New Life for my G200-TV + DVD - should I bother?

[devo_troll]

I upgraded to win2k and rather than try to
muddle around with unsupported (as of 2k) mjpeg, went to new HW and new DV cams. End of story.

However, I am thinking I can probably use the G200-TV+DVDmodule in the old celery400 as a
vcr/stereo/dvd set-top hooked up to the telly.

Has anyone else tried to set up an older box with a marvel and DVD add on card under 95/98 using only TV out mode, and perhaps a wireless mouse/kbd combo? It sounds at first blush like a great plan - I can record and view stuff, play mp3s, hook to the network and play anything elsewhere on the net, and play most video types, as long as I have a codec.

The problem is the DVD add on - its even worse supported than the MJPPG engine, and the matrox DVD software that actually uses the HW bombs in win98.

Anyone actually used this thing, or is a celery 400 enough for the CPU based DVD decodes ( I know its not enough for DivX so an upgrade may be required anyhow)

Troll

[AndrewDV]

Not sure about the DVD card, but this software may help you out:

http://www.showshifter.com

I've used it with a Marvel G400-TV.

[Sciascia]

Thought about doing this a couple of months ago and did a little research. The biggest obstacle will be that the Marvel does not work without a PC monitor connected to the SVGA port. Of course I would think that a terminator of some kind would be possible to fab or buy, but I lost interest shortly after.

[cods]

I still use this combo.....

I have been using this combo since it came out.
Millen-G200 16M SGRAM, RR-G200, TV-out addon, DVD addon.
Running on: W98SE, P2-450, IWILL BD100 BX Mobo, SBLive.

Mill G200 Bios 2.7, PD6.10.021(using inf file), VT 1.54e Macrovision cracked.

Using Rav Cinemaster2000 for DVD playing. Orig Zoran SW intalled first.

This package works VERY well, although I must admit there was f-all support from Matrox, and without hundreds of other frustrated users help from the forums over a year and a half after the purchase, I would have sold the cards years ago.

As it turns out, the hardware and software work beautifully for me these days, with hardly any crashes/BSOD's, (I get XP to BSOD more), and the DVD player uses barely 5-10% of CPU, so I imagine a low end celery could do the job. Can't remember the required specs but it doesn't need much.
I have created what I consider several high standard videos including a music-vid, and have been very happy with the input/output capabilities of MJPEG (although I edit with HUFFYUV).

Yes, I can say I have got my moneys worth eventually, but this applies to the purchase money s only - not the personal toil and pain of trying to get a Matrox product to work the way the Hardware designers meant and consumers expected it to work.
Listen and learn from others pain, and you will do well my son.

[pigseye]

devo,
I wanted to go to windows 2000 on my main PC and will have to upgrade my Marvel G200. What did you get for a new video card?

Also, I really like your idea of building a dedicated TV PC-VCR and would like to use a wireless mouse or preferably a remote for the PC. Let me know what you find here too.

Cods,
I would presume that a marvel G200 would be a little easier to set up than your equipment. Do you agree?

Thanks guys,
pigseye