Rainbow Runner G-Series

[chr]

When running the Rainbow Runner G with a G400 video card, does the G400 need to be the primary display unit in order for the Rainbow Runner G to work?

[magician]

Yes, it has to. What I'm wondering is would it still be operational with multicard/multimonitor setup. Actually it is more a G400DH question, but why to start another topic when this one is close enough.

I would like to setup two monitor configuration with G400 + lets say G200 PCI, and retain DVDMAX TV-output as a source of video signal for tape printing. Now, I know some of you will simply recommend P750, but I'm really tight on budget right now and I would still like to use my RRG for some time.

Can someone tell me for sure, will RRG and DVDMAX work with another PCI card in two monitor config, as long as G400 (AGP) is prymary display device?

Sorry for the slight offtopic and thanks in advance.

[chr]

It's no problem.

I was wondering because I want to use this Rainbow Runner G I have sitting around, and my friend has a PCI G400 he's going to donate to me. I'm using an ATi Radeon 9700 Pro. I know that the TV tuner quality of the Matrox is superior to almost anything out there (there is a Matrox G450 eTV in the house), so I wanted to see if I could use up 2 PCI slots, and watch TV like that.

[dZeus]

PCI G400? I don't think so

[chr]

Or is it a G200. Something of that nature.

[magician]

Originally posted by chr
It's no problem.

I was wondering because I want to use this Rainbow Runner G I have sitting around, and my friend has a PCI G400 he's going to donate to me. I'm using an ATi Radeon 9700 Pro.

Well... dZeus is right, there is no such thing as G400 PCI, Matrox never made PCI card with G400 chip. First close enough to confuse with would be G450 which exists in PCI version, unfortunately it doesn't supports RRG. Apart from G400(DH), you can use your RRG with G200 or G100 cards, so the best PCI card for use with RRG is G200 PCI.

I know that the TV tuner quality of the Matrox is superior to almost anything out there (there is a Matrox G450 eTV in the house), so I wanted to see if I could use up 2 PCI slots, and watch TV like that.

That's prety wrong assumption you've got there. Matrox always used good quality parts in theirs products, and by all means it applies on (Philips) TV-tuner, but don't overlook the fact that RRG is a several years old product. There is a plenty new/better tuner chips out there ( with 9-bits or even 10-bits A/D ). I didn't have experience with G450 eTV, but for RRG I can tell you that it's far from "best that I've seen".

Capture quality from external source ( comp/S-video) is another story. I'm prety sure that it is still one of the best consernig price range.

[chr]

Well I found out that it is a G200 PCI, not a G400 PCI, my mistake.

I am not assuming anything on the tuner quality of the Matrox. The G450 eTV lays the smack down on everything else quite easily. I have seen everything from Hauppauge, ATi All In Wonder, Leadtek, Pinnacle, none of them come close to the tuner quality of the Matrox G450 eTV.

I'm just assuming here that the Rainbow Runner G uses the same tuner/chips that are on the G450 eTV. If so, then I will also assume that it has the same great quality of TV tuning that the G450 eTV has.

[magician]

I don't know about G450 eTV, but RRGs tuner is far from a "top notch". I have seen many new TV-tuner cards doing much beter job.

Would be interesting to hear other opinions.