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ASUS A7N8X-VM + nVidia TV-out dongle + PVR 350 + blank HD
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Author:  Elliott [ Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  ASUS A7N8X-VM + nVidia TV-out dongle + PVR 350 + blank HD
Ok. Here is a system that works via CRT directly out of the box, and with XF86Config settings will run on nVidia's TV-out. I have not got PVR 350 TV-out working from the install, but expect good things once I CVS latest drivers.

Machine: ASUS A7N8X-VM micro ATX motherboard (~$100) onboard TV/Ether/Sound/video and ASUS/nVidia TV-out dongle. ($15)
AMD Barton 2500 with Thermaltake Silent Boost fan ($35) 21dB
512MB Dual-channel DDR333 memory (400 will not work with onboard video)
blank 200GB hard drive, Antec HD cooler with digital display (good display, poor fans) http://overclockersclub.com/antecharddrivecoolingsystem.php Alternates between giving digital temp of HD and case.
Generic DVD-ROM, Thermaltake 480 Silent Power Supply with Auto or manual fan control (~$85) 17-30 dB
Hauppauge PVR 350 (~$180), Coolermaster 620 black case (~$100)

So, now I have 1 PCI card video encoder, onboard everything and a fairly open case with quiet power and cooling.

Boot from CD. Chose auto install. nVidia chipset detected and the drivers for net and sound installed automaticaly. Reboot when prompted. Go through and do the standard Myth setups. Works ok, but it is obvious all X/video is done via defaults in software.

Follow given directions for lircd and nvidia video.
<CTRL><ALT><F1>
install-i686-l
install-nvidia.sh
Restart and the X/video is noticably faster as expected. The remote from the 350 works.

Now, the system works via CRT with remote. TV-out from nVidia and 350 fails.

Edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
(clone Monitor0 to Monitor1 then add)
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor1"
Option "TVStandard" "NTSC-M"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "TV"
Option "TVOutFormat" "COMPOSITE"
Option "TVOverScan" "1.0"
HorizSync 30.0 - 50.0 # TV
VertRefresh 60.0 # TV

(change Device section to following)
Section "Device"
Option "sw_cursor"
#Option "hw_cursor"
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVidia AGP GeForce 4 onboard chipset"
BoardName "ASUS A7N8X-VM onboard VGA"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "TwinView"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30.0 - 50.0"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "60.0"
Option "MetaModes" "800x600,800x600;800x600,NULL;NULL,800x600"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT, TV"
EndSection

(trim Screen section down to)
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultColorDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x600" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection


:!: The 1600x600 Mode is critical, because TwinView sees devices appended side by side. The other Modes could be removed I think. The MetaModes are set to run both CRT and TV, CRT only, and TV only when cycled via <CTRL><ALT> +.

:roll: With this, I have a working TV-out via the nVidia dongle. In non TwinView mode, XvMC works. But, with TwinView display turned on, the XvMC fails. So, I had to go back to install-i686-l instead of install-i686-lx. I did not notice a difference in the display with it on or off.
:( PVR 350 TV-out not working out of the box.
:?: S/PDIF sound not tested as I have nothing to plug it into.
:?: ASUS AGP-DVI not tested. A month later I found NewEgg.com has the DVI out card dongle card for this motherboard. Ordered today and will report on later. Ordering HDTV eventually.
:( Overscan settings via XF86Config and Myth setup don't appear to have any effect. Side to side is fine on my ancient (1985) television but the vertical noticably stops short of full screen. Will fiddle more.
:D CPU usage: Recording 2%, DVD rip 20%, Play 7%
:D Quality: I turned up the defaults on video bps recording to 5 min/7 max and an quite pleased. I need to run side by side comparisons with my ReplayTV 4000, but quality is looking as good and can be turned up to better.
:cry: Seeing several segfaults on the frontend and occasionally the backend. I need to chase down the causes.
:evil: Need to set defaults on security issues. Apache will allow the world to change my recording schedule. This should be limited to the network/netmask on eth0 by default.
:oops: PVR 350 card needs to be seated very well. I had several attempts that failed because card was detected, configurable, but would not give output. Adjusting bracket, reseating and finally moving to another PCI slot fix the problem.
Author:  tyro [ Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Once you get your update ivtv drivers for the PVR-350 working, could you post the relevant parts of /etc/modules.conf and the sources you used to get it working correctly?

