Will a Leadtek tv tuner card + ATI 9800PRO give me the same thing as a 9800PRO AIW?

[Salvador]

I'm trying to decide here. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. I would like to know if the Leadtek card plus the regular 9800PRO would give me the same features as if I were to buy the 9800PRO AIW.

Thoughts? Any disadvantages in going with the separate cards other than having to have a separate card taking up space in your case?

TIA,

Sal

 

[rbV5]

I would like to know if the Leadtek card plus the regular 9800PRO would give me the same features as if I were to buy the 9800PRO AIW.

It would provide some of the same functionality, but would not provide the same feature set. The leadtek provides a portable solution (not mated to the video card) and an FM tuner. The AIW uses the GPU for some of its features, so you get hardware assisted MPEG 1/2 encoding/decoding and real-time hardware filtering. It also uses superior 12bit ADC's and provides native component output, s/pdif output for DVD's and uses the higher bandwidth AGP bus for capture. The MMC software and Pinnacle Studio softwares are very good also.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

First, the amin difference is in quality and future use. The Leadtek has a better software side of things giving higher quality. ATI has just recently in their newest drivers begun that. I would stay away from the ATI AIW simply because in the future if you get a new card and still want those features, you'll have to buy an AIW card again, versus using the previous Leadtek tv tuner. I would go ahead and get the leadtek tv tuner and a 9800 pro

 

[Salvador]

First, the amin difference is in quality and future use. The Leadtek has a better software side of things giving higher quality. ATI has just recently in their newest drivers begun that. I would stay away from the ATI AIW simply because in the future if you get a new card and still want those features, you'll have to buy an AIW card again, versus using the previous Leadtek tv tuner. I would go ahead and get the leadtek tv tuner and a 9800 pro

Here's the thing though.. If I buy another card, I could move the AIW card into another machine. I could even use it as a dedicated pc for an A/V set up. I think I'd get use out of it.

As far as the features sharing the GPU, isn't that potentially a bad thing as well? Does it affect game play at all?

The other thing that I read on Newegg about the Leadtek card is that it doesn't work well with Nvidia based mobo's. I don't know if this is true or not. If it is, it wouldn't work for me because I have an Nforce board.

Sal

 

[rbV5]

The Leadtek has a better software side of things giving higher quality. ATI has just recently in their newest drivers begun that

Thats simply untrue. The AIW has a far more mature drivers/software than the leadtek card, ATI has been developing AIW for years..not since just recently. I'll put my real-time analog captures up against anyones. The leadtek is a fine card however, that works well.

 

[rbV5]

As far as the features sharing the GPU, isn't that potentially a bad thing as well? Does it affect game play at all?

It has no affect on gameplay. It does allow for low cpu use during real-time MPEG 1/2 encoding and provides hardware support for video soap filters and accelerating divx, and real video. Hopefully soon wmv acceleration (it isn't working properly yet) It also allows for real-time effects during editing, transistions and the like. Its definately a "good thing"

 

[Salvador]

I'm sold on the AIW. The only problem that I have is that I might want to use the dual monitor set up with the 9800PRO. Also, how well does the DVI to VGA adapter work if you're using a CRT with VGA instead of an LCD with the DVI? I've never been a huge fan of "adapters", but I don't know how this would work.

Also.. With the 9800PRO it has one DVI and one VGA. How would you connect two LCD's using DVI if there is only one DVI connection? Another adapter?

That seems to be my only rubbing point is that I might want dual monitor support. I have a nice 21" CRT and I also have a 18" LCD. I would like to use the CRT for games and movies and then use the LCD for everything else. Is there another solution for this?

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[rbV5]

The only problem that I have is that I might want to use the dual monitor set up with the 9800PRO.

A seperate makes sense if you want dual monitor support and 9800pro performance, and honestly, they pack a lot of features for the money...definately not a poor choice even if you don't need the dual monitors.

how well does the DVI to VGA adapter work if you're using a CRT with VGA instead of an LCD with the DVI?

I've always used CRT monitors, works great.

Also.. With the 9800PRO it has one DVI and one VGA. How would you connect two LCD's using DVI if there is only one DVI connection? Another adapter?

You don't, they won't support dual DVI.

That seems to be my only rubbing point is that I might want dual monitor support. I have a nice 21" CRT and I also have a 18" LCD.

There is a possibility that you can use a special splitter that supports 1VGA+1DVI-D since the AIW does have dual RAMDAC's and a TMDS transmitter, but I'm not sure if its always successful. I don't have a DVI display, otherwise I'd get one to try it out. Dual monitor support, has always been the rub with the AIW (even adding a PCI card is problematic) the dual VGA for the AIW 9600 is nice, but DVI or dual DVI would be much better.

 

[Salvador]

No dual dvi then with the 9800PRO? That might help sway my decision. Still.. I have the 21" Trinitron CRT and the 18" LCD, so that might be interesting. OTOH.. I could just physically switch monitors if I had to.

I don't know.. This decision is so tough. I like the idea of a AIW because I know that I could make use of it later in a A/V set up. I can already picture the Shuttle XPC that I'd put it into after I upgrade this card for gaming purposes. I do like the idea of hooking up both my CRT and LCD at the same time.

How would a dual monitor set up work with a CRT on the VGA and the LCD on the DVI? Would I get an image on both screens at once or do I have to switch over monitors in my display preferences?

One last question that I don't know that has been answered. On the AIW card, there is only the DVI connection, so you have to use the adapter. Does that affect the picture quality at all on a CRT monitor using this adapter between the monitor and the DVI connection?

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[thedarkwolf]

There is always the Hauppauge PVR-250 instead of the leadtek. Its more expensive but is also a higher quallity card. Its what most of the HTPC people use.

 

[rbV5]

How would a dual monitor set up work with a CRT on the VGA and the LCD on the DVI? Would I get an image on both screens at once or do I have to switch over monitors in my display preferences?

The cards have dual RAMDAC's so you would have both displays active.

One last question that I don't know that has been answered. On the AIW card, there is only the DVI connection, so you have to use the adapter. Does that affect the picture quality at all on a CRT monitor using this adapter between the monitor and the DVI connection?

It has no effect that I can see. I only use CRT monitors using the adaptor, and IQ on my 22" is excellent, normally have my desktop set to 1600x1200@85Hz. I also output to a widescreen display using VGA, and up to 1080i looks great.