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Should I spend $75 more for AIW 32

rbV5

rbV5

Lifer
Buying my new video card, leaning toward the radeon 64ddr, convince me the AIW is worth the extra $75 or so.
 
It's all a matter of preference, do you want to able to watch tv on your monitor with the built in Tuner? If gaming is a concern go with the 64mb version but if you like playing around with other nifty features go with the AIW Radeon. I got one cheap and really like it. Oh, btw, the software package itself is worth about $150 US. Later.
 
Because of the s-video in? So for me it boils down to better video capture(don't use yet but...) or 64 vs 32 mb ram. The TIVO features may be cool, but do they work.

I use win2k, and my V3 2000 runs all my games and apps OK, but I just upgraded from an old p5 100mhz, so it just seems like it blazes!
 
Well i've never used the AIW so I can speak for it's tuner quality, but I have used the 64mb DDR VIVO with a WinTV tuner and found that it gives fairly poor quality. However, I found that using your VCR as a TV tuner gives much nicer image quality, but i'm uncertain if that also holds true with the AIW's tuner, but I would suspect it does. So I would suggest you go the 64mb DDR VIVO route and use you VCR as the tuner.
 
Comp10, have you output to TV or just on your monitor? Also have you used the video capture and comment on how it worked for you.

I am planning on getting a DTV setup(not right away though), and the s-video in on the AIW would seem to be the better solution...but, what about the TV wonder tuner addon, it has s-video in..correct. Anyone using the TVWonder combo? I am just unsure about whether 32mb is going to enough.
 
I just output to my monitor, and haven't used the video capture much because I only have a p3 450 which makes high quality capturing impossible. However, unless i'm mistaken the video capture is handled by the Rage theatre chip which is the same on both the standard Radeon and AIW version, so I don't see why there should be any difference between the two, but then i'm not an expert on the AIW or video capture so I could be completely wrong 😉.
 
Thats why I was wondering about the s-video in, the 64 vivo only has composite in correct? And then doesn't the TV Wonder use the "brooktree chip" right, Its my understanding that if you use the TV Wonder, 64 vivo combination, you have to capture with the TV Wonder...meaning no more Rage Theater? Is that right?

Anyone who uses the Vivo with TV Wonder, I would be interested in your experience.
 
Just FYI, every TV tuner sold in North America uses a Brooktree chipset. I have never heard of any other NTSC-compatible tuner, and I've seen four different brands (not many, but then again, there aren't many different ones!). There are different chipsets though and some are better than others.

I've found the ATI tuners to be of good quality (AIW 128 and now AIW Radeon). Haven't used the other features at all, but saving the PCI slot was good for me. I actually do watch TV on my system when it's late, and my wife is asleep.
 
So the Radeon AIW uses the "Brooktree" tuner and the "Rage Theater" chip for DVD hardware acceleration? And the TV Wonder uses the same "Brooktree" chipset, but no "Rage Theater" acceleration? So if I use a VCR for a tuner for my 64 VIVO, I will still be using the "Rage Theater" features for playback, If I use the TV Wonder, I lose the "Rage Theater" features.
 
Taz4158, I get that, but my understanding is that if you use the "TV Wonder" Tuner card with the Radeon VIVO, you are stuck with the TV Wonder VIVO and therefore no "Rage Theater" and a different version of the multimedia software, no TIVO, no guide plus? Right?

And if I use a VCR for my tuner, I then get the "Rage Theater" Features of the Radeon VIVO and the same multimedia software, but of coarse, no TIVO and no guide plus and no s-video in, just composite video in. Right?

And if I get the AIW, I get all the great multimedia features, but only 32 mb of slower clocked memory.

The "TIVO" features of the AIW aren't that important to me, the s-video maybe down the road, but not now, the 32 vs 64 mb of memory however does concern me as I do graphics work on my computer also. That being said, remember I am currently using a V3 2000, that actually runs all my games and graphics apps fine with 16mb...so maybe 32 is OK?
 


<< And if I use a VCR for my tuner, I then get the &quot;Rage Theater&quot; Features of the Radeon VIVO and the same multimedia software, but of coarse, no TIVO and no guide plus and no s-video in, just composite video in. Right? >>


That is correct.

<< And if I get the AIW, I get all the great multimedia features, but only 32 mb of slower clocked memory. >>


Which in most cases however can be clocked to 183 or higher.

<< The &quot;TIVO&quot; features of the AIW aren't that important to me, the s-video maybe down the road, but not now, the 32 vs 64 mb of memory however does concern me as I do graphics work on my computer also. That being said, remember I am currently using a V3 2000, that actually runs all my games and graphics apps fine with 16mb...so maybe 32 is OK? >>


Certainly 32 is alright but I chose the 64 meg VIVO because I got most of the flexibility of the AIW and the little extra speed.
 
And with the price being much better for the 64vivo, I'm leaning that way,

I mean when I get my DV camera, I can just get a firewire card to capture digital video?

But when I get my DTV dish, I have to settle for the composite video in, I mean is that going to be good enough?

I do plan on eventually going video out to my TV, but is the DVD-Rom to s-video out to a for instance Toshiba widescreen HDTV going to be any good? or even close to a set top box? (I settled for a smaller/cheaper non-flat screen 19&quot; monitor so I could put the difference to a quality flat screen or hdtv (I even like the Monitor🙂
 


<< I do plan on eventually going video out to my TV, but is the DVD-Rom to s-video out to a for instance Toshiba widescreen HDTV (I settled for a smaller/cheaper non-flat screen 19&quot; monitor so I could put the difference to a quality flat screen or hdtv (I even like the Monitor >>


You won't want to do that. Get a set top DVD player if you're going to get a TV like that. I wouldn't even think of using my ROM to the TV.
 
I got the 64 retail VIVO just for the extra memory and speed. Honestly, I never even tried the VIVO stuff. Don't use it. I watch TV on my....TV!! I don't have a DVD player in my PC either. I watch DVDs on my big screen TV with surround sound and a nice comfy couch.
 


<< I watch DVDs on my big screen TV with surround sound and a nice comfy couch. >>


For God's sake man....Don't forget the beer!!!!!!!!!!
 
Well I was thinking of a beer cooler, peltier jacket type configuration...but I hate warm beer, just can't risk it🙂

But...

What about my divx? How do I play them in my set top box? I am getting a collection (movies and mp3 are how I convinced my wife that we &quot;need&quot; DSL LOL) I have to be able to watch my divx titles!
 


<< What about my divx? How do I play them in my set top box? I am getting a collection (movies and mp3 are how I convinced my wife that we &quot;need&quot; DSL LOL) I have to be able to watch my divx titles! >>


Hahahaha, that was a good ploy. No set top player plays DIVX so you'll have to use the ROM for that.
 
Yea, when I got the sb platinum, (I &quot;needed&quot; that so , I could plug in my guitar, lol🙂) it made our old crap speakers sound awesome (almost too good, I've got to convince her that I &quot;need&quot; new 5.1 speakers somehow) Between Napster and That Matrix divx, she finally likes our computer🙂

So far, I haven't heard anything that makes me want the AIW over the 64mb VIVO yet.....
 
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