TV capture card or new video card?

Jolly Roger · January 21st, 2003, 11:46 AM

I want to watch tv on my computer in high quality what should I buy a tv capture card or a video card with tv out?

I also want to watch it full size not some little window? Thankyou for any help.

**anarcus** · January 21st, 2003, 11:56 AM

a video card with tv out won't help you that much (it is for the oposite affect. puting your computer through a tv.)

i would say a capture card with arial input (if you just want to watch tv these are simple, userfriendly & often come with a remote so you relax abit) plus if you pay a decent amount you could probably get one which would capture as good as a Video card with video input.

Jared592 · January 21st, 2003, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by Jolly Roger
I want to watch tv on my computer in high quality what should I buy a tv capture card or a video card with tv out?

I also want to watch it full size not some little window? Thankyou for any help.

You want a TV Tuner card. Take a look at some of the prices and models here. Personally, I'd stay away from ATI as I've seen and used their TV Tuner cards and the software was buggy. Make sure you verify the card you get is Stereo, as some lower-budget cards are mono-only.

Jolly Roger · January 21st, 2003, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by Jared592
You want a TV Tuner card. Take a look at some of the prices and models here. Personally, I'd stay away from ATI as I've seen and used their TV Tuner cards and the software was buggy. Make sure you verify the card you get is Stereo, as some lower-budget cards are mono-only.

I'm wondering if theres a video card that does the same thing as I need to upgrade that as well! Thankyou for helping, im confused about this whole tv card thing, My biggest issue is to get super high clarity and no little picture like alot of them have!
More or less I want it to duplicate my tv without any loss of quality.

thanks for the link and keep the info. coming

**cpugeniusmv** · January 21st, 2003, 04:38 PM

you may try the ATI All in Wonder series.

Jolly Roger · January 21st, 2003, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by cpugeniusmv
you may try the ATI All in Wonder series.

Is that a video card or a tv capture card? What about Nvidia graphics card line? I would think by now a vid card would have tv watching capabilities?

**ryan2_2** · January 21st, 2003, 04:48 PM

I would recommend the XFX Geforce 4 Ti 4200 128MB DRR w/ video in/out (s-video and composite) and dvi-out. I've had nothing but good experences with it. And to add to this, it comes with a great bundle (PowerDVD XP, PowerDirector Pro).

All this for a great price of $200 US. The only problem is that it doesn't have CATV input like the All-In-Wonders.

EDIT: Technically this is not a TV turner card but you can watch TV with it. All you need is a VCR that was made in the last ten years and a Y-cable to convert the composite audio signal into a headphone jack signal (forget what its called) that your sound card can use.

the site for this is http://www.xfxforce.com/product_view.php?sku=PVT25ANC.

P.S. this card is avaible at future shop.

**CCSDUDE** · January 21st, 2003, 04:53 PM

Jolly: You have to understand something.....

Having a TV tuner card WON'T give you a better picture.....unless your running off an extremely old TV set....the signal is still the same so you only gain seeing the lesser quality when you display it on a kick ass monitor.

A TV signal is made up of a certain resolution and a certain amount of data. You can't get blood out of a turnip and you can't get a crisper picture just by using a TV tuner card.

If you want kick ass picture and sound.....I'd suggest an HD TV tuner card.....

Or if you have tons of cash to blow an actual HD TV along with a HD TV tuner.

http://www.awaremag.com/hardware/acc...cessdtv_1.html

Read up dude, and use Google before you make a foolish purchase. You'll be beter off in the end, trust me.

But hey....worse comes to worse and you blow a load of cash on an HD TV and a tuner for it....you can hook your PC up to the TV and watch DivX stuff on it.... : )

Ciao

**SUprEMeBeiNg** · January 21st, 2003, 04:55 PM

yes

Jolly Roger · January 21st, 2003, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by ryan2_2
I would recommend the XFX Geforce 4 Ti 4200 128MB DRR w/ video in/out and dvi-out. I've had nothing but good experences with it. And to add to this, it comes with a great bundle (PowerDVD XP, PowerDirector Pro).

All this for a great price of $200 US. The only problem is that it doesn't have CATV input like the All-In-Wonders

I have cable, how would I plug it into my computer? I hope that doesnt sound stupid but im not the best when dealing with hardware!

Do you have a link for this card or can you tell me who makes it like what company? Because theres alot of companies who use Nvidia chipsets?

Jolly Roger · January 21st, 2003, 04:59 PM

Originally posted by CCSDUDE
Jolly: You have to understand something.....

Having a TV tuner card WON'T give you a better picture.....unless your running off an extremely old TV set....the signal is still the same so you only gain seeing the lesser quality when you display it on a kick ass monitor.

A TV signal is made up of a certain resolution and a certain amount of data. You can't get blood out of a turnip and you can't get a crisper picture just by using a TV tuner card.

