Types Of CX2388x Cards - happycube/cxadc-linux3 GitHub Wiki
History of the "CX Chips"
There are many companies that used the CX2388x line of chips over the 2000s for their purpose as a TV/AV decoder. However, with the advent of better hardware, some old-stock chips today have been re-flowed and or taken from old stock to make the widely-available variants we have today. The models sold on AliExpress are intended as capture/display cards for composite/S-Video equipment (aimed at medical users; ultrasound machines in particular?).
This list is ongoing, if you have any cards that are not documented please email [email protected] or join the DD86 Discord.
[!CAUTION] cx23885 and cx23888 are incompatible chips. Those are newer, native PCIe designs -- they can be identified by their lack of PCI-to-PCIe bridge chip.
[!NOTE] CX25800 is a compatible chip.
Current PCIe Cards:
PCIe card connector layout:
- The first (RCA or BNC) is vmux0
- The middle (RCA or BNC) is vmux1
- The last (S-Video) is vmux2
CX White Card CX25800 (RCA, S-Video)
[!NOTE] If you look for CX23881 you will only find the CX25800 white card versions, they are better ICs but confirm with sellers before ordering.
Conexant Chip: CX25800-11Z
PCIe 1x Bridge: ITE IT8893E 1228-FXA SC008B
The latest new variant of white card with the ITE IT8893E 1228-FXA SC008B bridge chips found in 2023 with about the same if not slightly better noise profile then the CX23883-39 cards, these cards are the defacto from some sellers as of 2024.
Notably these cards can do 48mhz, 54mhz, and have in some cases got upto 57mhz crystal rates.
Parts Notes:
C80 = 470nf (0.5100uf Tested)
CX White Card Old (RCA, S-Video)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006079785129.html (used to sell)
Conexant Chip: CX23883-39
PCIe 1x Bridge: ITE IT8893E 1228-FXA SC008B
The first "new variant" card that was found to have the ITE IT8893E 1228-FXA SC008B bridge chips that allowed for greater compatibility with older hardware, however in testing it was also found this card has the CX23883-39 chips due to a said version of the chip having less ability its thought that this factor is what has allowed these chips to provide a cleaner capture of RF signals from less hardware = less electrical self noise.
Recommended Mods: C31 Removal, BNC Jack
Picture Front:
Picture Back:
Tony's Original DD86 Discord Post
Credit to ali1234 & Harry Munday for the base parts of this image & Tandersan for the annotations.
The white card has VMUX0 and VMUX1 circuits tied together with VMUX0 unpopulated.
At stock this will produce poorer results with the RCA jack input, as such the S-Video connection VMUX2 should be used with a breakout cable (Luma / Y Pin)
If nothing else, white cards should always have C31 removed and use VMUX1 if you aren't going to use VMUX2 exclusively. The reason C31 is there, is because some software that the cards are designed to work with (like an ultrasound machine controlling software) are hard coded to use VMUX0 so they did this to enable compatibility with all cases but splitting the signal causes degradation.
Image on the right side, follow the yellow path from the RCA input, when you get to C53 note that just before that, is a trace that goes up to C31. When C31 is absent, this is a dead end and doesn't do anything (like on green cards). When C31 is present, it adds the flow for all those other arrows back into the vmux0 circuit. The extra termination and filter caps will bleed some signal and can cause more reflections.
It has both sets of capacitors and terminators involved in the circuit.
I find it is odd that they installed C58/L11/R25 though?!?!?!
CX Blue Card (BNC, BNC, S-Video)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001286595482.html
Conexant Chip: CX23880-1
PCIe 1x Bridge: ASM1083 BAB56701B1 1112
The typical CX Blue card uses the CX23880-19 chips with the Asmedia PCI to PCIe bridge chipset, first found to use RF standard BNC connections and was considered the de-facto user convenient card but on some newer purchases, ITE bridges have been discovered.
Picture Front:
Picture Back:
CX Green Card (RCA, RCA, S-Video)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003092946304.html
Conexant Chip: CX23880-19
PCIe 1x Bridge: ITE IT8892E 1222-FXA NCEAAB
Picture Front:
Picture Back:
Image Credit: Ali1234
CX CX25800 (Blue Board, RCA, S-Video)
An 2022 discovered variant, with more testing needed and costing 2x more then most CX cards at the 60-75USD range. These cards also have raw capture modes and are being tested so far with good results.
Conexant Chip: CX23800-117
PCIe 1x Bridge: ITE IT8892E 1228-FXA SC00AB
Note: These cards use the small form factor SMD XTAL OSC2 crystal type.
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Back:
The CX PCI Cards
These are more complicated due to mass obsolescence of PCI hardware. However, name-brand ones are easy to document.
BlackBird PCI
Conexant Chip: CX23880-19
WinFast DVT2000 H
Conexant Chip: CX23881-39
Picture Front:
PixelView PlayTV Pro Ultra
Pictures