MediaPortal picture quality VS regular Analog Cable quality (1 Viewer)

[ignacvucko]

MediaPortal Version: latest stable, 0.2.2
MediaPortal Skin: default blue
Windows Version: XP Home
CPU Type: Pentium 3GHz
HDD: 230 GB
Memory: 1GB
Motherboard: Dell Dimensions 4550
Motherboard Chipset: Dell Dimensions 4550
Motherboard Bios: Dell Dimensions 4550 (Bios version A6)
Video Card: Nvidia 5200Fx
Video Card Driver: Latest from Nvidia's website
1. TV Card: Hauppauge 150MCE
1. TV Card Type: Hauppauge 150MCE
1. TV Card Driver: Latest from Hauppauge's website
2. TV Card: Hauppauge 150MCE
2. TV Card Type: Hauppauge 150MCE
2. TV Card Driver: Latest from Hauppauge's website
MPEG2 Video Codec: MPV Codec
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Rogers, Canada
TV: Toshiba 40" CRT
TV - HTPC Connection: SVideo cable to NVidia graphics card

I'm using NVidia GeForce Fx 5200 connected to my Toshiba CRT via an SVideo cable. When watching live TV, or playing back recorded shows, the picture quality just sucks when compared to regular NTSC analog cable television.
Everything is so dark, not as crisp, not at clear.
It makes my eyes want to water.

When watching the show on a CRT monitor though, it's as clear as day.

Things I've tried:
- reading all FAQs
- searching forums
- mucking with the "Nvidia Control Panel" application for
hours and hours adjusting brightness/contrast/colour/etc..etc..
- Adjusting my TV's brightness/contrast/colours/etc..etc..
- Adjusting resolution (1028x768, 800x600)
- Kicking my television
- Banging my head against the wall

The 5200Fx is a popular card to use for MediaPortal so i wouldn't
think it would have these kinda issues. I also know it's not my TV
cuz cable comes in bright and clear.

Any one have any suggestions on what else i can try?

Ignac

 

[Noelix]

I have a similar setup. Go into nvidia's advanced settings and try adjusting the gamma to make it brighter. That's what I did and it made a world of difference.

 

[ignacvucko]

thanks...a bit better...but..

hi Noelix,

thanks for the help!

In the Invidia Control Panel, I selected "view advanced" to get a
tree like pane on the right hand side of the window that has 3 root nodes:
3DSettings, DisplayOutput, and TVOutput)

The TVOutput node contains two areas to adjust the settings:
VideoOutput and TVOutput. Both seem to matter.

I played with the settings for another 40 mins and did as you suggested.
The settings that seem best so far is if i set the gamma to 100%
and set the brightness to ~50%.
Things no longer look dark, but still looked "washed out".
When i switch to normal cable, all the colours are so vibrant
and just pop out at you...and when i switch back to media portal,
white looks off white, bright red looks pale red, etc.
Also, the edges of images are so much crisper on regular cable.

Am i simply reaching the limitations of the graphics card's TV Out capabilities?

Appreciate your response,
Ignac

 

[mrkaras]

in the "display" section, try the "run display optimisation wizard". Mostly it will just adjust the gamma as you have already done but I think it also adjusts the colours a bit. It helped my setup although it wasn't nearly as bad as what you are describing.

 

[ignacvucko]

thanks for the response mrkaras,

Yeah i've tried playing with the optimization wizards and every single option.
i've played with the settings for another 2 hours and am convinced that i have the best quality i can get out from the Nvidia control panel applet.
It is watchable, but is still very much inferior to normal cable.
Don't know if there are other registry hacks or other things that can be done. There is one screen that allows you to set up "custom timings" - but i don't really know how to use it, and if it would make the picture quality any better than it is.

I am kind of shocked that the picture quality is as bad as it is though considering
that the 5200 fx is supposed to be a decent graphics card.

I'll continue searching forums - maybe contact Nvidia for advice, and will post back my findings if I ever find a solution.

Ignac

 

[quiller]

Try the nVidia PureVideo codec; it really is that much better than the free options available, or at least those I've tried. Otherwise, make sure your Hauppauge cards are running the latest drivers (search the forum; what's on their site actually isn't the latest version). Finally, try and set your TV resolution to native: PAL or NTSC is less than 800x600, and I noticed a big drop in pixelation when I adjusted my resolution thru ATI Catalyst--I bet nVidia has a similar setting.

 

[awol]

Am i simply reaching the limitations of the graphics card's TV Out capabilities?

Of all the available ways to connect a PC to your TV, S-video is the second worst.

