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<blockquote data-quote="bobxxx" data-source="post: 32495" data-attributes="member: 17826">XCard and Sweetspot support...pleaseI have built an MCE based machine because the interface and hardware support was the best available at the time.The reasons for building a HTPC are 1) Ultimate image and sound potential 2) Multiple sources in one box accessed by a user friendly interface.The HTPC is intended to supply an RGB scart switcher along with other sources that cannot be supplied by the PC (VHS for the wife's B&amp;W movies, Sky, etc..). RGB is the highest video quality available (in digital format on DVI or analog on VGA or SCART) Unfortunately the Scart switcher does not accept VGA or DVI which would need conversion for the sync signals anyway.I haven't found a video card that outputs on scart cable. The XCard does, and it doesn't have overscan/underscan problems for PAL either. A significant positive for this card is its ability to interface digitally using a PDI connector to a Sweetspot capture card that can accept RGsB (as in SCART RGB) or YPrPb component inputs. This would massively increase the HTPC ability to record top quality video from external feeds.MCE does not support either the Sweetspot or the XCard.I don't use Media Portal..yet. From what I have seen the interface looks better than MCE and has much more add-ons that go someway to justifying my expensive HTPC build. Putting the PC together was difficult enough, I don't want to solder up scart leads from VGA connectors (how do you get the sync voltage correct anyway?).I add my request to get Media Portal Xcard friendly. When it is, I'm dumping my MCE interface and jumping on board the MP wagon..&nbsp; <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin&nbsp; &nbsp; :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

[QUOTE="bobxxx, post: 32495, member: 17826"] [b]XCard and Sweetspot support...please[/b] I have built an MCE based machine because the interface and hardware support was the best available at the time. The reasons for building a HTPC are 1) Ultimate image and sound potential 2) Multiple sources in one box accessed by a user friendly interface. The HTPC is intended to supply an RGB scart switcher along with other sources that cannot be supplied by the PC (VHS for the wife's B&W movies, Sky, etc..). RGB is the highest video quality available (in digital format on DVI or analog on VGA or SCART) Unfortunately the Scart switcher does not accept VGA or DVI which would need conversion for the sync signals anyway. I haven't found a video card that outputs on scart cable. The XCard does, and it doesn't have overscan/underscan problems for PAL either. A significant positive for this card is its ability to interface digitally using a PDI connector to a Sweetspot capture card that can accept RGsB (as in SCART RGB) or YPrPb component inputs. This would massively increase the HTPC ability to record top quality video from external feeds. MCE does not support either the Sweetspot or the XCard. I don't use Media Portal..yet. From what I have seen the interface looks better than MCE and has much more add-ons that go someway to justifying my expensive HTPC build. Putting the PC together was difficult enough, I don't want to solder up scart leads from VGA connectors (how do you get the sync voltage correct anyway?). I add my request to get Media Portal Xcard friendly. When it is, I'm dumping my MCE interface and jumping on board the MP wagon.. :D [/QUOTE]

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