If you want kick ass picture and sound.....I'd suggest an HD TV tuner card.....

Or if you have tons of cash to blow an actual HD TV along with a HD TV tuner.

http://www.awaremag.com/hardware/acc...cessdtv_1.html

Read up dude, and use Google before you make a foolish purchase. You'll be beter off in the end, trust me.

But hey....worse comes to worse and you blow a load of cash on an HD TV and a tuner for it....you can hook your PC up to the TV and watch DivX stuff on it.... : )

Ciao

Thanks im not rushing into anything thats why im here, I dont have a ton of money yet I can probably swing 200 dollars 300 canadian! still keep the advice coming its great!

**CCSDUDE** · January 21st, 2003, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by Jolly Roger
I have cable, how would I plug it into my computer? I hope that doesnt sound stupid but im not the best when dealing with hardware!

Do you have a link for this card or can you tell me who makes it like what company? Because theres alot of companies who use Nvidia chipsets?

Almost all 'all in one' graphics cards have a standard 'cable' hook up. Just screw the line into the back and load up the cards TV tuner software. It should scan and find all channels by the intensity of whatever signals your cable line is kicking out. However, you may not be able to get paid cable channels if your cable co. uses certain sets of scrambling. Normal channels should be viewable as well as recordable (through the cards software).

As for Nvidia chipsets....they make sooooo many it's hard to tell. However, some cost an arm an a leg. You may wanna go with the HD card I linked to or a cheaply priced ATi card.

Hehe.....ATi is a Canadian company....so you may wanna support it. They're cards are decent and come close to Nvidia's for much much less.

So consider one, but also know that their drivers and support SUCK so you may have to play with software settings and ATi tweaking utilities made by random people on the net.

Also, one last thing....

First make sure you have the correct slot for the card. Most Nvidia cards are AGP with the exception of maybe 2 or 3. ATi on the other hand seems to enjoy blanketing both the PCI and the AGP markets so you'll have an easier time finding a PCI card by ATi if you're stuck without an AGP slot on your motherboard.

PS. The people here are almost always more then happy to help you through figuring out stuff like telling if you have an AGP or PCI slot or both, ect ect ect.

Peace

Jolly Roger · January 21st, 2003, 05:39 PM

Originally posted by CCSDUDE
Almost all 'all in one' graphics cards have a standard 'cable' hook up. Just screw the line into the back and load up the cards TV tuner software. It should scan and find all channels by the intensity of whatever signals your cable line is kicking out. However, you may not be able to get paid cable channels if your cable co. uses certain sets of scrambling. Normal channels should be viewable as well as recordable (through the cards software).

As for Nvidia chipsets....they make sooooo many it's hard to tell. However, some cost an arm an a leg. You may wanna go with the HD card I linked to or a cheaply priced ATi card.

Hehe.....ATi is a Canadian company....so you may wanna support it. They're cards are decent and come close to Nvidia's for much much less.

So consider one, but also know that their drivers and support SUCK so you may have to play with software settings and ATi tweaking utilities made by random people on the net.

Also, one last thing....

First make sure you have the correct slot for the card. Most Nvidia cards are AGP with the exception of maybe 2 or 3. ATi on the other hand seems to enjoy blanketing both the PCI and the AGP markets so you'll have an easier time finding a PCI card by ATi if you're stuck without an AGP slot on your motherboard.

PS. The people here are almost always more then happy to help you through figuring out stuff like telling if you have an AGP or PCI slot or both, ect ect ect.

Peace

Well im at work so I'll have to wait until morning to get into this PCI slot issue. Hmm ATI is Canadian, thats nice but the softwares buggy? Still I can work through that, Im just hesitant to buy a tv capture card then buy a new vid card in a few months.

I want to take care of everything in 1 purchase! Still im in no rush!

**cpugeniusmv** · January 21st, 2003, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by crackerjacker
all that crap in the last post

just stop, that's really not cool

**rastagard** · January 21st, 2003, 07:07 PM

I have always had a TV card on my computer. It is the only way to fly.

I just this month purchased a new ATI All In Wonder 128 MB. Before I had a seperate ATI 32 MB Video card and TV Wonder TV card. It was about 3 years old, so the technology had really passed it by.

The new A-I-W card is fantastic. It has all the bells and whistles( DVR, remote control, DVD /Media player, Time Shifting (like TiVO) TV out,etc) Having had ATI products in the past, I knew well the problems with drivers and support. I have not had any problems so far. (Thank God!)

Its color is far better than the old one, the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) works great as does the time shift.As with all the TV cards I have had the picture is sizable from about an inch to full screen. So far I am very happy with it. No complaints at all.

It cost me about $200 US, after a $50 rebate. I shopped around at MySimon to find the best deal.

Good luck Jolly Roger, I know you'll love having TV on your computer.