Worst to Best connection methods:
Composite video (1 RCA)
S-Video
Component video / VGA
DVI / HDMI

Check your TV. If it's fairly new, it probably has component video inputs. Assuming it does, you have two options: buy a newer video card with component video out, or buy a VGA->Component converter. (which will cost as much as a new video card)

Awol

 

[mrkaras]

Ah, I missed that, yes the problem may be the S-Video connection, when I moved from RCA I was surprised at the difference it made. I would have thought it would be OK but it was relay bad on the RCA connection, maybe S-video is nearly as bad.

 

[ignacvucko]

SOLVED!

Damn Nvidia driver bugs!!!

Here's my correspondence with Nvidia customer care.
Who were great by the way - they gave me my answer within 10h !

I hope this doesn't bite anyone else...
Ignac

-------------------------

THANK YOU!

The old driver worked perfectly!

Ignac

-------------------------

On 2/22/07, Nvidia Customer Care <nvidia@mailca.custhelp.com> wrote:

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

We will assume your issue has been resolved if we do not hear from you within 72 hours.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

To update this question click on this link.

-------------------------

Subject
I bought a Nvidia GeForce 5200 Fx 256MB card and connected it to my TV with a...

Discussion Thread
Response (DS) 02/22/2007 10:20 AM
Hello Ignac,

Thank you for contacting NVIDIA Customer Care.

I understand from your email, that you are getting poor video output on the TV .You have a GeForce FX 5200 graphics card.

Ignac, If you have a Win XP as operating system, I would request you to install the driver version 84.21. Please click on the following link to download the driver and save it to desktop:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_84.21.html

Once, the download is completed. Please perform the below mentioned steps to uninstall the drivers from your PC,

1) Right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop.

2) Select properties.

3) In the next window select Hardware and then select Device Manager.

4) On the Desktop Manager, under Display Adapters double click on the driver option.

5) On the Graphics Controller Page, select driver and click on Uninstall to uninstall the Graphics Drivers.

Note: please make sure to disable the anti-virus program before uninstalling the previous driver.

After un-installing the driver, please run the set up of the driver 84.21 and install it. Once you have installed the driver, please follow the instruction given on the following web link:

http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nvidia.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1884

If this does not resolve the issue, please try out the steps given in the following web link:

http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nvidia.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=32

Please get in touch with us, if you need further assistance

Best Regards,

NVIDIA Customer Care.

-------------------------

Customer (Ignac Vucko) 02/21/2007 07:05 PM

I bought a Nvidia GeForce 5200 Fx 256MB card and connected it to my TV with an SVIDEO cable.

I'm on a DELL Dimensions 4550 with 1GB RAM.

The picture quality is horrendous compared to normal cable. I've tried tweeking every single setting in the NVidia control panel advanced mode, every single setting in my BIOS, read every single FAQ in your knowledge base, tried 3 different driver versions (93.71, 93.81, 97.92 - though the last one wouldn't install).

Maxing out the gamma improves things slightly, but all colours are still very flat and the picture is still very very dark.

I've mucked around with NVidia control panel settings for 1 full week so far without luck.

I know it's not my TV because it has great picture quality - i also know it is not the feed.

I've also tried using a different SVideo cable - same result.

I'm sure other users have experienced this, though the knowledge base articles that exist don't seem to apply to my driver version.

Please help me!
Thanks
Ignac

-------------------------

Auto-Response 02/21/2007 07:05 PM
Title: Connecting a video card to a TV and enabling TV output
Link: http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...popup_adp.php?p_faqid=32&p_created=1096498785

Title: Setting up a NVIDIA based card to work with HDTV
Link: http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...popup_adp.php?p_faqid=36&p_created=1096923831

Title: Linux - X configuration options
Link: http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...opup_adp.php?p_faqid=174&p_created=1101836147

Title: Choosing a NVIDIA based graphics card
Link: http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...opup_adp.php?p_faqid=205&p_created=1103668256

Title: How do I determine which Forceware display driver version is currently installed?
Link: http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...pup_adp.php?p_faqid=2039&p_created=1171055520


Question Reference #070221-000251
Product Level 1: Graphics cards
Category Level 1: Usage
Date Created: 02/21/2007 07:05 PM
Last Updated: 02/22/2007 10:20 AM
Status: Waiting for customer

 

[Spragleknas]

There are several TV-out bugs with newer nVidia dirvers. I am "stuck" with an old driver to. When it comes to driver updates, ATi is superior.

ignacvucko: When playing around - ie right clicking nVidia tray - are you experiencing flickering/jumping in picture?