Tuner Card Recommendations

[Pterocarpous]

Hello ya'll

I have a client who wants to be able to record video from her TV and she'd like to be able to watch video on her TV off of her computer. She'd also like to be able to convert VCR videos to digital format.

I realize the VCR issue will require a converter box but I thought I'd throw that in there to give you an idea what she has in mind.

Someone recommended a Gigabyte TV/FM Tuner w/ Remote (I'll have to find the link for it - will return w/ that). Costs just under $40US. Sounds kinda on the low end side.

What do ya'll recommend for hardware & software for these tasks?

BTW: This will go into a brand new system:
Mobo: Asus P5B
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz/4MB
RAM: Kingston HyperX 800MHz 2x1GB
HDD: Seagate 320GB SATAII
GPU: XFX GeForce 7300GT 512MB 2 DVI/HD PCI-E
Sound: Creative Labs XFI Xtreme Gamer

[Pterocarpous]

I couldn't find hide nor hair of a TV tuner on Gigabyte's site. I found THIS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815326001) on newegg. Now I KNOW I don't want that card. So, I'm definetly open to suggestions....

TIA ya'll!

[Pterocarpous]

CNET published a review (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-9332_7-6381535-1.html) of TV tuners back in November of 2005. (I know that's ancient history when it comes to the electronics industry.) At the time, Hauppage and ATI had the best rated cards. I'm still looking around for a more recent review.

[mirage]

I couldn't find hide nor hair of a TV tuner on Gigabyte's site. I found THIS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815326001) on newegg. Now I KNOW I don't want that card. So, I'm definetly open to suggestions....

TIA ya'll!

If the video card has VIVO capability, VCR can be connected to Video-in port and both TV viewing an recording can be done using the tuner on VCR. I did this for a while using WinDVR3 software from Intervideo. This is a kind of ad hoc solution but works fine by changing channels using VCR remote.

The ultimate solution is a WinXP Media Center Edition compatible TV-tuner card and WinXP MCE combination. I tried WinDVR3, Media Portal, and some other software on WinXP-Pro but the Media Center program in WinXP Media Center Edition works so much better than the others. I am now using NVTV tuner card and WinXP MCE and very satisfied with it. But NVTV is not produced anymore. I can only recommend Hauppauge WinTV-PVR series from the recommendations I heard from the others.

Hope this helps :)

[Pterocarpous]

If the video card has VIVO capability, VCR can be connected to Video-in port and both TV viewing an recording can be done using the tuner on VCR. I did this for a while using WinDVR3 software from Intervideo. This is a kind of ad hoc solution but works fine by changing channels using VCR remote.

The ultimate solution is a WinXP Media Center Edition compatible TV-tuner card and WinXP MCE combination. I tried WinDVR3, Media Portal, and some other software on WinXP-Pro but the Media Center program in WinXP Media Center Edition works so much better than the others. I am now using NVTV tuner card and WinXP MCE and very satisfied with it. But NVTV is not produced anymore. I can only recommend Hauppauge WinTV-PVR series from the recommendations I heard from the others.

Hope this helps :)

VIVO=Video In/Video Out?
I'll take a look at the Hauppauge cards you mentioned. I was just reading some reviews of one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16815116606) of Hauppauge's TV tuner cards on newegg.
So, if she's running XPMCE she won't need any third party software?


Thankyou, mirage. I hadn't thought of Windows XP MCE. She has XP Pro right now. I was just gonna put that on her new system (previous system got fried but that's another story...)

Is there an upgrade path to MCE? I don't want to do an actual "upgrade" (not even if the XP Pro install is new - I just don't do OS upgrades) . But if I can feed it the XP Pro CD when prompted (during the XPMXE upgrade install) for proof of a previous full version OS, I'll do that. Otherwise, I'll get XPMCE full version. Thanx for pointing that out, mirage.

