I just can't seem to the HD picture quality of my Media Center PC to be quite as sharp and clear as the pic from my TiVo S3.  Here are the details:

Source: OTA ATSC (Both)
Connection:  HDMI  (Both)

In the MCE PC I have tried both Nvidia and ATI cards.

I have tried these decoders:
Microsoft Default
Microsoft DVD/DTV Decoder (came with TV Pack)
Nvidia PureVideo
Cyberlink PowerDVD
ArcSoft

No matter which decoder I use, the TiVo simply "pops" more.

I have settled on the Nvidia 8400GS card, since it came with the PC (I returned the others that I tried - all mid priced like the 8500GT).

The PC is set to 1080p, the TiVo to 1080i, both feeding a Samsung DLP through a HDMI switch.

No matter what I try, in A/B comparisons the TiVo is sharper, and more detail is there.  I have played with the Nvidia utility and tried tweaking the Edge Enhancement, Noise Reduction, etc.  I guess it is possible that the TiVo is doing some Edge Enhancement that makes for a perceived increase in sharpness, but in A/B comparisons between my TiVo and soon-to-be returned Comcast box the picture quality looks the same, even though the Comcast is pulling the signal via QAM.

FYI - I am NOT doing any desktop resizing in the Nivida software.

Long story short - What steps are people taking to achieve the best possible picture quality from their MCE PCs ?

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/274893.aspx

A post by me asking pretty much the same question...

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-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)