What's the video quality like between ATI's AIW cards and their TV Wonder cards?

[Ryan]

I'm looking to upgrade from my 8500DV, but I'd rather not drop $350 fro an AIW 9700PRO. I'm thinking about just getting a better video card, then one of ATI's TV Wonder cards.

AFAIK, they have 2 different versions of the tv card: The VE version, and the PRO version. I e-mailed ATI asking them where I could find the PRO card, but one of their reps told me that there was no current release date for the card yet (I don't understand why they advertise it on their website if they don't know when it's going to be released?!?!?!). So, it looks like I'm going to be getting the VE version.

Anyone know how the TV wonder VE stacks up against the AIW's tv tuner, tv quality wise?

Also, do the tuner cards come with the ThruView window feature that the AIW cards come with?

 

[Stealth1024]

interesting question

bump...


Last review I read touted the improved performance of the tuner integrated into latest revisions of the AIW cards...

 

[sh4nsen]

Are ATI's tuner cards considered the best? What about the hauppauge line? I want to turn my system into a sort of a Tivo....i believe ATI's software bundle has something with that capability. I live in hawaii now and i wont be home from work in time to catcht he laker games this coming season, gonna have to record em.

 

[elkinm]

I have heard and seen review which show the AIWs to have the very good picture quality, especialy the newer models. As for the TV Wonder VE, it is crap. The picture is just horable. A very good looking cable signal on a TV looks like a good antena signal which is watchable but not very plesant.

I am also looking for an inexpensive TV tuner. Hot Deals lists the Leadtek TV2000XP for $49, which should be a good card, and from the images in the reviews, deffinetly much better then the TV Wonders.

I you find other good cards or purchase on please post it.

 

[Peter]

PCI TV cards w/ the old Conexant (Brooktree) series chips, like the ATi TV Wonder VE, have little to offer in the area of image enhancement (deinterlacing and filtering). ATi's own RageTheater chip range, as used on the AIW cards, does have excellent filters. Look at a stock ticker scroll, fast camera pans or a movie's credits, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[fredtam]

Can't say anything about the standalone tv cards but I have a 9800AIW and TV quality is excellent. Took some screen caps (pics labeled 1-6).

 

[elkinm]

I have a new TV2000XP and my quality is pretty good.

Normal is good but a little graitny and blurry, but it is only noticable when comparing it the optimal quality. Optimal has a smooth and sharpe image which is just beautifull. The problem is that wile normal uses only 2% of my CPU optimal uses 15-20%. Even normal has far better quality then any TV wonder I have seen.

I think the AIWs may be even better then the optimal quality as I've read that they have just plain the best quality possible and the screen shots I have seen were crystal clear, almost DVD like.

But I was wondering what quality options does an AIW have and what is the CPU usage at these settings.

Thanks

 

[MDE]

The TV Wonder VE isn't very good. The software is also bloated, buggy, old, and craptastic. But it works and it's cheap.