[Armo]

take a look at the Hauppage cards, specificly the 250's and 500's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=Hauppage&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=16&Go.y=33

[mirage]

VIVO=Video In/Video Out?
I'll take a look at the Hauppauge cards you mentioned. I was just reading some reviews of one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16815116606) of Hauppauge's TV tuner cards on newegg.
So, if she's running XPMCE she won't need any third party software?


Thankyou, mirage. I hadn't thought of Windows XP MCE. She has XP Pro right now. I was just gonna put that on her new system (previous system got fried but that's another story...)

Is there an upgrade path to MCE? I don't want to do an actual "upgrade" (not even if the XP Pro install is new - I just don't do OS upgrades) . But if I can feed it the XP Pro CD when prompted (during the XPMXE upgrade install) for proof of a previous full version OS, I'll do that. Otherwise, I'll get XPMCE full version. Thanx for pointing that out, mirage.

Yes VIVO is Video In/Video Out.
With MCE additional software is not needed. But I have not tried connecting to VCR.
Upgrading from XPPro to MCE is not supported, the upgrade path is from XPHome to MCE, just an artificial MS limitation:mad: . I tried upgrading from Pro to MCE indirectly but it was not easy, ended up reinstalling. Newegg sells the MCE OEM full version, this is where I had bought, you do not even need to buy with a piece of hardware.

[Madball]

Don't go cheap on a tuner card. I've tried that before with bad results everytime. The Hauppage that Armo suggested are very good, and are worth their premium price tag. Cheaper cards are usually plagued by hardware and driver issues which make seemless DVR functions difficult. That is not what you want in a HTPC system.

[Armo]

the Hauppage cards have hardware encoders, they dont rely on your machines CPU to compress adn encode the video.

be aware of how they work :)

[edcentric]

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2393&p=10
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2778&p=1

There are cards from both ATI and NVidia. The articles at anandtech should give you a good place to start.

[Pterocarpous]

...Upgrading from XPPro to MCE is not supported, the upgrade path is from XPHome to MCE, just an artificial MS limitation:mad: . I tried upgrading from Pro to MCE indirectly but it was not easy, ended up reinstalling. Newegg sells the MCE OEM full version, this is where I had bought, you do not even need to buy with a piece of hardware...
Thanx mirage. That's what I was afraid of. Thankyou for the pointer re: MCE on newegg. I'll check their price and compare it to that of my local builder here.

[Pterocarpous]

Don't go cheap on a tuner card. I've tried that before with bad results everytime. The Hauppage that Armo suggested are very good, and are worth their premium price tag. Cheaper cards are usually plagued by hardware and driver issues which make seemless DVR functions difficult. That is not what you want in a HTPC system.
Thankyou Madball. That's whay I was thinking too. (That I'd regret going w/ a cheaper board in the end.)

BTW, what's HTPC? :scratch:

[Pterocarpous]

the Hauppage cards have hardware encoders, they dont rely on your machines CPU to compress adn encode the video...be aware of how they work :) ...
Thanx Armo. I picked that up in what I've read so far. (That it should have a built-in (hardware) encoder)

As for how they work....unfortunately, I don't know how they work. That's why I'm having such a difficult time deciding on one. Do you have any online references or articles you can refer me to that explains how these little beasties work?? :smiles:

[Pterocarpous]

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2393&p=10
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2778&p=1

There are cards from both ATI and NVidia. The articles at anandtech should give you a good place to start.
Thanx Edcentric. I'll check those out! :)

[Madball]

HTPC=Home Theater PC. A DVR. music jukebox, movie box all in one and connected to your TV. Basically like what your trying to build. There are lots of guides to find if you google HTPC.

[Pterocarpous]

HTPC=Home Theater PC. A DVR. music jukebox, movie box all in one and connected to your TV. Basically like what your trying to build. There are lots of guides to find if you google HTPC.
Thanx for the definition, madball. Actually that isn't to be the primary purpose for the PC. She just wanted that added capability.