What is a good TV tuner card?

soloz2 · Jan 21, 2006, 09:03 PM

Hey, I would like to get a TV tuner card to use a computer like a tivo.

I am looking at something like this setup:
3200+ venice
512mb RAM
6600GT
160gb hd
maybe my current mobo
DVD burner
Antec case/psu

I want to put this rig in the living room and hook it up to my tv/stereo. I can splice the cable to put the cable into the TV card. I mainly just want to be able to record and watch TV with it. I'll also put music and stuff like that on the computer to display/play through the enterainment center. (stereo and TV)

This computer won't have it's own monitor so the primary display will be the TV.

so what would a good TV tuner card be? I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I don't want a total piece of crap either. I was thinking about maybe one of these two cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814122180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815100113

any suggestions would be appreciated.

**dj_stick** · Jan 22, 2006, 01:09 AM

i have a "spirit" card, based on a bt/connexant or something chipset

didn't have the best image quality until i got my 6600, which really made it shine, so you'd get a decent picture out of it

Lowfat · Jan 22, 2006, 05:58 AM

Either a Hauppage PVR-150 or a card with an ATI Rage Theatre 550 chipset. Those are the only two entry level cards i'd ever consider.

BWX · Jan 22, 2006, 06:15 AM

I read a review a while ago that tested one.. and it worked great- the guy used it as a Tivo actually.. it came with it's own software and everything.
I will have to dig that up, hope I can find it.

-as far as using an ATI based product, right now a lot of people (including myself) are having problems with Vivo and AIW cards- more like the software actually, not the hardware. Something to think about.
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/all-wonder-tv-video-capture/89780-come-ati-little-more-work-aiw-series-please.html

I like ATI- but couldn't go without at least making you aware.

After reading the quotes below by kbuzzard , I was a little overwhelmed to say the least. Especially when I update my video drivers every month- or more. Maybe the new drivers work better, but still.. I would buy a separate card, and personally, for me, it would not be made by ATI if I made a stand alone media center PC.. at least not right now- maybe a couple years ago, or maybe when things get straightened out. I will try to find that review, it was a good one.

Quote:

HOW to GET to OLD Drivers AND HOW to FIX

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATI Website http://www.ati.com/ , Drivers and Software, Windows XP Drivers and Software, ALL-IN-WONDER, Note** Under RADEON
1, Catalyst 5.13 ...
2,ATI Multimed ...
MORE, Now look in the window on the LEFT side of the page,

Windows XP
RADEON
Previous Drivers and Software
ALL-IN-WONDER
RADEON
Previous Drivers and Software <<<<<<<<<< YES, Click THERE, On the LEFT side

You will see ATI MMC 9.08.9.06.1,9.03,9.06 CAT5.1,5.2,10,11,12 and 13
**Below all that** at the bottom of that list you will see
<< Previous Page1 of 2 Next >> YES CLICK THERE "On Next"
There you will find CATS 5.3,5.4,5.6,5.7,5.8,5.9 AND THE BOTTOM LINE SAYS
RADEON Previous Windows XP Drivers and Software versions prior to CAT 5.1 and MMC 9.03 <<CLICK "ON that LINE***
YOU will see ALL LISTED CATS from the START, YEA , I recomend you DL a few.

NOTE XP SP1 was CAT start to CAT4.10. < WDM_XP and then WDM_SP. Starting at CAT 4.11 Win XP SP2 and MCE started and WDM_NSP shows it ugly head.
If you have XP SP1 and install CATS 4.10 down the WDM_xp or sp will install "AUTOMATICALLY".
If you have XP SP2 and install CATS 4.10 down the WDM_NSP "ALWAYS,ALWAYS installs Automatically, YOU HAVE TO FORCE it OUT !!!

