8x Non-gaming Vid Card & PCI TV/capture card recommendations please?

[computer]

Hi all. I need some recommendations for an 8x video card for an 865/875 mobo (haven't decided on the mobo yet). I have not kept up on video cards for years now since for the past 6 I've used the ATI AIW series due to the TV Tuner & capture functions.

I have HAD IT with ATI's bull*** with the software problems for the MMC (Multimedia Center). I had no problems with the old AIW 128 Pro. But starting with the AIW Radeon 7500 and that crappy MMC software I had nothing but problems on 98, ME, AND XP! The damn controls will no longer dock, noise reduction is ALWAYS on (fuzzy pix compared to the old 128 Pro) and the #@$% software can't be shut down! I try to shut my PC down and get "ATI MMC not responding". I try to start the software again after earlier shutting it down and nothing happens! I cont-alt-delete and there is 49 "ATIMMC.exe" showing in the taskmanager!

Ok, so know we know why I think ATI AIW sucks and I need another option.

I am not a gamer, so I do not require some high end gaming card. I just use email, the net, and applications.

1. *If there are not any decent PCI "add-on" TV tuner/FM/capture cards I guess I'll get an AGP 8x TV Tuner/FM/capture card with the AIW features. Are there any out there that are $150 or less that are any good? I love the features of the AIW, but can't put up with the mentioned problems.

2. If I go the PCI add on card route, what is a good 8x AGP video card? I've heard the ATI Radeon series has problems coping with overclocking. In reading mobo reviews I've seen on several occasions things like "....we determined at this point that the weak link in our overclocking was the 9800 Pro........" or "9xxx pro's are not known for their ability to handle overclocking" and similar. Is this really true? Is the Nvidia GeForce 5200 Ultra a better choice, or 5600?

3. Can anyone tell me if the AIW Radeon 9000 Pro has the problems I mentioned above? Or does it "suck"? It's the right price, if it has docking controls and you CAN shut it down I may go with it if anyone can vouch for it's performance and quality.

4. Is it best to use a card like the AIW or similar with built in TV Tuner/FM/Capture/DVCR functions, or an add-on PCI card with the functions?

*Can anyone tell me please if these PCI add-on cards for example are any good? Kworld Vstream , MSI @nywhere . WinFast TV2000 XP Deluxe ........or are all of these a POS?

If I could at least know to stay away from any PCI add on cards, that would be starting point in looking for an AGP card with the functions. Do I even need an 8x video card?? Would 4x be enough for my use and is 8x over-kill?

Any recommendations appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[computer]

The MSI card doesn't appear to be capture card so I guess I can strike that one. The K-World doesn't appear to have PIP functions, so I guess that leaves me with the WinFast so far (unless there are any other better ones out there).

 

[computer]

ATI's website says the AIW 9000 Pro is NOT 8x AGP, yet vendor's pricewatch listing says it is. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[modedepe]

I know that the 9000 pro is 4x, but the the 9200 is the one that's 8x. I'm not sure about the aiw though, but I'd guess it's 4x. But I don't really see the reason why you want 8x. The 4x would work fine. And why are you looking at the 5200u/5600? Those cards would probably be ok, but then if you don't game pretty much any cheapo video card + a tv tuner should work fine. From what I've heard the winfast is pretty good tuner card.

 

[Viper96720]

You don't need an 8x video card.

 

[MDE]

8x is a marketing gimmick.

 

[Pete]

To reiterate, 8x AGP speed does as much for video card performance as Intel's Netburst architecture does for internet speeds. AGP 4x should be more than sufficient.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
You don't need an 8x video card.

8x is a marketing gimmick

 

[computer]

Ok thanks for the input guys. I guess for starters I'll try the very latest ATI drivers & software again to see if that fixes the problem of not being able to shut it down. If it does, I'll just keep using the 4x AIW Radeon 7500 card I have now in the new mobo and have to continue to hit F2 when it starts to hide the controls. If not, I guess I'll get the WinFast 2000XP Deluxe and maybe use a "64mb 4x Rage Fury Maxx Dual CPU" I have laying around there (are they any good or should I stick with the AIW Radeon 7500 as the main card....which of these two is the better card)? Would either of these affect O'clocking ability they way I heard the 8x Pro ATI series did?
Thanks.

 

[computer]

Oh well, I just found out the only XP drivers for the Rage Fury Maxx are on the XP CD and it doesn't support OpenGL. Is that a problem? I also have a 64mb 4x GeForce2 MX, and a 32mb Voodoo4 4500. I guess of these 3 the GeForce would be the best since it's much newer. ??

 

[Pete]

LOL, a Rage Fury MAXX is only good in Win98, and even so, ATi's drivers of that vintage are of debatable quality. The GF2MX should be faster than the V5 4500, but the latter should have much better signal quality (more legible text), so I'd recommend the latter for non-gaming (office) use.

 

[computer]

Are you saying the V4 4500 over the GeForce? How 'bout throwing the AIW Radeon 7500 in the group, where would it stand? I still may keep it. There are probably no XP drivers for the V4 4500 either.
Thanks.

 

[kylebisme]

well you can get some drivers to run the v4 in xp but the 7500 aiw would really be the best bet. however i have no clue why mmc is giving you so much trouble.

 

[Pete]

Hey, if the 7500 works, keep it.

 

[computer]

Ok, if the consensus is the AIW 7500 Radeon is the best of the bunch, then I'll try the very latest drivers and see if that fixes the problem.

I found out the net is full of people having this problem. The ATI jerks refuse to do anything about it and I'm finding out I'm not the only one that thinks their support is the worse of anyone. That ATIMMC.exe not responding is one thing; if I can fix that great, but that still leaves me with these retard non-docking controls. Every time you drag the screen anywhere you have to go back and drag a second time for the dam' controls. I've tried writing batch files and scripts to execute an F2 press after a delay to at least eliminate the controls without manually having to hit F2 every time, but I can't get any of them to work. Even if I could I still have the problem of having to hit F2 again in order to activate the controls and click for a screen shot or video capture (or have to hit two shortcut keys). It's just a pain and ATI should be b*tch slapped for screwing up a good thing MMC v6.4 had. They obviously never use their own products. Of course MMC v6.4 will not work with the AIW Radeon 7500!

I can't get anyone from USA Or Taiwan Leadtek (makes the WinFast TV2000XP) to reply to email. None of their manual's links work. I can't find out if it has dockable controls. If it does not, then I'm back to square one. If I could find out it DOES, then I'd get it and I guess use the AIW just as a plain video card.