Best PCI Video Capture/TV Card?

[GaryShandling]

Im looking for a TV card that will give the highest quality playback when recording or just watching TV currently available for todays technology. The best of the best. Price doesn't matter. It cant be AGP, and i dont want a AIW radeon card. Thanks.


Edit: I live in the Uk does that mean it has to be a PAL card? or..

 

[GullyFoyle]

I've been looking in to this subject lately. All except the "best of the best" part, because I've run across some solutions over $1000.

What I seem to see is that the cards based on the reputed better chips, don't necessarily get better reviews.
The cards I have been looking at are based on Conextant or Phillips chips.
The Phillips SAA7130-SA7135 chips supposedly are the best, but I've found few cards in the US use these chips, notably the Asus TV FM.
The Conextant CX23883 is next in line, showing up only in the MSI TV@Anywhere.
The baseline chip is the Conextant 878A, featured in the Leadtek WINFAST "DELUXE" TV2000XP.

What I find is, the cards that feature the supposedly newer/better chips, get mediocre reviews, while the reviews for the Leadtek glow. Makes it tough to pick. I think maybe it's because the older card has a better, more mature software bundle.

And as you'll find, it's damn near impossible to find anyone around here that's used more than one card.
Try looking in the forums here: http://www.dscaler.org/about.htm or here: http://www.tv-cards.com
Also, Newegg has a fairly large selection of these cards, with some customer feedback: http://www.newegg.com/app/manufactory.asp?catalog=47&DEPA=1

 

[videoclone]

These are the two best ones around at the moment too get an analog TV/Tuner is a crime !!
Digital all the way :beer:

chaintech Digital Terrestrial TV Tuner card, DTT-1000, w/IR remote control, watch digital TV on your PC

AverTV DVB-T digital terrestrial TV PCI card w/remote control

 

[OriginalDesmond]

i've also been looking into this, for the video capture side of things rather than the tv watching though

I have also read much good stuff about the Leadteck Tv2000 deluxe or expert edition

They are so cheap, i am going to get one of these first, see how i go, then will upgrade if it's not upto scratch

I like the idea of an external breakout box to do the encoding offboard but haven't found one with decent reviews

The Pinnacle PCTV Deluxe is also perfect feature wise in theory for me but all i've read is about the audio synch probs

 

[GaryShandling]

Thanks, but im looking for 1 card that you think is best. What card would you get with my specifications needed? With a $700 budget, that is PAL compatible?

 

[OriginalDesmond]

If money isn't an object, Canopus Cards seem to be the Rolls Royce of Video capture cards

 

[Corporate Thug]

i like the leadtek ones over at newegg, mine works pretty well

 

[Rexxenexx]

Originally posted by: shady06
i like the leadtek ones over at newegg, mine works pretty well

Ditto
the Leadtek Winfast TV 2000 XP Deluxe is a steal!!! I can listen to the radio, vidcap, and it comes w/ a remote. Super easy to use to.

 

[GaryShandling]

Money isnt a problem, so forget about "steals" i want the best of the best.

are you saying the Leadtek Winfast TV 2000 XP Deluxe is better then the top of the line canopus?

 

[GullyFoyle]

Originally posted by: videoclone
These are the two best ones around at the moment too get an analog TV/Tuner is a crime !!
Digital all the way :beer:

chaintech Digital Terrestrial TV Tuner card, DTT-1000, w/IR remote control, watch digital TV on your PC

AverTV DVB-T digital terrestrial TV PCI card w/remote control

Is this "Digital Terrestrial TV" just a UK thing? Can I hook my regular Cable TV wire up to these tuners and record a show?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Well, the Radeon VE is PCI, and is NOT an AIW card.. I heard it has excellent hardware MPEG-2 encoding and capture capability... If I only had one PCI slot in a machine (like a SFF computer) I'd buy that in a second...

 

[rbV5]

Well, the Radeon VE is PCI, and is NOT an AIW card.. I heard it has excellent hardware MPEG-2 encoding and capture capability... If I only had one PCI slot in a machine (like a SFF computer) I'd buy that in a second...

You mean the AIW VE?, Its an AIW...but yea. It does have the Theater 200 chip, 12bit ADC's and sometimes they throw in the remote if you wait for the special.
Update: Don't see a PAL version though.

 

[videoclone]

Originally posted by: DanDeighan

Originally posted by: videoclone
These are the two best ones around at the moment too get an analog TV/Tuner is a crime !!
Digital all the way :beer:

chaintech Digital Terrestrial TV Tuner card, DTT-1000, w/IR remote control, watch digital TV on your PC

AverTV DVB-T digital terrestrial TV PCI card w/remote control

Is this "Digital Terrestrial TV" just a UK thing? Can I hook my regular Cable TV wire up to these tuners and record a show?

You'v gotta check too see if theres digital transmition going on in your country ... i know over here in Australia we have Digital TV and when i watch a football game i can change camera's with the remote soo i can watch the game from any camera i want ... its like interactive TV .. its awesome .. plus the picture QTY is like DVD .... and you can even get internet on your TV ....from the digital station your on its kind of like a website that also works as a TV station that you view on your TV .. ontop of that is the fact the picture Qty is Perfect every time no bad reception EVER !! .. you either get a 100% crisp clear image or you dont !!! its that simple .. but its the future of TV .. 1 last thing is digital TV can also be used as a web link source able too download 8MB's a Second lol .. now that?s FAST !!! internet over thin air

 

[Pudgygiant]

Hauppage WinTV cards are uber.

 

[StormRider]

I personally like real-time mpeg1/2 hardware encoders and the best is the Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250/350.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

the US has digital-tv. its long overdue. people need to catch on faster.

JBLaze

 

[rbV5]

the US has digital-tv. its long overdue. people need to catch on faster.

Yes, if you live in a metro area...and they actually broadcast it. The limited broadcasting probably keeps more people from catching on. When its good, it is good though, but nothing interactive like videoclone describes in my area.

 

[videoclone]

Australia has a better Wireless coverage then the US ....

Because of our dependence on wireless and the fact we dont have a broad cable infrastructure has placed a high demand on wireless transmition so Cable TV has taken off too a good start over here .. in 2008 analog TV will cease to broadcast and we will only have Digital TV sooo looks like America will be behind in Digital due to the Capital already spent to establish all that CABLE !!! and the reluctance on the American broadcasting commition to make all that cable.... redundant and useless.

We only have about 5% of the amount of Cable you guys over in the US have and we have been stuck on DSL and Dial up for a while now but we soon will be ahead of you guys once we start getting digital wireless internet through the air ... its stated that digital broadcasting can reach 20MB a second download a second now that?s awesome

I'll start downloading with my TV lol hehe