Why PVR-150?

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markkleb

Banned
Feb 25, 2006
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Its the tuners. I have a bunch of them here(different models) and their all in a pile cause they dont work as good as they say. Sometimes the sound dosent match with the picture and then there is the hardware conflicts. The picture never seems as good as reg tv.

The best luck I have had was with the ATI AIW cards.

Now I use a LCD tv and just plug the comp into it and that way when my comp is down (often)I can still watch tv..
 
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essasin

Platinum Member
Mar 4, 2004
2,777
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I have not been able to research this for my htpc build yet but I would suggest to visit the avs fourms. They have tons of good reads about this stuff. For the most part I noticed that everyone on a budgest htpc system buys the pcr150.
 
rise

rise

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
9,116
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yeaqh, i like the sapphire theater 550 over the pvr 150.

 
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Matthias99

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2003
8,808
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Originally posted by: Slicedbread
Why do most people recommend the Hauppauge PVR-150 vs other cards? Im currently comparing this card with the theatre 550 pro card and as far as I can see the sapphire card is better; its cheaper, includes an FM tuner and image quality is pretty much the same. Is there something im missing here, something to justify the extra cost?

Comparison
Newegg Prices
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The Theater 550-based cards are generally a perfectly good alternative.

It's mostly that for a long time the PVR-150/250/350 were the only low-cost hardware-encoder cards available, and they actually work pretty well. So they've gained quite a following. Also, the PVR150-MCE (the version without any software; useful if you're going to use dedicated PVR software anyway) is pretty cheap.

If you're not using the bundled software (I use BeyondTV on my HTPC), they work pretty similarly. Quality is generally pretty good with either kind of card from what I have read.
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
The pvr-150 has been around longer so there are more people that own it and recommend it.

Once you have a card that works well, there's not much reason to buy and test other cards.

 
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Slicedbread

Senior member
Mar 27, 2005
324
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Quick question, will this cause any problems with an Nvidia graphics card- it shouldnt but I'd like to be sure.
 
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Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,633
3
81
My PVR-150MCE works perfectly with my FX5200. nVidia drivers are usually very good with separate TV tuner cards. Their Personal Cinema cards have the best picture, imho.
 
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Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
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76
I to was gonna get a ATI 550 based tuner but I read in some HTPC forum that ATI seemed to have more issues with some PVR software(or was it Nvidia cards). Can't remember exactly. That and I couldn't find a used ATI 550 tuner or at least at a decent price. Cheapest I could find one used was $65 shipped and I was able to get a PVR-150MCE for $45 shipped used(even though you can get OEM for $50+ shipping new).

I can recommend one over the other but the PVR-150MCE has good quality picture when setup right and hooked to a standard TV. Can't comment on a higher end HDTV though. Just remember to use S-Video out if your hooking to a TV.
 
Insidious

Insidious

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2001
7,649
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I'm using the PVR-250 in two computers atm, which I think is pretty much the same as a PVR-150 (but older)

I chose it on a recommend from a friend and have been happy with it for what I do. ("TIVO"/PVR)

I helped a friend try to get his x600 AIW to work and it seemed to have had software bugs. Basically it came down to..... with the OEM software that came with it.. the TV would cut out (freeze) after only a short time of watching delayed TV. But then with the upgrades from the ATI site, the TV would work without freezes, but the Guide+ (programming grid) was broken. I assume these problems were because I did things wrong, but with my Hauppauge... I really didn't have to figure anything out. It just worked!

Anyway that experience and comments by users on NewEgg (and other sites) refering to the need to buy alternative software.... I think I'm still recommending the Hauppauge.

-Sid

PS: I am using my Hauppauges with a 6800GT (AGP) on one computer and a 6600GT (PCIe) on another.
 
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Slicedbread

Senior member
Mar 27, 2005
324
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Originally posted by: Sniper82
I to was gonna get a ATI 550 based tuner but I read in some HTPC forum that ATI seemed to have more issues with some PVR software(or was it Nvidia cards). Can't remember exactly. That and I couldn't find a used ATI 550 tuner or at least at a decent price. Cheapest I could find one used was $65 shipped and I was able to get a PVR-150MCE for $45 shipped used(even though you can get OEM for $50+ shipping new).