FIX SEQUENCE GO TO--
Settings,Control Panel,System,Device Manager,Look for "Sound,Video and Game Controllers" and double Click to OPEN, Go to "ATI WDM RAGE THEATER VIDEO NSP" and RIGHT CLICK to "Upgrade Driver", Hardware Update Wizard opens and click " NO, Not this time, NEXT, Click - install from a list or specific location (Advanced)
, NEXT, unclick - Search removable media and Now click "Don't Search, I will choose" ... NEXT,>>>>>>**** Look for LITTLE CHECK BOX BOX, Says " Show compatible hardware" YOU MUST DO THIS and UN-CLICK IT**** <<<<<<<, NOW you will see the Drivers ATI in Left Table and look for "ATI WDM Rage Theater Video", select them, Analog Audio choice YES Finish out and see what ya got. TV channel change - immediate !!, Ck Capture,On-Demand etc.

GO for it ALL, Un-Istall ALL ATI in Add and Remove, Use DH Driver Ckeaner Pro, Clean ALL ATI entries, Careful if you have ATI Mobo etc, Re-Install, Try some CATS out,YEA Even 5.13 !!!, MAKE THE ABOVE CHANGE EACH REINSTALL !!! Ive now done this a lot, Clean Drivers are preferred but above should give you a clue to YOUR case situation.

Every WDM Driver HAS a WDM_XP,SP or NSP CHOICE, YOU have to CHANGE IT

AND !! If you "Upgrade SP1 to SP2 the WDM_xp or SP gets OR got changed to WDM_NSP AUTOMATICALLY YES, MICROSOFT DOES THAT !!!!!!!!
I have played with CAT 5.13 display.DAO-MDAC,CAT 4.10***-a VERY GOOD WDM_SP ONLY Driver*** and MMC9.02,9.03,9.06,9.08's with Varying results - SP2 is NOT FRIENDLY TO US AIW PEOPLE IN ANY WAY PERIOD _ WARNING, ATI DOESN'T AGREE BUT THEY WON"T FIX IT EITHER< CUSTOMER NO SERVICE
I REPEAT IF you are running XP SP2 "YOU" have to force WDM_NSP "OUT". My AIW 9600 Pro came with CAT 2.5's on CD, WDM_XP - IT WILL WORK, BUT CAT 4.10 WDM_SP is 2 years newer. I have read to beware of MMC 9.06 + for Macrovision issues etc. MMC 9.02 has MPEG4 Capture and works fine. I recommend you NOT use CCC and Always install drivers as 1) Display, WDM,DAO-MDAC, IF NEEDED< FIX WRONG WDM_NSP "NOW", Then DVD,MMC.
Note, I have **read** nearly ALL install notes in the last 2 months and Formatted and tried about 25 combo's of drivers.YOUR system,Mobo, wants etc WILL make the choice on what drivers you use. FRANKLY XP SP1,DirectX9C,CATS 4.10 all the way is BEST for ME with 9600 Pro. Sometimes all will work except DVD Encoder - SO what - get another . Good Luck. CATS 4.10/5.11** or Omega dd and whatever, really doesn't matter.

OH, ATI's website will NOT save or link from the "oldies Driver page", Just follow the sequence I gave you, Firefox v1.07 or 1.5 works JUST fine, I got rid OF Nasty IE6 <<<< another M$ nightmare.

You'll enjoy this. Clean SP2 up2 date etc. I put CAT 5.11DispDrvr/DAO../WDM - per my sequence and as I remembered WDM_SP Video "REFUSED" to go. Screw You ya mfsobp of .., Got out my CAT 2.5 CD, Upgraded WDM_NSP to WDM_XP >>>> IT APPEARS THIS DRIVER MUST BE DIGITALLY SIGNED BY M$ BEFORE IT WILL CHANGE !!!!<<<<<<<<<!!! IT TOOK. I finished the set with CAT4.10 DVD Decoder and MMC 9.02. It ALL WORKS, look at THAT !! MIX. Getting the NSP Video out MUST be done with the "compatible Hardware UNCHECKED and BE PERSISTANT, NSP is NOT compatible here. Have a nice weekend folks.

