PDI deluxe/Xcard wiring

[weez]

Got the hardware in, software installed and now the cables...but
not sure which way they are supposed to go.

In the drawings it looks like it goes from the video card(s-video)
to the Xcard(VGA), then to the monitor.

or

component from the PDI

:confused:

What's the best way to hook everything up to get the greatest picture?

[Atman]

The PDI Deluxe card should be connected to Xcard through the 26-pin PDI interface. Please use the ribbon cable shipped with the product.

Here is the picture:
http://www.pmsvideo.com/member/9601/eshop/deluxe_combo.JPG

Please read the user's manual of the PDI Deluxe card for more information.

The component output and VGA output of the Xcard will NOT be used for this application. Your display/monitor should be connected to the VGA card (not the Xcard) instead.

Regards,
Atman

[weez]

Atman,

I got that part, the two cards are connected like the photo.

I've read and re-read the manual, the only thing I saw about
connecting the display was on the Xcard quickstart manual.

Now I'm really confused...there will be no connection from the PDI
or the Xcard to the display????? only from the video card????

If the I connect the display to the VGA card how does the
PDIdeluxe/Xcard improve the PQ? scaler and other features?

How 'bout audio, do I connect it from the spdif on the Xcard or
the mobo(as I have it now)?

[Atman]

Hi weez,

The PDI Deluxe/Xcard combo works with DScaler. It is DScaler (and Windows graphic subsystem) who does the deinterlacing, video processing etc. Therefore, the video output must come from the display card (video card) such as a Radeon card.

If you connect Xcard's VGA/component output to your display/monitor, you actually don't use the PDI Deluxe/DScaler to process the video and you don't have the benefits of the PDI/DScaler solution.

For audio output, please connect the analog or digital audio output of Xcard to your AV AMP.

Regards,
Atman

[weez]

So why is the PDI deluxe needed then if the video is handled by the Radeon and Dscaler to do the processing?

[Atman]

Hi Weez,

PDI Deluxe card is a capture card, which captures the digital video output of Xcard to the main memory of the PC (through the PCI bus) for DScaler's further processing.

Without PDI Deluxe (or PDI card), Xcard works alone and can't work with DScaler. The original usage of Xcard is to use the VGA/component output of Xcard to output video.

Regards,
Atman

[weez]

So why all the connections on the back of the cards?

I don't understand how it works, but I'll give it a try tonight.

Thanks,
weez

[weez]

How does the quality/speed of the vidcard effect playback?

I have a ATI 9600, would a 9800 make a difference?

[Atman]

Originally posted by weez
So why all the connections on the back of the cards?

I don't understand how it works, but I'll give it a try tonight.

Thanks,
weez

The connectors on the back of PDI Deluxe are used to connect other analog inputs such as VCR, LD, set top box etc. They are not for the Xcard connection.

Atman

[Atman]

Originally posted by weez
How does the quality/speed of the vidcard effect playback?

I have a ATI 9600, would a 9800 make a difference?

Not much difference. The scaling engine of both cards should be the same. Other features such as 3D processing are not used by DScaler.

Atman