TV Card... win/fail?

[iQue]

Thread title is self explainatory. It's pretty cheap, I don't have a TV in my room and with some free software I found on a website (www.gbpvr.com) you can pause live TV, record movies to disc and appearantly it only takes 5-10% of your CPU power while recording so you can do something else in the mean time.

Anyone has thoughts on this? This is the card I'm buying if I can make up my mind:

http://www.dustinhome.se/pd_5010071643.aspx

I'm not saving for any game or other computer part atm (bigger case would be nice but I'll wait until my next big upgrade)... I also got an old computer with an old athlon 2500+ that I'm gonna try to sell, if I only can get the onboard sound working... hopefully I'll get like 150 E from it...

So is it win or is it fail? Seems good this far but I wonder if anyone knows something that would make me think twice

[iQue]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

AWKWARD SILENCE

I'll take this as a sign that no one here knows anything about TV cards :laugh:

/thread

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

Not entirely.

I use TV card to turn my computer into a TV set. You might want to check your local government's plan to terminate analog TV broadcasting. I would suggest you to buy Hauppauge 1800. Don't expect the quality to be as good as real TV for analog broadcast.

[KillerStickMan]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

Well the picture won't look as good as a normal tv, but that because of the resolution difference, but i find they work decently.

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

tv cards are a tricky one, iv always found myself very tempted to buy one however so many of them can be very hard to get reception with or have poor driver support i have given up during the search phase. Find some reviews/reports on whichever card you are considering first.

[iQue]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

Thanks for the replies guys!

The TV card I linked to in the first post has some pretty old drivers but I've been browsing around and there are optional drivers available for download. That particular TV card is also recommended by the friendly people over at sweclockers.com and gbpvr.com. I've checked that it's compatible with my TV "connection" (lack of correct word) as well

I'm not quite sure if I'm gonna buy it yet but it's significantly cheaper than buying a new TV. Even though the quality won't be the very best, I probably won't be sitting in my computer chair when watching, I have a couch 5 meters away so a little blur is alright.

Not quite sure yet, might get it as an early christmas present for myself :p

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

its difficult for me to give you a recommendation as i dont know the nationaal TV standards you use in Swe. Any idea of the DVB or Terrestrial standards? im pretty sure you use PAL as terrestrial but there are so many DVB standards around.

What about HD TV? do sweeden have a terestrial HD system yet?

[iQue]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

All TV transmissions in Sweden are digital but most households in cities still use a converted analog TV signal so that they can watch it on their old TV... if you live in the country or want more channels than the usual standard 8 or so you have to buy a box so your TV can play the digital channels.

I have a standard analog TV signal and it's not gonna change so this card works well. I only watch discovery channel anyway and I get it for free.

(badly explained as I don't know the correct terms for everything but you get the idea)

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

i cant speak sweedish so i dont know for sure but i think thats only an analogue reviever.
If you do find a decent TV card you should be able to hook yu pc up to your tv if its not too far away. Check the box for your video card there should be adaptors.

[iQue]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

We have a TV from the 80's... not gonna work :laugh:

I've already tried that

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

lol oh ok

[Kreepy Kitteh =^o.O^=]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

Everytime I have had a TV card they are either sh*t quality or don't work at all... sooo.. fail.

Instead save up and buy a plasma screen for ur room stick it on the wall, plug ur TV cable in and ur PC... perfect!

[signa]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

I second the 1800. I'm ordering one as soon as i get around to it. :p

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116015

I installed one on another build and it worked great with vista's home premium media center.

[iQue]

Re: TV Card... win/fail?

I don't have a PCIe-x1 slot though...

If I do have one without knowing it it must be behind my graphics card, I have the tiniest case ever