Thank you,
tyro
Author:  Dale [ Wed Nov 05, 2003 2:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Elliot, I would be interested in whether you did this as an
Auto Install or whether it was a Manual Install

If it was an Auto Install, what were the partition sizes
chosen? For example login as root and run the command
Code:
df -m


Thanks
Author:  Elliott [ Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
I did an Auto Install. 3.7 GB /, 976 MB swap, 12 GB /cache, rest /myth. I would have prefered to choose the sizes on auto. I assume I could have chosen them on the manual install.
Code:
$ df -m
Filesystem           1M-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda1                 3872      1289      2387  36% /
/dev/hda3                12307         1     12307   1% /cache
/dev/hda4               177350     31907    145443  18% /myth

Tyro I will try to get the 350 stuff working this weekend, but my schedule is already tight.
Author:  graysky [ Thu Dec 11, 2003 3:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Elliott,

Thanks for the detailed post. Can you comment on the video quality of your on board TV out? Good, bad, excellent?

Thanks!
Author:  Elliott [ Thu Dec 11, 2003 4:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
graysky wrote:
Thanks for the detailed post. Can you comment on the video quality of your on board TV out? Good, bad, excellent?

I would say very good to excelent.
1) :D It displays from the bios boot splash page, bios displays, console if in 80x25, on through to X. A console of 80x43 does cause rolling lines.
2) :D If the TV is plugged into the composite out on boot, it is detected, and the conole selection of 80x43 is skipped as invalid. It waits 30 seconds and boots as 80x25 which is viewable. If the TV is unplugged on boot, and plugged in later, the 80x43 console exists and causes the rolling screen. (Looks sorta like pal/ntsc)
3) :twisted: If this was your second machine you were building, and you knew exactly what to put into the XF86config, it is possible to completely build the machine from scratch only using the TV display. The console display is readable, but not pretty.
4) :( The overscan cannot be completely tweeked. The side to side is fine on my ancient tv, but the top/bottom has a noticable black border.
5) :D My ReplayTV accepts the input cleanly, so the signal at the electrical level seems good. This is better than my analog VCR plugged into the ReplayTV, which has a tendency to dropout the signal occasionally.
6) :oops: The quality has been good enough that I have not got to trying the 350 output yet. I will probably get a chance at that between Chistmas and New Years.
7) :!: The ASUS AGP-DVI card has a composite out on it as well. That fails. I have not tested the DVI portion yet. I need to carry the box to a friendly store to do that. The new HDTV that it is intended for is still a few months away.
Author:  graysky [ Thu Dec 11, 2003 4:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think I'll take anold machine (PII-450) and put in a GeforceFX 5200 series (under 60 bucks) that has S-Video out to see if I can get MythTV working before I go sinking bigger bucks into the thing. I like the setup you described. How are you liking it?

I still can't figure out how I will get output from a DVDROM to the TV using MythTV.
Author:  Elliott [ Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
graysky wrote:
I think I'll take anold machine (PII-450) and put in a GeforceFX 5200 series (under 60 bucks) that has S-Video out to see if I can get MythTV working before I go sinking bigger bucks into the thing.

That machine will a bit small and may stutter a bit.
Quote:
I like the setup you described. How are you liking it?

It is worling well for me. I already had a ReplayTV 4080, and this box is running about the same. Each has its features and advantages. The winning points are that MythTV will improve, and I can customize it.
Quote:
I still can't figure out how I will get output from a DVDROM to the TV using MythTV.

After the software is intalled, you have to go get the stuff the MPAA does not want you to have. It is three simple little commands. Then, Play DVD is an option on the menu.
Author:  graysky [ Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:21 am ]
Post subject: 
...needed to delete my reply but there wasn't an option to do so - disregard :)
Author:  ldv111 [ Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ASUS A7N8X-VM + nVidia TV-out dongle + PVR 350 + blank H
Elliott wrote:
Machine: ASUS A7N8X-VM micro ATX motherboard (~$100) onboard TV/Ether/Sound/video and ASUS/nVidia TV-out dongle. ($15)
AMD Barton 2500 with Thermaltake Silent Boost fan ($35) 21dB


Im just wondering where you got the tv-out dongle and where you got the processor so cheap. Just looking to build a system similar to this.

Thanks

--lance
Author:  bham_uk [ Thu Jan 01, 2004 3:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Elliot,

Could you post your entire XF86Config?

I know in the main different, but trying your amendments got me no-where and I cannot even use CTL ALT F1-6 now and X doesn't view on my monitor or TV.

Cheers.
Author:  Elliott [ Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ASUS A7N8X-VM + nVidia TV-out dongle + PVR 350 + blank H
ldv111 wrote:
Elliott wrote:
Machine: ASUS A7N8X-VM micro ATX motherboard (~$100) onboard TV/Ether/Sound/video and ASUS/nVidia TV-out dongle. ($15)
AMD Barton 2500 with Thermaltake Silent Boost fan ($35) 21dB


Im just wondering where you got the tv-out dongle and where you got the processor so cheap. Just looking to build a system similar to this.

