I am new to this forum and I have read most if not all of the posts made already. Let me first thank all of you who have made contributions to this forum, I have learned so much already and am ready to learn more. With that being said I have a questions a little off topic.
Before I build my own diy lcd projector (most likely based on ace's plans; thanks ace!) I am currently building my own HTPC. My first question is: has anybody been using a TV tuner / PVR card for any length of time?
I am looking into buying one and am very interested in using my pc as my entire entertainment center connected to my projector (after I build it, obviously). Second question is: which type should I get? Analog, HDTV, digital tv/cable, is there one that will do a combo of each?
Well thank you all in advance for your recomendations.
Before I build my own diy lcd projector (most likely based on ace's plans; thanks ace!) I am currently building my own HTPC. My first question is: has anybody been using a TV tuner / PVR card for any length of time?
I am looking into buying one and am very interested in using my pc as my entire entertainment center connected to my projector (after I build it, obviously). Second question is: which type should I get? Analog, HDTV, digital tv/cable, is there one that will do a combo of each?
Well thank you all in advance for your recomendations.
If you have enough money, go with HDTV card. you can received the Over-The-Air (OTA) HDTV signal and analog at the same time. analog cable is OK too. But it wont do digital cable (none will).
TV tuner card $30-100
HDTV tuner card $160 (software based), $200-$300 (hardware based)
Check the avsforum.com
TV tuner card $30-100
HDTV tuner card $160 (software based), $200-$300 (hardware based)
Check the avsforum.com
First off, this is strictly my opinion.
If you're going the DIY route, an HDTV card would probably be going overboard. You'd only be able to view scaled HDTV. An LCD panel that could do HDTV resolutions would probably cost more than it's worth.
I can recommend the ATI All In Wonder Radeon 7500. Yeah, don't laugh, I know it's old and only 4X AGP, but it's pretty cheap and does it all. Since I don't play computer games anymore (if you worked in a video arcade for 2 years, you probably wouldn't either), I wasn't in it for the 3D graphics, though they are very good. This thing comes with s-video in/out, composite video in/out, and coaxial in. It comes with a suite of software that includes a PVR program, DVD player, Media Player, and a few other utilities. It also comes with a wireless remote control. And it's a DVI card (it comes with the VGA converter, too). I picked up the card about a year ago at Circuit City for $129 and it had a rebate that dropped it to $89. It's a great deal, IMO, even at $129.
I'm not sure, but I remember it also having SPDIF, but I might be mistaken. I already had an SPDIF connection before I got the card, so I didn't really check to make sure.
Anyways, I hope I was of some help. Good luck and have fun 🙂
If you're going the DIY route, an HDTV card would probably be going overboard. You'd only be able to view scaled HDTV. An LCD panel that could do HDTV resolutions would probably cost more than it's worth.
I can recommend the ATI All In Wonder Radeon 7500. Yeah, don't laugh, I know it's old and only 4X AGP, but it's pretty cheap and does it all. Since I don't play computer games anymore (if you worked in a video arcade for 2 years, you probably wouldn't either), I wasn't in it for the 3D graphics, though they are very good. This thing comes with s-video in/out, composite video in/out, and coaxial in. It comes with a suite of software that includes a PVR program, DVD player, Media Player, and a few other utilities. It also comes with a wireless remote control. And it's a DVI card (it comes with the VGA converter, too). I picked up the card about a year ago at Circuit City for $129 and it had a rebate that dropped it to $89. It's a great deal, IMO, even at $129.
I'm not sure, but I remember it also having SPDIF, but I might be mistaken. I already had an SPDIF connection before I got the card, so I didn't really check to make sure.
Anyways, I hope I was of some help. Good luck and have fun 🙂
I have the ATI 7500 too. Its a great piece of hardware for the moenys. Like TheGiver said, it does it all and very well. I run M$ Flight Simulator 2004 on it running 1280 X 1024 and it runs excellent.
I would recomment buying a cheaper NEW card than a equally priced USED but better card.
ap0
I would recomment buying a cheaper NEW card than a equally priced USED but better card.
ap0
Thank you 18wheeler and TheGiver.
Your replies made me think of another question. I will be running a Intel D865GRH, the 865G chipset, with a 3.0Ghz HT, and probably 1GB 400Mhz ram. I will obviously get a better sound card, probably sound blaster for 5.1 surround sound, other than that this set up should be able to take anything that I can throw at it. My question is: do you think the integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2 will be able to produce a HDTV quality, so that I should just go with the TV tuner card as opposed to say a Radon AIW? Thanks again.
Andy
Your replies made me think of another question. I will be running a Intel D865GRH, the 865G chipset, with a 3.0Ghz HT, and probably 1GB 400Mhz ram. I will obviously get a better sound card, probably sound blaster for 5.1 surround sound, other than that this set up should be able to take anything that I can throw at it. My question is: do you think the integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2 will be able to produce a HDTV quality, so that I should just go with the TV tuner card as opposed to say a Radon AIW? Thanks again.
Andy
Good TV Tuner Card for Less
The site I work for, which you can find the link to through my profile, offers a good alternative for a TV tuner card. The card is the "MSI TV@NYWHERE MASTER TV TUNER". This is a cool card because it costs about $59.39 and is a PCI card so it can be used in conjuntion with any exsisitng graphics card you already have. It has component, and s-video input, and also has audio in and out right on the card. It also has coaxial input for cable TV. The card can capture in MPEG2 and MPEG4 [at DVD resolution] with the software that comes with it, or can capture in uncompressed AVI using third party software. It has a ton of features for the price, like the ability to preview screenshots [picture within a picture] of at least 12 channels at a time. It also can be programmed to record shows at any given time similar to TIVO or other services like this. Anyway for the price it is a very good option. I am running the lesser model in my HTPC and have found it to work really good for watching TV and recording things here and there. The only drawback I have found is for watching TV the audio comes from the tuner card itself, so you have two audio channels to switch between if you are using your HTPC for divx movies or stuff off your harddrive. Overall I have found this to be a very good, less expensive alternative to other tuner cards I have tried.
These are the Specs on the Tuner Card.
-Paul H.-
The site I work for, which you can find the link to through my profile, offers a good alternative for a TV tuner card. The card is the "MSI TV@NYWHERE MASTER TV TUNER". This is a cool card because it costs about $59.39 and is a PCI card so it can be used in conjuntion with any exsisitng graphics card you already have. It has component, and s-video input, and also has audio in and out right on the card. It also has coaxial input for cable TV. The card can capture in MPEG2 and MPEG4 [at DVD resolution] with the software that comes with it, or can capture in uncompressed AVI using third party software. It has a ton of features for the price, like the ability to preview screenshots [picture within a picture] of at least 12 channels at a time. It also can be programmed to record shows at any given time similar to TIVO or other services like this. Anyway for the price it is a very good option. I am running the lesser model in my HTPC and have found it to work really good for watching TV and recording things here and there. The only drawback I have found is for watching TV the audio comes from the tuner card itself, so you have two audio channels to switch between if you are using your HTPC for divx movies or stuff off your harddrive. Overall I have found this to be a very good, less expensive alternative to other tuner cards I have tried.
These are the Specs on the Tuner Card.
-Paul H.-
If your going to use this as the control point of a home entertainment system, go for a good HDTV card. Even if you end up scaling the resolution down you get the digital video and audio out of the card. I can't see spending money for obsolete equipment just to save a few dollars.
Later BZ
Later BZ
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