Karaoke Forums

I have finally decided to put everything on computer. I know I am a little behind the times. I have tried to read all previous posts on this subject, but have one more question. Can someone recommend a good video card? I would like to be able to send the signal to a TV.


Thanks,
Cupids4me

ATI Radeon 9000 64MB DDR AGP 2X/4X Video Card for $39.00 ( http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productde ... 14-102-386 ) or any other ATI Radeon 128MB dual-display graphics controller.

I agree with m'man about the maker of the card, but in today's times, I think you're better off going for a 128mb or even higher. I've had some small apps get a bit weird on me with only the 64!

Sorry Knight I'm usually with you 100% but actually if the computer is used only for karaoke a 32MB would but more than sufficient. With video memory everything beyond 4mb is strictly for 3D textures and various other 3d functions. Translation, video games. Unless you do 3d design or want to play video games, get the one for 40 bucks, you're not gonna be able to beat that price.

There are a couple ways of handling your request - all of which can be pretty inexpensive.

1. Get an ATI All-In-Wonder card (or similar) that has S-Video out.
2. Get a 'dual-head' video card that support 2 monitors and an adapter that converts VGA output to S-Video or composite video (the adapters are about $75).
3. Get an add-on card that supports TV output. I bought a TV tuner card that supports TV out for about $10 on clearance.

Any of these mechanisms will work, you just need to find what works for you.

Remember, NTSC (standard broadcast TV signal) is at most about 400 lines of resolution so standard VGA is sufficient for a TV screen (640x400/640x480). Any higher resolution will be 'adapted' to fit the screen potentially making it worse. BTW, laser disc is about 400 lines of resolution, SuperVHS is about 420 lines, DVD is about 480-500 lines, and these are considered extremely high quality for the consumer market on a 4:3 ratio screen (I'm not counting 1080i and other hi-definition formats that typically use a 16:9 ratio).

If you're converting to composite or S-Video higher resolutions will likely be of little use in quality unless you're also using another display that uses a higher native resolution (like a projector or computer monitor).

As for the amount of memory on the card, as long as it will support a decent resolution on your monitor and still offer 640x480 or 800x600 on the remote it shouldn't be an issue. You can get a pair of old 2MB video cards to drive the system if you want (as long as they'll work together in the same system). If you plan on using video then you'll want a better card, but even the low end AGP cards w/ 16MB or 32MB will suffice.

Thanks to all who answered the post. This site has been the most helpful I have found on the web yet.

My mother board came with a built in ATI radeon 9100 chip and was supose to handle dual video it even had a composite video jack for TV, but it would not work with the Hoster program I am running for Karaoke with more than one screen.
Although some have used a lesser ATI video card,(Nvida has a card that will work as well) Hoster recomends only ATI Radeon 9200 or higher for dual display,( and that is a card built by ATI not powered by ATI) that way you can send the lyrics to a TV screen while you use your computer to lookup and load songs.
If you don't ever plan on using it for dual screen then you can get by with much less than the ATI Radeon 9200, even my built in card worked fine for only one screen.(and that included a really cheesy built in graphics chip that came with an old HP computer my wife uses)
The 9200 comes with a composite out so all you need is an RCA video cable if your TV has one. I would go the few extra bucks for the 9200 it is only $90-$100 and comes in either AGP or PCI card.

If you use MTU products they recommend 64megs min on video cards.

Allstar, thats a good price on the card if you need a card to run on older MOBO's with AGP 2X. They run on 3.3 volts that one is a multi volt board.

Even though in the section at MTU's sight for computor requirements it says Quote:
"3. Graphics video card with 8MB or more of RAM must support Direct-X 9.0 or higher. Dual-display requires an ATI (MTU recommends ATI Radeon series), NVidia or equivalent dual-display card. S3 video cards will NOT work. "

If you go onto the MTU forums you will see that many people have had problems with Video cards not working correctly with Hoster.
In a answer given to a recent inquire from someone wanting to know which card to use this is what is quoted from MTU's site:

"Re:Which ATI Radeon Card to use

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes,
The ATI Radeon 9200 is what we ship in our systems that we build.
__________________
Bryan, MTU "

Also Quote:

"Re: Sugestions For Video Card

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The most cost effective one right now is a ATI Radeon 9200 with 128mb of Video Memory.
__________________
Bryan, MTU "

But if you don't need dual video for Extended desktop their recomendation of 8mb would probably work.

The video brd I recommend now is the 7500 with the dvi out for the lcd flat screen. We just put together a backup comp with it and a dvi to svga adapter and when he gets a flat screen he will be ready. When I can afford it we will have flat screen for the stage monitor.and will build a foldup stand with monitor attached for easy transport.

_________________
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I have a flat screen I am running off my 9200 and as soon as I can afford it I will be getting 2 flat screen TV's as well, they will be much easier to transport.
I use 2 13 inch Tv's now one for the stage and one at my mixing board, that way while someone is singing I can watch what they have on screen as well as others in the venue like to watch on my screen and my wife can load and arrange songs on the computor at the same time.

I use the all in one wonder card and it works fine. I am able to support 6 TV's throughout the club using an RF modulator (25 bucks at radio shack) since not all the tv's used RCA, then just used spitters to run through the regular cable connection. The Rf modulator has an S video connection from the computer then regular cable connections from there.

This is in the trouble shooting forum @ MTU. I have the problem sence I format my HD and went from 98SE to XP. My dell only has 256meg on MOBO and 32meg on video. XP requires more ramm so my video card is suffering. I spoke to some other comp tech and they said samething. Put in new video card or add more ramm.

I copied from MTU site.
How to change your Video card Hardware Acceleration
Author: Dave Cox


This should only be done if you are having problems with Playback in Microstudio or Karaoke Home Producer.

How to change your Hardware acceleration for your Video card.

Right Click on your desktop, anywhere there is no Icon.
Left Click on Properties
This will open the Display Properties.
Click on the Settings Tab.
Click the Advanced button.
Click the Troubleshooting Tab
You will now see the Hardware Acceleration Slider. You can move it to about the third mark from full. If you move it further than this, it will disable your Video Memory and none of our "playing" programs will work.
Click Apply and close the Display Properties
Click the Start button
Click the Run command
Type in DXDIAG and click the OK Button
The DirectX DIAGnostic program will appear. It will automatically gather and show your computer data.
Click on the Display Tab. Make sure that the Approx Total Memory line shows a number such as 64.0 MB. If it shows N/A then you have turned the Hardware Acceration down too low and MTU's playing programs will not work. If this is seen, go back to #1 above in this post and make the correct changes so you do not disable the video memory.
After performing steps 1-8, perform steps 9-14 again to verify the Video Memory is no longer disabled.
You are done!

464cowboy
My Wifes computer has a built in graphics chip and it has a shared Memory of 64mb and the built in ATI on my board had 64mb of memory as well, they worked alright but they didn't have dual screen ability.(only mine was dual video)
I haven't tried anything less than the 64mb shared memory and if they have had problems with less memory then I would certainly not go lower than 64mb even though they show less under requirements.
That is probably why they recomend and sell the ATI Radeon 9200 with 128mb memory as it would give less problems in the long run.
I installed the 9200 and it works great for dual screen.

Bandit19
I am also using a RF modulator for the TV on the stage, the one at my mixer has an RCA input but the stage one has only a cable in. I run it through a 100' snake and use a signal amp as well. I have been thinking of hooking one of the clubs TV's in as well its a large one that hangs on the wall by the stage.

I decided to go with the ati radeon 9250 and I love it! Thanks for all the input.

Good choice, that card is the next step up from the 9200 and is still reasonably priced.