TV Tuner Cards

[Kelemvor]

I'm spec'ing out a Dell XPS PC for my brother-in-law and he wants a tuner card.

My tuner card is a few years old and I don't know anything about the new ones so I'm just looking for some advice.

All they want to be able to do is record shows they miss and watch them later so they don't need anything fancy.

The PC will have Vista Home Premium

The List on Dell's site includes:
Hauppauge HVR1250 Hybrid TV Tuner and Remote [add $60 or $1/month1]
Xcelerator with Hauppauge HVR1250 Hybrid TV Tuner and Remote [add $110 or $3/month1]
ATI Theater 650 PRO Combo Analog/Digital TV Tuner with Remote Control [add $100 or $3/month1]
Xcelerator with ATI Theater 650 PRO Combo TV Tuner and Remote [add $150 or $4/month1]
ATI Theater 650 PRO Combo TV Tuner with Gyroscopic Remote and Xcelerator [add $220 or $6/month1]
Single ATI TV Wonder? Digital Cable Tuner w/ Remote Control [add $180 or $5/month1]
Dual ATI TV Wonder? Digital Cable Tuner w/ Remote Control [add $360 or $10/month1]

I was just going to suggest the HVR1250 since it's the cheapest and they don't have any real reason for anything fancy but I know nothing about it...

Is there any reason to get something other than that?

The PC won't be used as an actual Media PC so they don't need multiple tuners or anything like that.

Thanks!

 

[mcveigh]

I thought I could help. I have never heard of the Hauppauge HVR1250. and I can't find out much from google
searching the hauppauge site I finally found this: http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/compare/compare_hvr.html

it looks OK except it's a software encoder. I don't have experience with hi-def capture but I in general stay away from software capture.
Anandtech reviewed the 650 here: http://www.anandtech.com/multi...howdoc.aspx?i=2778&p=1

the big questio is do they want to record SD or HD signals?

 

[Blain]

The hardware is almost a non-issue. With HTPC's it's all about the software (drivers & programs).
Software can either make the HTPC experience nice and smooth one or it can make the experience one big headache.

 

[PCTC2]

I believe all of Hauppauge's line uses software encoding for HD signals. The 1600 and 1800 (PCI and PCIe respectively) only have hardware encoding for SD signals.

 

[Kelemvor]

I don't think they have HD service at all and I doubt they're going to add that on any time soon.

Pretty sure SD signals are going to be just fine for what they use it for.

Honestly, they'll probably never use it but they think they want it so what do I care.

Same reason they are spec'ing out a Dell XPS with core 2 quad for a PC they use to browse the internet and check their AOL email...