Better pc tv tuner/fm card

[bgibb]

I know this topic has been posted and reposted in the past, and I'm read through most of those posts. My conclusion from these posts is that the general populous likes the leadtek deluxe card. Its a great price at $51 bucks through newegg too!

However, I haven't found quite so much talk about the Asus TV FM Video Tuner card - Model 7133. I know Asus has an older model- is this thing brand new? I haven't found any reviews of this card, just the older one.

My question to the forum- Which one is better? Right now, my only plan is to use this to watch tv or listen to the radio occasionally. I have a VCR, and don't use it much- that may all change, but my rig is getting a little old and capture isn't my focus at the moment. Having a remote control that can easily control not only the tv tuning but also other aspects of windows(winamp, dvd, etc) is a feature that is a plus in my mind.

I welcome your thoughts and input...thank you.

 

[bigpow]

I have the Asus TV Tuner (TV880); the one with the 10-bit ADC

I think the one with FM is actually an older model (discontinued?).

Other options are Leadtek's or ATI's.

go to AVS Forum - under HTPC components for details

 

[Bonesdad]

I also have the Asus 880...REALLY nice card. Problem is, I think I got the last one...havent seen it for sale anywhere lately. Dunno what's goin on...Leadtek is a good deal too. There is an improvement with the 10bit chip tho.

 

[bgibb]

Ok, thanks for the feedback guys. Its now clear to me that the tv880 is the card to get, if it can be gotten. On that note, any suggestions on how I might obtain one? Do you think they're off the market for good, or just in limited quantity? I'm shopping Ebay now, and I suppose if that road runs dry I may look towards the Leadtek. I don't mind waiting around for the asus card to show up, but will it?

 

[yellowperil]

Sorry this isn't related to the original poster's question, but I was wondering if there are any TV tuner cards that don't require connecting the tuner audio out to your soundcard's line-in. Thx

 

[robisc]

Sorry this isn't related to the original poster's question, but I was wondering if there are any TV tuner cards that don't require connecting the tuner audio out to your soundcard's line-in. Thx

The only way I see that you could get audio by doing so would be to have another set of speakers hooked to your TV card, otherwise how will you get audio.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I think he means is there a TV tuner that uses internal connections for sound, like a wire similar to a cd-rom drive's audio cable. BTW, I have the Pinnacle PCTV (not pro), and i love it! But whatever you do, don't get the ATI TV Wonder VE. BTW, neither of these cards have FM radio.

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: yellowperil
Sorry this isn't related to the original poster's question, but I was wondering if there are any TV tuner cards that don't require connecting the tuner audio out to your soundcard's line-in. Thx

I think he means is there a TV tuner that uses internal connections for sound, like a wire similar to a cd-rom drive's audio cable.

Dang you guys are lazy...check out the new Asus w/10 bit decoder at Newegg. It looks like it does exactly that.

 

[bgibb]

You mind fixing your link on that? I'm interested in that card.

 

[iuvas]

I think this is what they are talking about

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: bgibb
You mind fixing your link on that? I'm interested in that card.

Is that the latest/greatest from asus? Or did this predate the TV880???

 

[bgibb]

That's what I'm not sure about. This link here compares the two cards- http://www.asus.com/products/vga/tvfm/overview.htm

They have different decoders- The 880 uses the Connexant CX2388x and the 7133 uses Philips SAA713x. These differences were pointed out above, yet I really don't know the differences between the two decoders. Which one is better?

Is the 7133 a replacement for the 880 or just a competing product? I've seen reviews on the 880 which is excellent, but nothing really on the 7133.

 

[bigpow]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad

Originally posted by: bgibb
You mind fixing your link on that? I'm interested in that card.

Is that the latest/greatest from asus? Or did this predate the TV880???

afaik, TV880 is newer

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: bigpow

Originally posted by: Bonesdad

Originally posted by: bgibb
You mind fixing your link on that? I'm interested in that card.

Is that the latest/greatest from asus? Or did this predate the TV880???

afaik, TV880 is newer

I think so too...but is the philips a 10-bit decoder like the conextant?

 

[dima1984]

Originally posted by: bigpow

Originally posted by: Bonesdad

Originally posted by: bgibb
You mind fixing your link on that? I'm interested in that card.

Is that the latest/greatest from asus? Or did this predate the TV880???

afaik, TV880 is newer

Hmm. The asus site lists the TV FM card under fresh releases, while the 880 hasn't been on their site for quite a while
EDIT: My bad, it seems that the 880 is listed lower as the 'Asus TV tuner Card' with the connexant chip.

 

[Apex]

The TV880 is the older card. The TV/FM basically replaced it.