tv tuner advice

[brikis98]

i did a search and found that most people who were looking for tv tuners wanted a bunch of fancy features (recording, dual input, etc) that i don't need, so the advice there didn't help much. i just got a 24" widescreen CRT (fw900), so it doesn't make sense for me to use the 13" tv in my room any more. so, i need a tv tuner card.

i don't watch tv that often, i don't get the HD channels (i just have regular analog cable), i don't need an FM tuner and i don't care about recording shows. my only real requirements are that the image quality is decent, the card isn't a pain in the ass to use and the price is very low. a remote control is a bonus, but not required.

my PCIe x16 slot will be taken up by an x1900xtx, so i need a card that's either PCIe x1, PCI (i think have some of these free), USB or just something that connects directly to the monitor.

 

[Peter]

What signal do you have where you live? Analog off-the-air or cable? Some digital service?

 

[brikis98]

comcast "extended" cable coming in on a regular coax line.

 

[brikis98]

so, any recommendations...?

 

[imported_Seer]

The ATI TV Wonder Elite got first place in IQ in an AT review, and I would assume ATI's newer offerings to be up to par. This would be the ATI TV wonder 200 and 550. The 550, however, has been having an almost total recall. I think it got cancelled or something. No one really knows whats going on with it.

article

BTW you have analog service. That information might help others.

 

[tomt4535]

Get a card based on the ATI Theater 550 chip. I have 2 of em, and they are awesome tuners. They can be found for around $50-$60 if you find the right one. They come in PCI and PCI-e x1 flavors, but that dosent make a diffrence.