True, but it has hardware assisted decoding, and the more recent Theater 650 chip. What does that mean? Almost zero CPU usage while just recording, and image quality that puts the previous version to shame. Trust me, its worth it.
dew.
I picked up one of these HDTV wonders a month or so ago and image quality is amazing. Plus the CPU usage while recording is around 3 - 8% -- i.e. it's hardware based. Much better than the older AIWs that use software encoders.
The only drawback is the antenna doesn't provide the best signal all the time. So I'm about to try out an outside antenna to see if I can get better reception. Shows like Lost, Heroes etc look great in HD on this thing -- much better than any torrent I've ever downloaded. But I guess that should be expected since it uses up about 6-7GB per hour!
The only drawback is the antenna doesn't provide the best signal all the time. So I'm about to try out an outside antenna to see if I can get better reception. Shows like Lost, Heroes etc look great in HD on this thing -- much better than any torrent I've ever downloaded. But I guess that should be expected since it uses up about 6-7GB per hour!
WT
Diamond Member
- Sep 21, 2000
- 4,816
- 59
- 91
No, these were not meant to push console videos with button press input through them.... they are made for viewing content, but any button presses from your gamepad will lag at least a second or so .. not worth the hassle in a fast twitch game.
The Theater 650 is a better chip, as well as slightly better image quality in SD, but not HD. The HDTV Wonder cards are sometimes iffy in their SD reception, so you can see the opinions vary here on how clean an output you can expect to get. For the money, this is a great deal (with antenna), which is why I passed on the Theater 650 card at more than twice the price.
GeezerMan
Platinum Member
- Jan 28, 2005
- 2,145
- 26
- 91
The image quality of the analog portion of the 650 is better than the analog tuner in the HDTV Wonder since the Wonder has the much older analog tuner. The image quality of the HDTV portion of the Wonder is excellent, I have been using one for a year now. I have not compared the HDTV portion of the Wonder to the HDTV in the 650, but being it's digital, I would think they would be similiar.
ClockerXP
Golden Member
- Apr 17, 2002
- 1,940
- 0
- 86
The ATi software blows & is very buggy but the reception & picture quality is great.
I will have to try that software linked to above.
I had to use the AMD dual core optimizer patch to have the video and audio be synched up.
Decent card, especially if I get my rebate (just on this deal a couple months ago). It just needs better software..
C
I will have to try that software linked to above.
I had to use the AMD dual core optimizer patch to have the video and audio be synched up.
Decent card, especially if I get my rebate (just on this deal a couple months ago). It just needs better software..
C
Thanks for the pictures GeezerMan.
To use WatchHDTV software on XP, you still need to install the driver and the decoder from ATI. But, nothing else.
If you have a dual core, you need to install the dual core driver from AMD for any TV tuner. Otherwise, you will get stuttering!
To use WatchHDTV software on XP, you still need to install the driver and the decoder from ATI. But, nothing else.
If you have a dual core, you need to install the dual core driver from AMD for any TV tuner. Otherwise, you will get stuttering!
GeezerMan
Platinum Member
- Jan 28, 2005
- 2,145
- 26
- 91
I do have the AMD driver installed. Maybe I should try the AMD optimizer. I don't have it installed yet, but my 4200+ X2 runs and records OK. I get problems when I try to convert the WatchHDTV file to a MPeg2 using Nero. I then get audio sync problems real bad. Anyone have a suggestion for that?
Ok, I looked at the drivers for MCE and it says that once installed, you won't be able to watch analog TV with the tuner?? I'm assuming this is standard cable through the wall, not OTA. I'm as of right now getting MCE for my new computer because as you can see from my other thread here, you get a free vista upgrade. I'm mostly going to be watching regular cable through this but want the hdtv capability as an option. Just need to make sure this works with MCE for both standard cable and digital stuff.
Since the picture looks absolutely perfect, I wonder what it could be that is better? When I got this card in August of last year ($120 AR), I began watching TV programs just to salivate over the picture. (I don't like TV normally.) I did that for a couple of months. I am over it now, thank God. I have never seen anything like this TV card anywhere. No movie in a theater, no DVD, no slide projection, no hi-res photo blow-up at an exhibit, nothing. Hey, but if that 650 thing is better, maybe I should start planning another purchase.
Why would I get a HDTV tuner if I dislike TV? Well the information station that I watch a few broadcasts on went off the air (due to lightning demolishing its antenna) for an unbelievable 3 months, except the HDTV antenna was on the air (located elsewhere.) So I looked around at HDTV equipment. Since a fair analog TV is about $200, any HDTV I could find was laughably ridiculous. Then I ran across this ATi HDTV Wonder for computers. That, together with the fact I am a computer junkie, sealed the deal. (Too bad there are no HDTV linux drivers for it.)
As for setting up; although I read many horror stories and many that claimed otherwise, and I had downloaded all the newer ATi software in advance, as recommended, I decided to just put the CD in and see how bad it was for myself. (Except not installing the TV-on-the-network thingy, which seems to be problematic.) So it all worked. Now, I don't have anything that ATi would have customized their software for. No ATi video card. It is an nForce mobo, and an Nvidia FX5900XT video card. So I don't know what it is that is causing some people problems in installing.
I am on the verge of buying another HDTV Wonder at this price, just to have HDTV available on another computer.
BTW, if your picture with an indoor antenna and an analog TV has strong ghosts and fades, as mine did, you will very likely need a DIRECTIONAL antenna on the roof, as I did. Directional reduces multipath. HDTV can be perfect with a weak signal, but not with a multipath distorted signal, although it is said newer tuners will do better. When valid data drops below about 60%. the HDTV just freezes the frame. You either see a correct, perfect picture or none.
No its not. Try putting it into your cart. Doesn't work. I sat here thinking about it for too long heh.
so these wont play normal analog tv over cable? like...i get 99 chanels through reg cable...and it wont play those? what a friggin waste :/
I have had one of these in a MCE pc for over 2 years now. Works great. I was going to pick up another for the dual HD recording but must have missed the deal.
WT
Diamond Member
- Sep 21, 2000
- 4,816
- 59
- 91
Where did you get that from ????? Of course it will play analog TV over cable .. its a TV capture card ! It won't play HDTV over a cable connection, but what is the point when that costs usually $15+ a month ?? This card allows you to play/record SD (analog cable) and HD OTA (over the air) via an included antenna. You aren't paying any more than the cost of the card, so in three months of watching HD, I will pay for this compared to my cable providers gouging of HD content for $17 a month.
Just thought everyone would like to know that I received my HDTV Wonder yesterday and it was very obviously an open box item. Everything had been put back together and there was "official" ATI tape on the outer and inner box, but things weren't quite packaged right and when I got to the actual card, the tape on the static bag was already cut.
I don't particularly care since everything seems fine and I got the card up and running with WatchHDTV in under 30 minutes (great advice in these forums, Navid). Just thought some people would like to know in case this deal comes up again.
Now I just need to get the Wonder Remote going with WatchHDTV.
I don't particularly care since everything seems fine and I got the card up and running with WatchHDTV in under 30 minutes (great advice in these forums, Navid). Just thought some people would like to know in case this deal comes up again.
Now I just need to get the Wonder Remote going with WatchHDTV.
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