What exactly do the ATI AIW cards offer, specifically the 8500DV?

[coolred]

I am thinking of getting the 8500DV or maybe the original radeon AIW. But I was wondering what exactly do you get with it? I mean I know it's a video card, with a TV tuner built in so you can record TV with it. Plus you can use it for video capture. But you could get a Geforce 3TI 200 and a TV tuner/capture card for prolly less and it would do those things, so what else does it do?

 

[ScottMac]

Check out www.ati.com. THey have to whole splash on the new AIW. I have an AIW Radeon, I like it. I'll probablyget the 8500 AIW.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[coolred]

I have already seen the ati site, unless it has been updated recently, but I wanted to make sure I knew everything the card did, and sometimes the site doesn't list everything, but I will give it another look

 

[Spikesoldier]

- Great DVD Playback with Dolby® AC-3 digital audio output
- Crisp 2D Images
- A RF Remote Control
- The "Transparent TV" In Stereo
- MPEG-2 Recording
- Some real graphics power over the All In Wonder Radeon
- Firewire IEEE 1394
- Capture and edit both Digital and Analog
- Some games

I ordered mine Saturday, its shipping first thing Monday Morning.

http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?loc=220&sku=10315478&PageFormat=7#product

buy.com is the cheapest place I can find it at $318.95, and you get free shipping. Probably if you order now you can get it by Christmas.

 

[coolred]

Yeah thats about what I was thinking, I just don't know if all that justifies the cost for me right now.


- Great DVD Playback with Dolby® AC-3 digital audio output-I am already using a radeon so the DVD will stay about the same. What exactly does the AC-3 digital audio output do? Anything my Game Theater XP can't?
- Crisp 2D Images-again with my radeon the 2D is good
- A RF Remote Control-this would be really cool to have though and sadly it is becoming a big factor in my purchase or not. If I could fins the remote for cheap enough then i would just get the older AIW Radeon
- The "Transparent TV" In Stereo-this is pretty cool to, I forgot about this ability. Is Stereo what you want in a tuner, what are the differances? Also how exactly does the TV look, I mean is it good enough to watch or does it look crappy. How bad would it look running the cable to the card then using the TV out and watching TV like that?
- MPEG-2 Recording-This is for the PVR part right? This I really want if thats what its for, since I want the PVR ability.
- Some real graphics power over the All In Wonder Radeon-graphics power isn't my greatest concern as most games I play don't really test my video card much. AOE2 is my main game
- Firewire IEEE 1394-don't have any use for firewire right now
- Capture and edit both Digital and Analog-not sure if I would use this or not. Could you use this to rip VHS tapes from a VCR onto your hard drive?
- Some games- games aren't to important in my decision.

 

[KrispyKremer]

Based on your comments, for the price you may be better off going with the first Radeon All In Wonder card and tracking down the newer mmc 7.5 version software.

I'm using one to copy my vhs tapes over to the hard drive, and with the newer mmc version mentioned above, no longer have any dropped frames. Hope you have a large hard drive, you'll be filling it up faster than you think.

 

[coolred]

What exactly did I say that makes you think i would be better off with the older version?

 

[coolred]

bump

 

[KrispyKremer]

If this is not going to be used a lot for gaming, then you don't need the speed of the newer card.
If you don't need firewire, you'd be paying extra by going with the newer card.
Why pay extra for features you won't be using?
Therefore, I'd suggest saving some money and going with the older All In Wonder Radeon. You'll be able to do tv capture, play most games out, and do it with one card.

BTW, in order to get transparent tv, you will need to track down the mmc 7.5 software.