Combo TV Tuner/Graphics card Recommendations...

[stjr]

Hello Everyone!

I'm looking to replace my current ATI Radeon x800 video card with a decent combo TV Tuner/Graphics card. I'm running XP Home on a Gateway 3 Ghz PC w/1 GB memory that has a PCI-E Bus.

My PC has been experiencing total shut-downs (blue screens) more and more frequently. And every message that I've sent to Microsoft has been in reference to video failure. The video card uses ATI Catalyst v6.5 software.

I would like the new video card to have PVR capabilities and to be able record both NTSC and ATSC (need to plan for the future!). But I would also like to have a fairly decent graphics accelerator for the occasional video game.

I would sincerely appreciate any/all recommendations. I'd like to keep the cost under $400 if possible.

Stever from AZ......where it's hot/hot/hot....

 

[Peter]

Leave the two functions separate. Get a TV tuner card that /really/ matches your needs, and choose any graphics card you like best.

Point being that TV tuner cards last forever, while you're going to exchange your graphics card much more often typically.

Neither standard NTSC nor digital ATSC broadcast is anywhere near stressing even legacy PCI, and dual-stream cards are available with PCI Express (1x) interface now.

 

[lopri]

Totally agree with Peter. Besides what he correctly pointed out, All-in-Wonder drivers (WDM) are a hell of mess.

 

[lopri]

A question for Peter: How capable are those external (USB) TV tuners? Is the USB bandwidth enough for high def/res and quality?

 

[Peter]

If the input signal is digital anyway, then the tuner doesn't actually have much to do. All it does is USB-ify the received data stream as it is. Broadcast TV is highly compressed. OTA typically is no more than 1 MB/s, satellite Hi-Def rarely does more than 5 - and that of course is no problem for USB 2.0. PCI cards do the exact same thing, maybe with noticeably less CPU load and bus congestion, simply because PCI is a much more effective transport than USB.

Analog is different ... a USB tuner must bring an MPEGizer and feed a compressed stream into the PC, because the raw uncompressed stream would be too much data. Usually, the parameters (resolution, quality, data rate et al) cannot be configured. In contrast, PCI cards feed the uncompressed, original, lossless data into the system RAM for CPU-driven post processing at any quality you please.

When viewing live, PCI cards can even transfer directly into the graphics card's video overlay buffer. That's maximum quality and minimum lag, with zero CPU load and the graphics card's video scaler doing the rest.

 

[etech]

stjr, you may want to look at the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1600 for a tuner card.

It's on sale for $70 at circuit city right now.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do

The thing that I like was that with beta drivers and IF you get the right model card it has a QAM tuner in it which lets you watch unencrypted HD off of a cable. Normally the local channels in your area are unencrypted.

I just picked one up and can get four HD channels off of my cable. That means I don't have to put an antenna up and try to get them in from 50 miles away which looked like it would be difficult.

There's more information here.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...?t=847022&page=1&pp=30

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: Peter
If the input signal is digital anyway, then the tuner doesn't actually have much to do. All it does is USB-ify the received data stream as it is. Broadcast TV is highly compressed. OTA typically is no more than 1 MB/s, satellite Hi-Def rarely does more than 5 - and that of course is no problem for USB 2.0. PCI cards do the exact same thing, maybe with noticeably less CPU load and bus congestion, simply because PCI is a much more effective transport than USB.

Analog is different ... a USB tuner must bring an MPEGizer and feed a compressed stream into the PC, because the raw uncompressed stream would be too much data. Usually, the parameters (resolution, quality, data rate et al) cannot be configured. In contrast, PCI cards feed the uncompressed, original, lossless data into the system RAM for CPU-driven post processing at any quality you please.

When viewing live, PCI cards can even transfer directly into the graphics card's video overlay buffer. That's maximum quality and minimum lag, with zero CPU load and the graphics card's video scaler doing the rest.

TYSM (Thank you so much )

 

[stjr]

Thank You lopri, etech and Peter...you guys are AWESOME!!

 

[stjr]

Hi etech;

I picked up and installed the Hauppage HVR-1600 with the model 74021 tuner and I gotta say....this thing is AWESOME!!

It was a breeze to install and was running in minutes (it took longer to crack the case and install the card than set the software up).

And I followed the links to Hauppage's website, dragged down the latest drivers (which recognize QAM channels) and I CAN received and play most of the available "free" HD channels my cable provider offers.

Some HD channels play great, others are a jerky (audio and video). According Hauppage, the culprit could be the graphics card; just can't handle those higher HD data rates (NTSC plays flawlessly).

I'm running an ATI Radeon x800 Pro PCIe w/256MB DDR3 memory (came w/the PC); using ATI Catalyst v6.5 software.

Will probably contact ATI/AMD and pose them the question about improving HD playback. Maybe it's as simple as new drivers....will see.

But..I just wanted to say "Thanks" again. You're recommendation was spot on!!

Stever

 

[montypythizzle]

WOW 70 dollar QAM tuner? NICE!!!
BOO 100 then 40 dollar MIR.

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: stjr
Hi etech;

I picked up and installed the Hauppage HVR-1600 with the model 74021 tuner and I gotta say....this thing is AWESOME!!

It was a breeze to install and was running in minutes (it took longer to crack the case and install the card than set the software up).

And I followed the links to Hauppage's website, dragged down the latest drivers (which recognize QAM channels) and I CAN received and play most of the available "free" HD channels my cable provider offers.

Some HD channels play great, others are a jerky (audio and video). According Hauppage, the culprit could be the graphics card; just can't handle those higher HD data rates (NTSC plays flawlessly).

I'm running an ATI Radeon x800 Pro PCIe w/256MB DDR3 memory (came w/the PC); using ATI Catalyst v6.5 software.

Will probably contact ATI/AMD and pose them the question about improving HD playback. Maybe it's as simple as new drivers....will see.

But..I just wanted to say "Thanks" again. You're recommendation was spot on!!

Stever

Stever, glad it worked for you.

I haven't noticed any jerkiness and am running a X800GTO 256 mb w/ a barton @3200. It is using about 70% of the processor when watching HD TV though.

Stever, one warning, you'll find yourself watching shows that you wouldn't otherwise watch simply because they are in HD with this card.

 

[stjr]

Hi etech;

Right you are again...watching The Godfather as I create this response. This is pretty much my first foray into the HD world; and I am surprised with the difference in video quality between HD and regular TV.

We (my wife and myself) are looking to go HD next year. I've been watching Samsung's offering and I believe that their LED RPTV provides the best bang for the buck; right now any way. But...that's 7+ months away....many things can change by then!

Stever

 

[stjr]

Hi Monty!

Yep...this was an excellent deal! But I have to tell you...the purchasing process (from Circuit City) was VERY strange (don't get me wrong, I like Circuit City).

If I bought the card in the store, the store offered buyers a $20 rebate. And with tax, the card would've cost $112 plus change w/tax. But I bought the card on-line with in-store pick-up. The card now cost me $108 plus change...w/tax! And because I purchased it on-line; I now was elegible for a $40 rebate!

But it was the cost difference that realy confused me (and still does)!

Stever....

 

[bovinda]

Hey Stever, just wanted to request that you post if you ever find out the cause of the jittery HD playback w/ some channels. Just for curiosity. Enjoy your new tuner.

 

[stjr]

Originally posted by: bovinda
Hey Stever, just wanted to request that you post if you ever find out the cause of the jittery HD playback w/ some channels. Just for curiosity. Enjoy your new tuner.

I will do that!