I can recommend one over the other but the PVR-150MCE has good quality picture when setup right and hooked to a standard TV. Can't comment on a higher end HDTV though. Just remember to use S-Video out if your hooking to a TV.
Click to expand...

Where can you find them so cheap? I know the oem 150mce is around 65 dollars but I havent seen any for $50. The theater 550 pro bundles include a remote already for $10 more. Ive only seen seperate remotes for $30 though but I guess that could be a future upgrade.

I plan on using mediaportal of gbpvr with this so the software isnt a big issue for me. Although powercinema is horrible and Wintv2000 kinda lacks some features.
 
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Slicedbread

Senior member
Mar 27, 2005
324
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Im no expert, im just trying to make an informed decision. But if you look at the pictures you can see that they use the sapphire card for the device images. Ati uses its own controller is the only difference I can see.
 
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TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Originally posted by: Slicedbread
Why do most people recommend the Hauppauge PVR-150 vs other cards?
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Inertia and reputation. The PVR-x50 family is as old as dirt and rock-solid. It's been used in every configuration known to man and all of its quirks have been found and fixed in various driver versions.

It's the easiest way to make a TiVo-killer, not necessairly the cheapest. OTOH, having played around with several different capture cards that seem to have their own individual quirks, it was worth the +25% in cost to have everything run smoothly. I mean, capture cards are a very small part of the cost of a PVR anyway. I've got three tuners in mine, but do plan to buy and add two more, although I've though about making the last two PVR-500s...
 
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Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
14
81
I have 4 Hauppauge PVR2 USB Tuners and they are simply awesome. Also I fogot to add that most of the PVR sodtware manufactures make sure their software is totally compatible with hauppauge products.


Ausm
 
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Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
0
76
Originally posted by: Slicedbread
Originally posted by: Sniper82
I to was gonna get a ATI 550 based tuner but I read in some HTPC forum that ATI seemed to have more issues with some PVR software(or was it Nvidia cards). Can't remember exactly. That and I couldn't find a used ATI 550 tuner or at least at a decent price. Cheapest I could find one used was $65 shipped and I was able to get a PVR-150MCE for $45 shipped used(even though you can get OEM for $50+ shipping new).

I can recommend one over the other but the PVR-150MCE has good quality picture when setup right and hooked to a standard TV. Can't comment on a higher end HDTV though. Just remember to use S-Video out if your hooking to a TV.
Click to expand...

Where can you find them so cheap? I know the oem 150mce is around 65 dollars but I havent seen any for $50. The theater 550 pro bundles include a remote already for $10 more. Ive only seen seperate remotes for $30 though but I guess that could be a future upgrade.

I plan on using mediaportal of gbpvr with this so the software isnt a big issue for me. Although powercinema is horrible and Wintv2000 kinda lacks some features.
Click to expand...


http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.p...-oem-pn-26692/cName/pvr-cardstv-tuners

Yeah a remote costs extra but IMO for the price of that and a remote you will break about even but I think you will end up with a better remote. I heard Firefly remote was good for Mediaportal so I ordered one used for $30. If you go this route just stay away from the first ATI remote wonder I had issues with ATI software crashing in Mediaportal for no reason.

Like I said though I can't recommend one over the other because I am new to HTPC. Just do like your doing and do all your research and make sure everything works with what PVR your gonna use. If you haven't already I would go to Mediaportal/GBPVR site and forums and read/ask around there.
 
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Slicedbread

Senior member
Mar 27, 2005
324
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0
Isnt that a self propagating problem though? How are the other cards supposed to gain market share?
 
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TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Originally posted by: Slicedbread
Isnt that a self propagating problem though? How are the other cards supposed to gain market share?
Click to expand...

Lower prices and better quality. So far, from what I've observed, they're only focusing on one of the two (price).

Plus, it's not like there's not a huge untapped market for cards that can tune digital cable, digital satellite, etc. Just because Hauppauge does it best with plain old analog, doesn't mean that another manufacturer can't bust into another (more profitable) segment.
 
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Slicedbread

Senior member
Mar 27, 2005
324
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0
For those of you who have the theater 550 cards, do you know if they have any way to toggle the live preview mode so that you can use it with game consoles and such.
 
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