Update, now 3 hrs later, PC loaded up, TV been on 2 hours, played 1/2 a DVD. Even got GUIDE PLUS on and working, TV shows with IE6 like old days. GENTLEMEN, I am using 2002 CAT 2.5 WDM_XP, it shows as WDM_SP, DRIVER HELL. I don't mean to bore you, just interesting that it is SO FICKLE, If ya get'r working, Clone the SOB.

soloz2 · Jan 22, 2006, 09:35 PM

hey, thanks for the info guys. I almost bought the Hauppogo or however you spell it 150... newegg had it for like 89 plus shipping, but I decided to get the ATI HDTV one because it'll be more future proof. it's more than I wanted to spend, but my wife thought it would be good to get one that's more future proof too... now, we're both kicking ourselves for not buying the hdtv that I wanted to get a few months ago... we got a regular tv.. LOL

but it'll be a nice rig, this is what I'll have

Antec mini tower case
FSP 450w psu
3200+ venice (from my current rig)
Asus A8n-Sli deluxe (from my current rig)
512mb Corsair value crap DDR400
MSI 6600GT
Seagate 160gig SATAII hd
Sound blaster live platinum sound card
DVD burner

should work nicely, be able to do all the tv recording and burning I want, store music and pictures to show on the tv and even be able to play some games if I so choose.

my only concern is getting the ati tv tuner card to work w/ my nvidia gfx card... so I may need some help w/ that, but I know it can be done.

oh, and I'm going to use windows xp pro cause I don't want to spend 130 to get media center edition

BWX · Jan 22, 2006, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

but I decided to get the ATI HDTV one

Link?

pr0digal jenius · Jan 23, 2006, 04:28 AM

ATi HDTV Wonder

great card, so long as you don't have an audigy sound card

soloz2 · Jan 23, 2006, 04:36 AM

here's the card
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/index.html

and no, I don't have an Audigy card. I was thinking about trying to run the onboard sound on my Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe board, but the ati card says that you have to have an audio card... so I picked up a sb LIVE! card off ebay for 1 cent (yes you heard me...) I already have a Live Drive IR... thus making it a LIVE! Platinum. I'm not sure if this card will meet the requierments, but it's worh a try.

BWX · Jan 23, 2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

ATi HDTV Wonder

great card, so long as you don't have an audigy sound card

That card looks pretty cool actually.. does it conflict with Audigy cards or something?

soloz2 · Jan 23, 2006, 11:51 AM

I'm not sure if there are problems w/ audigy cards. All I've heard about is that sometimes there are driver problems when you use an ATI TV tuner card with Nvidia video cards... so I'm really hoping that it works w/o a headache.

Jan 21, 2006, 09:03 PM	#1
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	What is a good TV tuner card? Hey, I would like to get a TV tuner card to use a computer like a tivo. I am looking at something like this setup: 3200+ venice 512mb RAM 6600GT 160gb hd maybe my current mobo DVD burner Antec case/psu I want to put this rig in the living room and hook it up to my tv/stereo. I can splice the cable to put the cable into the TV card. I mainly just want to be able to record and watch TV with it. I'll also put music and stuff like that on the computer to display/play through the enterainment center. (stereo and TV) This computer won't have it's own monitor so the primary display will be the TV. so what would a good TV tuner card be? I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I don't want a total piece of crap either. I was thinking about maybe one of these two cards: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814122180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815100113 any suggestions would be appreciated. __________________ [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]CPU:[/COLOR] AMD Opteron 165 CCBBE @ 2.8Ghz [/COLOR] [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]Motherboard:[/COLOR] DFI nF4 SLI-DR Expert [COLOR=red]Memory:[/COLOR] 2gb G.Skill F1-4000USU2-2 [COLOR=red]Video:[/COLOR] Asus 7900GT TOP @ 700/1700 [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-Fi Elite Pro [COLOR=red]HD:[/COLOR] 2x Seagate 250Gb RAID 0, 1 Seagate 320Gb [COLOR=red]Optical Drives:[/COLOR] Sony DVD-Rom, Plextor 16x DVD DL RW [COLOR=red]Case:[/COLOR] CM Stacker [COLOR=red]PSU:[/COLOR] PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 [COLOR=red]Cooling:[/COLOR] Custom Water [COLOR=yellow][COLOR=red]Keyboard/Mouse:[/COLOR] [/COLOR]Saitec Eclipse & Logitech MX518 with a Razer ExactMat mouse pad [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-fi > Soloz Audio Silver IC > Maxed PIMETA > Beyer DT 770 Pro/80 cans [COLOR=red]HTPC:[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]AMD 3800X2[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, G.Skill 2GB DDR400, MSI 6600GT, Haupauge PVR150, SB [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]Audigy 2ZS[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Samsung 16x DVD DL RW, Sunbeam Nuuo PSU, Antec P180 case, AC Freezer64 Pro, Viewsonic N2750w LCD HDTV Heatware eBay [/COLOR]

