Graphic card selection
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:58 amI am putting together a system for my 19 yo gamer son and intend to base it on the system Neil describes here: forum.datacad.com/viewtopic.php?t=400&start=15
However we have become accustomed to being able to record TV and other sources on a PC so we are looking for something that will allow us to do that. I visited the nVidia site yesterday looking for their TV tuner card solutions and they indicate that the TV Tuner card has been discontinued http://www.nvidia.com/object/dualtv_discontinued.html
Checking the ATI site produces a reference for an All-In-Wonder card but they list no retailers for it and it would require a larger power supply so I assume the price would be higher than we want to pay. http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx1900/aiwx1900/specs.html
One thing we have considered is to get a card that will allow him to record gaming sessions from his consoles and forget about TV recording. I have found several cards that have VIVO which I assume is VideoInVideoOut but I'm not sure what provisions are there for capture and the Gigabyte card does not have VIVO. Searching NewEgg for VIVO devices with nVidia processors and 256mb produces this list http://tinyurl.com/yrgnmo although the pricey PNY listed does not have VIVO. Are the recertified EVGA cards worth a look?
Another consideration is to get a separate TV Tuner/capture card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116625 Also the Gigabyte card would cover two slots so there might not be room for the second card.
We are likely to go to digital cable soon and drop DirecTV due to poor support for local channels. What implications does the transition to digital tv have for using your PC like a TiVo? Do we just have to wait for newer products to come along or does HDCP just lock out that solution?
However we have become accustomed to being able to record TV and other sources on a PC so we are looking for something that will allow us to do that. I visited the nVidia site yesterday looking for their TV tuner card solutions and they indicate that the TV Tuner card has been discontinued http://www.nvidia.com/object/dualtv_discontinued.html
Checking the ATI site produces a reference for an All-In-Wonder card but they list no retailers for it and it would require a larger power supply so I assume the price would be higher than we want to pay. http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx1900/aiwx1900/specs.html
One thing we have considered is to get a card that will allow him to record gaming sessions from his consoles and forget about TV recording. I have found several cards that have VIVO which I assume is VideoInVideoOut but I'm not sure what provisions are there for capture and the Gigabyte card does not have VIVO. Searching NewEgg for VIVO devices with nVidia processors and 256mb produces this list http://tinyurl.com/yrgnmo although the pricey PNY listed does not have VIVO. Are the recertified EVGA cards worth a look?
Another consideration is to get a separate TV Tuner/capture card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116625 Also the Gigabyte card would cover two slots so there might not be room for the second card.
We are likely to go to digital cable soon and drop DirecTV due to poor support for local channels. What implications does the transition to digital tv have for using your PC like a TiVo? Do we just have to wait for newer products to come along or does HDCP just lock out that solution?