My HTPC setup and picture quality issues

[Duffy]

I'm a newbie to this site. My HTPC setup is detailed at the bottom. I have two basic issues:

1. Picture quality - I have a Strong STB (SRT 5390) and my HTPC connected to a Yamaha receiver (RX-Z1). The receiver is then connected to a CRT TV (Loewe Xelos) - all connections are via S-Video. I get great picture quality when viewing via the STB. However, if I switch over to view TV via the HTPC the picture quality is noticeably inferior when viewing fast action sport. The picture qualtiy is similar for slow action video.

Why is the HTPC inferior? Does the Strong STB have a better TV turner in it than the Compro DVB T300 or do I need to fiddle with settings on the HTPC?

2. Noise - any suggestions on how to make my setup less noisy?

Thanks Duffy

SETUP

Case: Accent Media HTPC
Motherborad: ASUS P5AD2-E Premium
HDD: Seagate 200gb, 8mb, 7200 rpm
External HDD: Seagate 300gb (partition 200gb for backup; 100gb additional storage)
RAM: 1gb (DDR2 - 533 Kingston)
Keyboard: Logitech Di Novo with media pad (bluetooth wireless)
Video: Gigabyte 6600GT PCI-E
DVD Burner: Pioneer 109
TV Turner: Compro Videomate DVB-T300
Software: MCE (Rollup2), ComproDTV2.5, Compro DVD2
Remotes: Compro, iMon
Monitor: Philips 190B, Loewe CRT Xelos (cloned)
DVD Player: Loewe
Set Top Box: Strong 5390 (with HDD)
PSU: Antec Truepower 430 watts
Other: PS2

[daz1970]

I'm by no means an expert, however see if the results are better with monitor/tv cloning off. Try just the TV and see if it is better.

[rcork]

S-Video is also a pretty average way to send video signal, and in my experience it's always looked quite average when coming out of a PC.

Do you have any better options for getting the video signal from your PC to your TV (component, DVI, etc.)?

[blackjet]

Originally Posted by Duffy

I'm a newbie to this site. My HTPC setup is detailed at the bottom. I have two basic issues:

1. Picture quality - I have a Strong STB (SRT 5390) and my HTPC connected to a Yamaha receiver (RX-Z1). The receiver is then connected to a CRT TV (Loewe Xelos) - all connections are via S-Video. I get great picture quality when viewing via the STB. However, if I switch over to view TV via the HTPC the picture quality is noticeably inferior when viewing fast action sport. The picture qualtiy is similar for slow action video.

Hello Duffy,
Have you got deccheck installed http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

If so what decoder are you using..
there are 3 main decoders that most of us use depending on youre tvcard.
intervideo
nvidia purvideo
cyberlink..powerdvd

Regards blackjet

[Duffy]

I have now downloaded the latest version of PowerDVD and this has improved the picture. I will also trial the other two codecs.

With PowerDVD the difference between MCE and my Strong STB is very similiar, although I woudl still put the Strong STB slightly ahead. A bit more user testing to be done.

As for S-Video, I'm stuck with this for now. My CRT TV takes composite, S-Video and RGB. My turner card outputs composite, S-Video, and component. Regardless, my comparisons between MCE and the Strong STB are all through S-Video.

Thanks for the help.

[rcork]

Your "turner card outputs composite, S-Video, and component"? If you really just mean the HTPC in general (and therefore it's really the Video card with the video-out sockets), then it should also have some form of VGA out (if it hasn't got the usual 15 pin VGA socket then it will have a DVI socket and should have come with a DVI to VGA adaptor).

You should try a VGA to RGB cable and use the RGB inputs on the TV (I use this exact method for getting the picture from my HTPC - GeForce 6200 - to my DLP projector) - should be better than S-Video.

[Duffy]

rcork

Yes, you are right, it is the video card outputing component. Never occured to me to try the DVI/VGA adapter - I only need to chase up a VGA/RBG cable.

Thanks

Duffy