ATI TV Wonder 650 or Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500?

[Synomenon]

Ok, which one of these cards is better for recording TV (better quality recordings)? Which one has the better image quality when watching TV?

 

[cbuchach]

The newer TV Wonder series cards, the 550 and 650, have been shown by Anandtech namely and others to have excellent video quality with all their fancy filters and such. I use a 550 with Windows Media Center, the quality is superb and a huge step up from the prior TV Wonder and TV Wonder Pro cards I have owned. The card also has performed absolutely flawlessly in terms of stability in Windows Media Center with the system up for over thrity days with constant daily use and hasn't crashed yet.

If you are planning to use Windows Media Center then I would definately go with the 650. If you are planning to use other software then it is more debatable as the Catalyst Medies Center software which is included with the 550/650 cards, which I tried leaves a little be to be desired. As far as the Hauppage options, I am not real familiar with what they offer.

 

[Chaotic42]

In my experience, Hauppauge has excellent video quality, but horrible drivers. I've owned a 250 and a 150 and the driver situation for both was nothing but a mess. Not only that, but on both of them the coax input snapped off when I tried to disconnect the cable. It's a very poorly built card.

That said, they're cheap and assuming you're very careful with them, Haupaugge cards can be excellent TV tuners.

 

[CheetoBandito]

I own the PVR-500 and I use it mostly for capture game console video rather then TV...however, getting the sound and the video to sync correctly was a pain in the ass. I would not recommend it.

 

[Synomenon]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess it's the 650 then. I use BeyondTV and have been using it with my PowerColor Theater 550 Pro..