Which TV tuner should I buy??

[shortstop20]

Which TV tuner do you guys suggest out of these three? Or any other ones you suggest that I don't have listed??

Leadtek PVR2000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814122200

Hauppauge 980
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16815116602

PowerColor T55E-P03
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16815117802

I will mainly be using the card to watch and record TV on my computer, and transfer movies from VCR and video camera to computer. Computer specs are in my signature. I want a card that won't slow down my CPU alot because I want to be able to surf the web, play songs, etc. while recording if possible.

 

[Sevenor]

Get those cards with hardware decoder if you do not want your pc to be taxed. I've used the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 150 (a hardware-based decoder TV pci card)with even a P III desktop without any problem.

 

[shortstop20]

The Leadtek card has a MPEG 2 Hardware Encoder, but not a Hardware decoder. What's the difference??

The Hauppauge says on the picture of the box that it uses MPEG-2 compression.

Powercolor description says it has Real-Time Hardware MPEG-2 Encoding.

All three are hardware encoder/decoders then??? or not??

 

[The General]

you dont need an mpeg2 decoder card

you need mpeg2 encoder


get a hauppauge pvr150, it will serve you well

 

[turtile]

I would get the Hauppauge.

Encoding = writing

Decoding = reading

 

[talldude123]

always check the reviews as well.

 

[b1gapl]

How is this for capturing?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1961041&CatId=1423

 

[ncjimn]

I was also thinking of getting a decent tv tuner. I guess this is the one.

 

[Sevenor]

How is this for capturing?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1961041&CatId=1423

If I'm not mistaken, this model only uses software encoder.
But if you don't usually multitask processor-hungry programs, think it should be no problem, especially if you have a fast pc.

 

[Sevenor]

you dont need an mpeg2 decoder card

you need mpeg2 encoder


get a hauppauge pvr150, it will serve you well

Agreed.
Typo error on my part. Sorry.