Jan 22, 2006, 05:58 AM	#3
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	Either a Hauppage PVR-150 or a card with an ATI Rage Theatre 550 chipset. Those are the only two entry level cards i'd ever consider. __________________

Jan 22, 2006, 09:35 PM	Thread Starter #5
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	hey, thanks for the info guys. I almost bought the Hauppogo or however you spell it 150... newegg had it for like 89 plus shipping, but I decided to get the ATI HDTV one because it'll be more future proof. it's more than I wanted to spend, but my wife thought it would be good to get one that's more future proof too... now, we're both kicking ourselves for not buying the hdtv that I wanted to get a few months ago... we got a regular tv.. LOL but it'll be a nice rig, this is what I'll have Antec mini tower case FSP 450w psu 3200+ venice (from my current rig) Asus A8n-Sli deluxe (from my current rig) 512mb Corsair value crap DDR400 MSI 6600GT Seagate 160gig SATAII hd Sound blaster live platinum sound card DVD burner should work nicely, be able to do all the tv recording and burning I want, store music and pictures to show on the tv and even be able to play some games if I so choose. my only concern is getting the ati tv tuner card to work w/ my nvidia gfx card... so I may need some help w/ that, but I know it can be done. oh, and I'm going to use windows xp pro cause I don't want to spend 130 to get media center edition __________________ [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]CPU:[/COLOR] AMD Opteron 165 CCBBE @ 2.8Ghz [/COLOR] [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]Motherboard:[/COLOR] DFI nF4 SLI-DR Expert [COLOR=red]Memory:[/COLOR] 2gb G.Skill F1-4000USU2-2 [COLOR=red]Video:[/COLOR] Asus 7900GT TOP @ 700/1700 [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-Fi Elite Pro [COLOR=red]HD:[/COLOR] 2x Seagate 250Gb RAID 0, 1 Seagate 320Gb [COLOR=red]Optical Drives:[/COLOR] Sony DVD-Rom, Plextor 16x DVD DL RW [COLOR=red]Case:[/COLOR] CM Stacker [COLOR=red]PSU:[/COLOR] PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 [COLOR=red]Cooling:[/COLOR] Custom Water [COLOR=yellow][COLOR=red]Keyboard/Mouse:[/COLOR] [/COLOR]Saitec Eclipse & Logitech MX518 with a Razer ExactMat mouse pad [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-fi > Soloz Audio Silver IC > Maxed PIMETA > Beyer DT 770 Pro/80 cans [COLOR=red]HTPC:[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]AMD 3800X2[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, G.Skill 2GB DDR400, MSI 6600GT, Haupauge PVR150, SB [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]Audigy 2ZS[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Samsung 16x DVD DL RW, Sunbeam Nuuo PSU, Antec P180 case, AC Freezer64 Pro, Viewsonic N2750w LCD HDTV Heatware eBay [/COLOR]

