Alex Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I'll go over the other bits in detail in a sec, but tuner card wise, you CAN NOT beat this one. http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html Wow that card is mental! BUT, it's not DVB-S2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Wow that card is mental! BUT, it's not DVB-S2 Hmmm, I'm pretty sure it supports dvb-s2, hence the reason I looked at it, will double check. EDIT : Needs additional software but the card does support.. Watching and recording High Definition satellite TV requires a high specification PC and additional software that is not supplied with the BGT3540. For full details on how to watch HD digital satellite now or HD Freeview (DVB-T) broadcasts when available please see the BlackGold Knowledge Base: Unencrypted, free-to-air HD channels are available via digital satellite. If you have an existing Sky dish you can use this, with the BlackGold BGT3540, to watch HD digital satellite channels. Currently there are only a handfull of HD channels (including the BBC HD) available for free but it is very likely that more HD channels will become available with the official re-launch of Freesat early next year. For information on BBC HD visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/hd BBC HD is broadcast as a free-to-air channel on the Astra satellite located at 28.2 degrees East and can be received with an existing Sky dish For more information on Freesat visit:http://www.freesat.co.uk/home.php To watch satellite High Definition channels including BBC HD requires a viewing application that supports the H264.1 codec - For example the Cyberlink PowerCinema 5 product. See the Cyberlink website at: http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_12_ENU.html Vista MCE does not natively support digital satellite however the virtual drivers supplied with this product enable full MCE functionality and EPG support Please note that the software required to watch and record High Definition TV requires a high specification PC. Please carefully check the software minimum software requirements before purchse. phew, was questioning my own research there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muffleman Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I have the blackgold card and so far it's pretty good My sky+ box failed, again, so I binned it. With this tuner card I can record something and watch something else, pause and rewind live TV etc. In fact I can't think of any sky+ features it doesnt have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 I have tested it on 3 different rigs now, all of similar specs and it continues to hammer it Divx runs at about 30% load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I have tested it on 3 different rigs now, all of similar specs and it continues to hammer it Divx runs at about 30% load. I'll check the 3 P4 PC's i have when i go in and post the figures. Need to find a small MKV to download first though lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Hmm, just gave it a go. I was WAY out. MKV using VLC = 18% XVid using VLC = 3% I'm guessing something is wrong somewhere with your codecs?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 What test file are you using Daman? Need to do a direct comparison for the usage figures to mean anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 Alex, I was using the sample from The.Bank.Job.720p.Bluray.x264-SEPTiC and the sample from Doomsday 720p Bluray x264-SEPTiC (Video : 1280x544 @ 4035 Audio : DTS) Does that help? I was going to try KMPlayer to make sure the coreAVC codec is actually running? One thing I did try is running the signal via DVI to HDMI (on the fx 5200) which dropped the usage to 75% - 100% but hung around the 85% mark a little more. Only problem is DVI -> HDMI is I cant get my resolution/scaling all correct. The best I can get is an underscalled image with a res of something like 2166 x 6XX (cant rember exact) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Just tried the bank job. Thats a bit more like what i would expect 35-50%. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 Humm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Humm.... Just to let you know, i'm not using any codecs to play it. VLC has built in MKV support. The only codec i have installed is Divx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I'll rock the trend, I don't like VLC... For me, it is ffdshow with CoreAVC. (And in some cases, kazaa codec pack, say what you like it works ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I'll rock the trend, I don't like VLC... For me, it is ffdshow with CoreAVC. (And in some cases, kazaa codec pack, say what you like it works ) I don't like it either, in fact i don't use it much (only when i have trouble playing files). I don't like using any codec packs and like to have the bare minimum on my computer with regards to codecs (I consider Divx the bare minimum). I use Mediacenter most of the time, for everything. A while back i installed the CCCP codec pack so that i could play MKV's in mediacenter but it was full of stuff i didn't want so when i reformatted i just didn't bother putting it back in. I now use VLC for MKV's but thats about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I don't like it either, in fact i don't use it much (only when i have trouble playing files). I don't like using any codec packs and like to have the bare minimum on my computer with regards to codecs (I consider Divx the bare minimum). I use Mediacenter most of the time, for everything. A while back i installed the CCCP codec pack so that i could play MKV's in mediacenter but it was full of stuff i didn't want so when i reformatted i just didn't bother putting it back in. I now use VLC for MKV's but thats about it. Consider using CoreAVC with the Haali splitter instead of VLC, that also integreates with Vista/XP mediacentre with minor fiddling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Considering the amount of people who are expressing an interest, how about we define a base movie and create a 'dyno' style thread, detailing hardware and then showing CPU/Disk access during 720p playback of the reference file at full screen size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Consider using CoreAVC with the Haali splitter instead of VLC, that also integreates with Vista/XP mediacentre with minor fiddling. I'll have a look at it. To be honest i know there will be loads of better solutions but i am a firm believer in "if its not broke" etc Sounds interesting though if it works with vista MCE as that would save me the hassle of using VLC and having to use a keyboard instead of my trusty remote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Is this a single core P4 you're using Daman? I wouldn't take that sort of usage to be far off the mark if it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Hmm, both of mine have hyperthreading but i think they are still classed as single core? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 Another update; km player installed When playing HD stuff It is using coreAVC and the AC3 filter. cpu still high. I have tried another HD source: http://rapidshare.com/files/96487757/ad.parachute.720p.hdtv.x264.sample-terra.mkv.rar cpu usage still high. It still plays but you can see it is missing frames slightly. Alex - yup single core socket 478 P4 2.8GHz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 Whilst I have your attention, any ideas on how to sort the damn scaling issue? it it because of the TV? Everything looks so much better via just VGA @ 1360 x 768 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/113946/show_product_overview - freeview tuner right? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140477 - sat tuner right? I have the option to use either for a tv source, is the sat worth it? are there any subscriptions needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I have the blackgold card and so far it's pretty good My sky+ box failed, again, so I binned it. With this tuner card I can record something and watch something else, pause and rewind live TV etc. In fact I can't think of any sky+ features it doesnt have A bit of a newb question on this, but does that mean that the card will pick up Sky channels not just the freeview stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Mark - I think you can only get the sky channels with a subscription....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muffleman Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Indeed, I can pick up freesat channels but not sky. Found I wasnt watching sky and the adverts where annoying me, both the volume and frequency of adverts plus the synchronisation - so once adverts are on, if you start channel hopping all you get is adverts ! The BG card performs like Sky+ but without Sky channels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Sure, I know I'd need a subscription to Sky, just wondering if this card has a slot for the Sky card thus allowing you to pick up the sky channels? Don't suppose it works much differently but would just need the decryption from the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 i just picked up one of these: http://www.trustedreviews.com/pcs/review/2006/10/18/Sony-Vaio-VGX-XL202-Media-Center-PC-with-Blu-ray-Drive/p1 got it for a silly price too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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