How do ATI AIW Cards Work?

[teutonicknight]

How do they work?

Does the line have to have subscribed cable on it for it to work? Meaning if I don't have cable routed to my lines, can the card still pick up channels and work?

 

[kursplat]

just like any T.V.
it needs SOME kind of signal. vcr , antenna , cable , something
good luck

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: kursplat
just like any T.V.
it needs SOME kind of signal. vcr , antenna , cable , something
good luck

Yup. Same as buying a TV.

 

[Duvie]

You should be able to plug it in and use it like an antennae to get the local channels....

I recommend getting SAT TV and then use the svideo input...Makes for much better captures of TV shows...

 

[0roo0roo]

its just a video card with the tv card built in. you can buy tv cards for 50-150 bux. and hdtv cards for 200+. signal inputs are the same as tv. if u want cable, u subscribe to cable. if uwant antenna u plug it in.

 

[NascarFool]

The AIW will not pick up the digital channels.

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: NascarFool
The AIW will not pick up the digital channels.

Not any more than any other analogue T.V.
Of course, you can always use an external decoder which your cable company will likely provide you.
Also, ATI has taped out a rage theatre variant which does decode HDTV.

 

[0roo0roo]

either way, best just to buy a separate card unless you rarely upgrade your video card. buying a new tv tuner each time u upgrade your video card is expensive.

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
either way, best just to buy a separate card unless you rarely upgrade your video card. buying a new tv tuner each time u upgrade your video card is expensive.

Wrong.
AIW cards offer several advantages over discreet solutions such as:
-full easylook (10ft interface) integration between FM tuner, TV tuner, media library, and remote.
-no use of the PCI bus (only one backplate used), in fact, no use of any bus - tv drawn right to frame buffer internal to card.
-acceleration of videosoap and other functions using DX9's programmable shaders greatly reduces CPU usage
-stream TV across your home network meaning any PC in your house can watch TV using just one AIW.
-guaranteed compatibility

Besides, as chipsets are released which enable things such as HDTV, digital FM, newer and better remote controls, and the PCI express bus becomes prevelant you'll have to upgrade your TV/FM card anyway. You might just as well spend $40 in adition to the normal cost of the videocard and get the media functionality.
Also, the AIW 9600Pro has faster ram than the standard 9600Pro (and the 9600XT)

 

[petery83]

Don't AIW cards also depreciate a bit more slowly than their non-AIW counterparts?

 

[Duvie]

I don't think so...I bought my radeon 850 AIW DV for 150 shipped on AT which was a good deal ofcourse and about 2 years later I can still sell it for 2/3 to 3/4 of that price.....

Same cannot be said about most vid cards...percentages ppl...oevrall price drop in dollars may look more but remember you likely started higher....

I had aGF4mx card I paid 100 for once and 4 months later I couldn't get 60 for it...not 2 years but 4 months later....

It all depends on when you bought it in relation to new product cycle, what generation the card is. and if you are one of those early adopter gaming morons who has to sepnd 500 for a GPU when the cheap bas-tards don't like paying 100 bucks for a cpu....Vid card come in high and fade fast so if you always buy top of the line you will eat it a heck of a lot faster then most will with the AIW line...It at least offers a multitude of features...

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I don't think so...I bought my radeon 850 AIW DV for 150 shipped on AT which was a good deal ofcourse and about 2 years later I can still sell it for 2/3 to 3/4 of that price.....

Same cannot be said about most vid cards...percentages ppl...oevrall price drop in dollars may look more but remember you likely started higher....

I had aGF4mx card I paid 100 for once and 4 months later I couldn't get 60 for it...not 2 years but 4 months later....

It all depends on when you bought it in relation to new product cycle, what generation the card is. and if you are one of those early adopter gaming morons who has to sepnd 500 for a GPU when the cheap bas-tards don't like paying 100 bucks for a cpu....Vid card come in high and fade fast so if you always buy top of the line you will eat it a heck of a lot faster then most will with the AIW line...It at least offers a multitude of features...

No, it's true. AIW cards to sell used for a lot. Take a look at the FS forums at rage3d where this is very common. Quite high prices. Remember, you're only looking at another $40Canadian for the AIW 9600pro over the price of the regular 9600pro for a videocard which will sell for $40 more used (at least.)

They definitely hold their value better.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: AIWGuru

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
either way, best just to buy a separate card unless you rarely upgrade your video card. buying a new tv tuner each time u upgrade your video card is expensive.

Wrong.
AIW cards offer several advantages over discreet solutions such as:
-full easylook (10ft interface) integration between FM tuner, TV tuner, media library, and remote.
-no use of the PCI bus (only one backplate used), in fact, no use of any bus - tv drawn right to frame buffer internal to card.
-acceleration of videosoap and other functions using DX9's programmable shaders greatly reduces CPU usage
-stream TV across your home network meaning any PC in your house can watch TV using just one AIW.
-guaranteed compatibility

Besides, as chipsets are released which enable things such as HDTV, digital FM, newer and better remote controls, and the PCI express bus becomes prevelant you'll have to upgrade your TV/FM card anyway. You might just as well spend $40 in adition to the normal cost of the videocard and get the media functionality.
Also, the AIW 9600Pro has faster ram than the standard 9600Pro (and the 9600XT)

sure thats fine reasoning if you don't game. but the fact is if you do game, the card becomes obsolete rather quickly. and easy hookup isn't isnt all that easier, fm software tv tuner software aren't bad for other cards like hauppauge. freeware like dscaler 0wnz all in terms of quality anyways. video overlay doesn't use much cpu in the first place, and if your worried about playing games, your cpu is up to snuff. not that cpu usage is more then a few % to begin with anyways. if you can't handle tv, you can't play an mp3 smoothly i've had tv cards on very slow pcs. garranteed compatability? i've been using two hauppauge for like 5+ years now. both pci, both have been compatible with every pc i've upgraded to ... thats like 4 m/b each. i saved loads of money not buying aiw.

 

[rbV5]

sure thats fine reasoning if you don't game. but the fact is if you do game, the card becomes obsolete rather quickly.

My AIW 9700pro isn't exactly obsolete after more than a year. Their are valid reasons going either with a seperate over an AIW, but price/performance isn't one of them. If you use the features, no seperate card gives you the feature set or value of an AIW...period.