Jan 23, 2006, 04:36 AM	Thread Starter #8
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	here's the card http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/index.html and no, I don't have an Audigy card. I was thinking about trying to run the onboard sound on my Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe board, but the ati card says that you have to have an audio card... so I picked up a sb LIVE! card off ebay for 1 cent (yes you heard me...) I already have a Live Drive IR... thus making it a LIVE! Platinum. I'm not sure if this card will meet the requierments, but it's worh a try. __________________ [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]CPU:[/COLOR] AMD Opteron 165 CCBBE @ 2.8Ghz [/COLOR] [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]Motherboard:[/COLOR] DFI nF4 SLI-DR Expert [COLOR=red]Memory:[/COLOR] 2gb G.Skill F1-4000USU2-2 [COLOR=red]Video:[/COLOR] Asus 7900GT TOP @ 700/1700 [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-Fi Elite Pro [COLOR=red]HD:[/COLOR] 2x Seagate 250Gb RAID 0, 1 Seagate 320Gb [COLOR=red]Optical Drives:[/COLOR] Sony DVD-Rom, Plextor 16x DVD DL RW [COLOR=red]Case:[/COLOR] CM Stacker [COLOR=red]PSU:[/COLOR] PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 [COLOR=red]Cooling:[/COLOR] Custom Water [COLOR=yellow][COLOR=red]Keyboard/Mouse:[/COLOR] [/COLOR]Saitec Eclipse & Logitech MX518 with a Razer ExactMat mouse pad [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-fi > Soloz Audio Silver IC > Maxed PIMETA > Beyer DT 770 Pro/80 cans [COLOR=red]HTPC:[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]AMD 3800X2[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, G.Skill 2GB DDR400, MSI 6600GT, Haupauge PVR150, SB [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]Audigy 2ZS[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Samsung 16x DVD DL RW, Sunbeam Nuuo PSU, Antec P180 case, AC Freezer64 Pro, Viewsonic N2750w LCD HDTV Heatware eBay [/COLOR]

Jan 23, 2006, 11:51 AM	Thread Starter #10
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	I'm not sure if there are problems w/ audigy cards. All I've heard about is that sometimes there are driver problems when you use an ATI TV tuner card with Nvidia video cards... so I'm really hoping that it works w/o a headache. __________________ [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]CPU:[/COLOR] AMD Opteron 165 CCBBE @ 2.8Ghz [/COLOR] [COLOR=gray][COLOR=red]Motherboard:[/COLOR] DFI nF4 SLI-DR Expert [COLOR=red]Memory:[/COLOR] 2gb G.Skill F1-4000USU2-2 [COLOR=red]Video:[/COLOR] Asus 7900GT TOP @ 700/1700 [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-Fi Elite Pro [COLOR=red]HD:[/COLOR] 2x Seagate 250Gb RAID 0, 1 Seagate 320Gb [COLOR=red]Optical Drives:[/COLOR] Sony DVD-Rom, Plextor 16x DVD DL RW [COLOR=red]Case:[/COLOR] CM Stacker [COLOR=red]PSU:[/COLOR] PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 [COLOR=red]Cooling:[/COLOR] Custom Water [COLOR=yellow][COLOR=red]Keyboard/Mouse:[/COLOR] [/COLOR]Saitec Eclipse & Logitech MX518 with a Razer ExactMat mouse pad [COLOR=red]Sound:[/COLOR] Modded X-fi > Soloz Audio Silver IC > Maxed PIMETA > Beyer DT 770 Pro/80 cans [COLOR=red]HTPC:[/COLOR] [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]AMD 3800X2[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, G.Skill 2GB DDR400, MSI 6600GT, Haupauge PVR150, SB [/COLOR][COLOR=gray]Audigy 2ZS[/COLOR][COLOR=gray], Samsung 16x DVD DL RW, Sunbeam Nuuo PSU, Antec P180 case, AC Freezer64 Pro, Viewsonic N2750w LCD HDTV Heatware eBay [/COLOR]

Jan 23, 2006, 04:28 AM	#7
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	ATi HDTV Wonder great card, so long as you don't have an audigy sound card