Best TV Tuner Card?

[sideshow23bob]

Hello,
I'm looking into buying a tv tuner card to play a PS2 on, but also that might later function to allow my comp. work as a DVR. Any recommendations on a good product with a good price? Thanks

 

[Azndude51]

First of all, how much are you willing to spend and will you play any 3d PC games at all?

 

[sideshow23bob]

Let's say up to $100.00 if it's just a tuner card, and up to ~200 if it's an all in wonder type. Though also consider I have a TI 4600 at stock clocks right now, so tell me about video performance if it's a graphics card too. Thanks

 

[Azndude51]

If you have experience with ebay, you should be able to sell your geforce4 for around $50, which means you can afford this AIW 9700pro:
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=14-102-297&DEPA=0

If you don't plan to play that many next generation games, look into this AIW 9600XT:
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-102-352&depa=0

The 9700pro will probably have around a 25-30% performance increase over 9600xt and the 9600xt would probably have around a 35% inc over your current card in newer directx9 games. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

If you are happy with the graphical capabilities of your current card, get this PCI Tuner Card:
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-122-132&depa=0
its out of stock, but you can probably find other sites that carry it from pricewatch.com

 

[sideshow23bob]

Thanks for the info. What do you think about an ATi TV Wonder Pro (Remote Wonder Edition) vs. that leadtek tuner. I see with rebate the tv wonder is about the same price. Any input would be helpful thanks.
John

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: sideshow23bob
Thanks for the info. What do you think about an ATi TV Wonder Pro (Remote Wonder Edition) vs. that leadtek tuner. I see with rebate the tv wonder is about the same price. Any input would be helpful thanks.
John

TV Wonder isn't that good, it's not just the TV tuner capabilities from the AIW like one might think. I'd get the Leadtek. Better to get the AIW 9700 Pro if you're going to play any PC games, though. The 9600XT isn't nearly enough of a jump up from Ti4200.

 

[Peter]

You don't actually need a TUNER card, all you need is a videograbber. (You'll connect the Composite or SVideo signal, not the aerial.) Something simple like Leadtek's VC100XP would do perfectly. Audio goes into the sound card's Line-In, btw.

If you're going for a tuner card, get one that has a stereo audio decoder for the TV part. Best are those using Philips chips rather than the ancient Conexant/Brooktree BT8x8. And you'll want the SVideo input for your games console too.