Thanks

--lance

The dongle was from NewEgg.com. I later got the DVI card, but have not had success with it yet. The fan was $35. The CPU was at a standard price of about $85. Sorry for the confusion.
Author:  Elliott [ Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
bham_uk wrote:
Elliot,

Could you post your entire XF86Config?

I know in the main different, but trying your amendments got me no-where and I cannot even use CTL ALT F1-6 now and X doesn't view on my monitor or TV.

Cheers.

This is using the $15 TV-out dongle from the motherboard. I *still* have not taken the time to get the 350 TV-out working.

elliott@video:/etc/X11 $ cat XF86Config-4

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "USB Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/western"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/decoratives"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/latex-ttf-fonts"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "ddc" # ddc probing of monitor
Load "dbe"
Load "v4l"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "bitmap" # bitmap-fonts
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "record"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
Option "DPMS" "true"
HorizSync 31.0 - 96.0 # Adjusted to what Hitachi CM823F reports via ddc
VertRefresh 50.0 - 76.0 # Very conservative. May flicker.
# These are some Modelines that happen to work on many systems
# Especially the "1024x768" has been thoroughly tested, even on Laptops
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525 #60Hz
Modeline "800x600" 40.12 800 848 968 1056 600 601 605 628 #60Hz
Modeline "1024x768" 85 1024 1056 1152 1360 768 784 787 823
Modeline "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895
Modeline "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 80 1280 1296 1512 1568 1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace
Modeline "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054
Modeline "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1456 1712 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1416 1664 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor1"
Option "TVStandard" "NTSC-M"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "TV"
Option "TVOutFormat" "COMPOSITE"
Option "TVOverScan" "1.0"
HorizSync 30.0 - 50.0 # TV
VertRefresh 60.0 # TV
# These are some Modelines that happen to work on many systems
# Especially the "1024x768" has been thoroughly tested, even on Laptops
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525 #60Hz
Modeline "800x600" 40.12 800 848 968 1056 600 601 605 628 #60Hz
Modeline "1024x768" 85 1024 1056 1152 1360 768 784 787 823
Modeline "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895
Modeline "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 80 1280 1296 1512 1568 1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace
Modeline "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054
Modeline "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1456 1712 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1416 1664 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
EndSection

Section "Device"
Option "sw_cursor"
#Option "hw_cursor"
#Option "NoAccel"
#Option "ShowCache"
#Option "ShadowFB"
#Option "UseFBDev"
#Option "Rotate"
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVidia AGP GeForce 4 onboard chipset"
BoardName "ASUS A7N8X-VM VGA port"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "TwinView"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30.0 - 50.0"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "60.0"
#ME
Option "MetaModes" "800x600,800x600;800x600,NULL;NULL,800x600"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT, TV"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultColorDepth 24
# Option "CursorShadow" "on"
# Option "NvAGP" "1"
# Option "Overlay" "true"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x600" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
# Group "0"
Mode 0666
EndSection
Author:  sylvainhamel [ Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Will try to use the same material as you have
Please keep us posted on your experience. I am looking at maybe hooking up the pc to a wireless G card for easy access from other comps. Any thoughts?

Also. Is the A7N8X board a standard atx form factor or is it another mini-atx version? I am looking at this board right now. The same?
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa ... erview.htm

Correct me if I am wrong but the PVR 350 is not essential to get things rolling for a first version? I can always had it later?

Any new tips with experience now?
Author:  Elliott [ Tue Feb 03, 2004 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Will try to use the same material as you have
sylvainhamel wrote:
Please keep us posted on your experience. I am looking at maybe hooking up the pc to a wireless G card for easy access from other comps. Any thoughts?

I have never tried wireless. I don't like others having the opportunity to peek at what I am doing.
sylvainhamel wrote:
Also. Is the A7N8X board a standard atx form factor or is it another mini-atx version? I am looking at this board right now. The same?
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa ... erview.htm

That is the exact board I used, Mini-ATX with three PCI slots. My case required Mini-ATX. The A7N8X board comes in three or four different designs. The others are standard ATX.
sylvainhamel wrote:
Correct me if I am wrong but the PVR 350 is not essential to get things rolling for a first version? I can always had it later?

Any new tips with experience now?

Some video capture card is needed. You can do a cheap BT848 card now, and add the 350 later. I still have not tried the 350 video out yet. Too much work, and too little time. It is hard to justify spending time adding to something that just works. :)
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