SV24 TV-Out Question

[Ross_K]

I'm thinking of getting an SV24 or SV25 to replace my dead DVD player. What I want to know is:
Has anyone tried the TV-Out on a 32-inch widescreen telly? What's the quality like? If I got it, I'd be putting a wireless LAN card in the free PCI slot, so a video card upgrade is out of the question. Would I be better off starting with something like a ATC-600 case, although this is a more expensive road to go down?

Thanks for any replies/suggestions...

[ 11 July 2002: Message edited by: Ross_K ]

[Chenks]

would it not be cheaper getting a DVD player instead ?

i believe in buying the right tools for the job !

[Ross_K]

Don't want one. It's not going to be just a DVD player. The reason I'm putting a wireless LAN card in is so I can stream music to my amp through it... Any other contributions?

[Big Adam]

What sort of video quality are you looking for? The standard s-video out is not bad but it does come with a black border around the outside which some find annoying.

I don't find it that bad on my 29" Sony so your 32" should be fine.

Three areas where you plan may fall down:

1) The on-board Trident video is crap. If you want to game on this machine, prepare to be disappointed.

2) AC'97 sound can only be described as adequate. If this is sufficient for your needs, all well and good. If not, you'll be asking Graeme for one of his Abit USB sound boxes. (You still got those Graeme? I think I want one! :D )

3) It is well documented that these SV24s are not silent. You WILL find the noise intrusive.

I've just finished modding mine with an 80mm 12db Papst input blowhole cooling the PSU and CPU, a passive heatsink on the C3 CPU and a 7V Panaflo 60mm exhaust. It's now as quiet as it's gonna get and I'm very happy with it.

Finally, are you happy to rely on software DVD decoding? I've got an Xcard in mine as I wanted minimal CPU usage to keep heat down. If you want flawless DVD playback I would consider getting a PCI vid card and going for a USB LAN device.

Alternatively, go with the Coolermaster. It's a darn pretty box with much greater expandability.

[Ross_K]

Thanks for the detailed reply. Well, that's killed off the idea of an SV24 for me. :D The noise, the expense of the extra bits. Looks like the Coolermaster might be the way to go. At least I can put a quiet PSU in there and have some kind of expansion to look forward to. Now I just need to find a microATX board... Cheers again Big Adam

[Big Adam]

Use the Abit nV7m as your benchmark. If you find anything better, let us know here!! :)

If you are not too worried about out and out performance, you can pick up a mATX Soyo mobo with the usual on-board stuff at eBuyer.

It's non-Tualatin, but it's got an AGP slot (I think) and what other board can you find NEW for £30?

If you've already got a socket370 CPU and SDRAM lined up, it's the cheapest option around, but the Abit board is a much much better bit of kit.

BA

[Ross_K]

Excellent. :eek: A board for thirty-odd quid! I've got a 1GHz PIII to drop into it, so it should be plenty fast for what I need. I like the look of the NV7M, but I would have to shell out for an Athlon to go in there too. Sorted. Thanks again for the help Big Adam!

[Matthew]

to ross_k,

u will not be disappointed - the ATCS 600 is a beast - Graeme modded one with a window on the top for me and it rocks...
however, be warned, the stock cooling is a little noisy - i have unplugged the 2 fans on the sides and just left the rear fan connected - the noise is reduced to near nothing and the result has only been a mere 2 C rise in board temp...

if u can replace, the Ystech for Papsts and u're away...

[Check6]

The reason I'm putting a wireless LAN card in is so I can stream music to my amp through it... Any other contributions?

Yes, use a WiFi USB client and free up a PCI slot. Tho' there's no way I'd use a PC DVD in place of my Nakamichi DVD-10s player :D

[Ross_K]

Gee, that just reminded me of a Harry Enfield sketch. The guy who goes around saying "I'm con-sider-ably richer than you ah!"... And I though he was an annoying cnut too. Anyway, if you'd bothered to scroll down a bit more, you would have seen that I decided on something else. I'll smell you and your Nakamichi later Check6.

[Graeme*Kustom*]

guys. Play nice, please.

[Big Adam]

Graeme,

It appears that my "Abit USB Sound Box" is a "WiFi USB Client".

Anyway, them external-soundcard-in-a-box-things you used to have. You got any hanging around?

The Extigy's just too rich for my tastes.

Adam