP2 US, Firefox 1.0, WinDVD6, MCE2005 Remote

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2004-10-05, 18:22	#2 (permalink)
sickboy Portal Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Berlin, Germany Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If you have a ATI card, there comes a tool with the Omega driver called MultiRes. I use that tool, and i have a resolution of 720x576

2004-10-06, 03:09	#4 (permalink)
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	OK, found omegadriver.net thanks A quick scenario though that you might be able to answer off the top of your head. I have an ATI 9600xt AIW. I have a LCD monitor (1024 x 768) which is the primary display. I also have an old tv connected to the s-video connector (via a SCART socket connector, its a very old TV set ) Currently, when I want to run use myHTPC, I run the primary monitor at 800 x 600 and clone it via catlyst driver to the TV. Its less than ideal. What I really want to do is this: Run the primary display at 1024 x 768, output to the secondary monitor (by extending the display?) in native PAL resolution (352 x 288 or 720 x 576???) at 50Hz. I know MediaPortal doesn't support multi-monitor mode at the moment. Is it possible to (with either catlyst or omega driver, or another tool) to get this happening? What do you advise? I think MediaPortal (and WMP output) will always try to display on the primary monitor. This is one of my big three problems to fix before I switch to MP fulltime. I cannot wait any longer. Big thanks to anyone who can help.

2004-10-06, 05:43	#5 (permalink)
SiLenTYL Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Most nVidia graphic card can use TVTOOL but i believe its not free and certainly not open-sourced

2004-10-06, 15:02	#6 (permalink)
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	I have now installed the omega drivers and the multires tool. There are two options which are fairly close: 800 x 600 47Hz (interlaced) 720 x 576 (32bit) 60Hz Which do you think will work best in the long run? Is there any advice on how to get closer to the setup I outlined in my previous post? Thank you in advance if anyone can help.