Best TV card solution

[Dufusyte]

I'd like to watch TV on my PC. What's the best solution?

- Dedicated TV Tuner Card (which brand?)

- Video Card w/ TV capability (which brand?)

Any recommendations?

 

[tcrosson]

This will give you the best of all worlds (DVD/TV/Gaming/etc).

 

[ahsia]

Well, I don't know many other companies that sell TV cards other than ATI. I just built a system for my friend with the ATI All-In-Wonder Pro 32mb, and installation was a breeze, and he was watching TV as soon as he took it home. The card was only $110, so not a bad deal if you ask me. I also have an old ATI TV Card that I don't use. It worked fine when I did use it, but I brought a TV, so no need to watch it on my computer.

 

[majewski9]

TV tuner + vid cards such as Ati's All in Wonder series are great but they come at a price. The all in wonder pro 128 is over 100$. The All in wonder is around 200$ and the 8500DV is over 300$. The 8500DV is undoubtely the best tv tuner vid card solution in my mind. the 8500DV is Much better than the Nvidia personal cinema add on which paired with a GF2 MX 400 is around 175$. Matrox also has a Tv tuner + vid card. It doesnt seem worth it as it is based on the g450.

Seprate cards like the ATI Tv wonder PCI version is the best choice. I mean the card can be found for like 79$ or so. Ati also has the Tv wonder VE which only lacks an Svideo in port.

 

[GTaudiophile]

The best stand-alone PCI TV Tuner card is probably the Hauppauge WinTV/FM PCI card. Comes with remote and sells for $93 at mwave.com.

 

[Duvie]

I have installed both an I am sure the ve lack a few more things then the svideo in...

I recommend a separate tv card regardless...Lets think upgradeability here...Many will want to change the vid card sooner and you don't want to take the double hit...The tv wonder also has the capture ability of the all in wonder 128...With software and ati multimedia upgrade I can capture at mpeg1 and 2 (with all different setings), ati, and even divx if codec is installed on system...

I have also seen where the tv card is present in one solution the other areas can take a bit of a performance hit...

 

[Dufusyte]

Question about the upgrade path:

Let's say I buy a video card with integrated TV tuner, and later I upgrade to a newer video card (without TV).

Can I still use the (old) video/TV card in a second slot just for it's TV capabilities?

For example, can I have a non-TV video card in the AGP slot, and an All in Wonder type card in a pci slot, and still watch the TV signal? Bear in mind that the All in Wonder card will not be hooked up to the monitor by any cable: this is not a dual monitor type arrangement.