High Def video

[jgaffney]

As I'm researching hardware to put together a linuxMCE box.

I currently have two options. Run a VGA cable to my TV.
Or run an s-video out to my AV reciever. 

What will I get the best picture quality from? 
Will I get High Def from those outputs?
Do I need to go a different route ?

[rrambo]

If you're researching to put together a box for linuxmce, buy a video card with hdmi or dvi out...  otherwise vga will give you more resolution than s-video..  I think s-video maxes out at 800x600 (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

[jgaffney]

Thank you.

So if I get a video card with HDMI out,  this will also take care of the audio to the TV ??
Is so, this will handle 5.1 I would assume?

Tell me if this would work (trying to cut costs)

TV into TV Card >  Video Card with HDMI out to actual TV including 5.1 audio >  TV has audio out to 5.1 Reciever.
If that would work I could avoid purchasing a 5.1 audio card with a digital output.

[hari]

If you're researching to put together a box for linuxmce, buy a video card with hdmi or dvi out...  otherwise vga will give you more resolution than s-video..  I think s-video maxes out at 800x600 (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

s-video only handles standard definition. All resolutions above will be downscaled. The VGA/RGB port will at least allow progressive input on standard definition. Some TV's allow resolutions up to 1920x1080 via the vga port.

best regards,
Hari