Downgrading LCD from SXGA to XGA??

[raueda1]

I'm in the process of building a dedicated "streaming video server." The base is a T42 motherboard with 64 mb ATI Radeon 9600. It was originally an SXGA device.

My thought is to downgrade the LCD to an XGA unit so I'd have a kind of "underutilized" video capability, hence maybe better streaming video performance (??). To be honest though, I really don't have much idea what kind of performance benefit this might actually have - it's just a more-is-more approach.

Does this make any sense at all? Is there any reason to think that the video performance would be any better than if I just used a motherboard with 32MB video? In fact, will it work at all? Comments greatly appreciated, thanks,

-Dave

[schen]

I'm not certain that there would be any benefit at all. If you are using it as a "headless" server, I'd assume that the LCD be shut down most of the time? And it's not as if the panel itself is going to cause a real difference in resource usage. I'd say that definitely, there'd be virtually no advantage from a performance standpoint in going with the 32Mb Radeon. The only reason I can think of is that your machine would probably run a little cooler, at the cost of less capable performance of the 64Mb adapter.

Of course, you could recoup some cost by taking the SXGA+ panel and selling it especially if you already have an XGA panel to go in it.

[raueda1]

If you are using it as a "headless" server, I'd assume that the LCD be shut down most of the time? And it's not as if the panel itself is going to cause a real difference in resource usage.

Hmm, I hadn't thought about whether the LCD would be shut down or not. In experimenting so far I haven't shut the LCD down. I'm still fiddling with resolutions, aspect ratios, etc.

In any case, I assumed that higher res panel = greater resource usage. But I'm not sure what those resources would actually be. The final setup could change, so far I don't completely have it dialed in. It will need to be spouse-friendly

Of course, you could recoup some cost by taking the SXGA+ panel and selling it especially if you already have an XGA panel to go in it.

I don't actually have an SXGA panel, it's just the MB. I may well end up finding an SXGA panel and making an SXGA T42 and using another 32MB T42 for the video. Too many projects, not enough time... Thanks!

[schen]

I don't actually have an SXGA panel, it's just the MB. I may well end up finding an SXGA panel and making an SXGA T42 and using another 32MB T42 for the video. Too many projects, not enough time... Thanks!

In that case, I'd definitely just pick up a XGA panel unless you just happen to "luck" into a SXGA+ one cheap. I definitely understand the too many projects thing (as most Forum member probably do as well).

[aaa]

Streaming video server? Wouldn't that translate to simply "server", and thus have absolutely nothing to do with the video card at all? Unless this thing is hooked up to tv-out or vga and playing video on that, the video card isn't doing squat. Even if you were, the lcd wouldn't matter as you can change the resolution in windows, which is all that's needed to affect resource usage (if there's even a significant difference).

[crashnburn]

Video memory will make no difference at all.

Pick the lowest screen resolution & Color (256 color etc) and it wont make a difference.

If you still want to I'll swap you my T43 XGA Display

[raueda1]

Unless this thing is hooked up to tv-out or vga and playing video on that, the video card isn't doing squat. Even if you were, the lcd wouldn't matter as you can change the resolution in windows, which is all that's needed to affect resource usage (if there's even a significant difference).

I assume the video card is feeding the DVI output on docking station - so it's presumably doing something. The TV is running as a second monitor. I've been messing with a T40 and TV resolution is amazingly good. It's playing on a 51" Hitachi CRT rear projection TV with DVI input (obviously) and the picture is quite movie-like.... rather like a high-end LP vs CD (at heart I'm an analog kind of guy )

Anyway, after all this I haven't been dissuaded from using the fancier video setup. Even if it doesn't actually help I won't be wondering if something less might be worse.

Thanks to all!

[sjthinkpader]

....It's playing on a 51" Hitachi CRT rear projection TV with DVI input (obviously) and the picture is quite movie-like.... rather like a high-end LP vs CD ...

You are one of the lucky few with a DVI input on your TV. These have no overscan and work much better than HDMI. WinXP has no provision for the wide TV 720p and 1080p resolutions with HDMI inputs and most TV has no monitor driver.