TV Tuner cards and Vista

[Jeff]

....about half way through building a new machine, and want to figure out what to do with a TV tuner card.

I already have a Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 Motherboard and Gigabyte dual DVI video card that I want for dual monitor support. The MB has
2 PCIe x16 slots, 1 PCIe x8 slot, 2 PCIe x1 slots, and 2 older plain PCI slots. I need the 2 plain PCI slots for external scsi
equipment. The ATI AIW card in my old machine won't work in the new that doesn't have an AGP slot. A drawback of the MB is that one
of the x1 slots is useless with any type of card that I've ever seen because a heatsink on the board blocks the area behind the
card. The video card I've purchased has the typical large fan that takes up double the room, completely blocking the second x1 slot.
From what I gather, there are only 2 or 3 Tuner cards that use PCI x1, and none that use PCI x8 or x16. ...but I'm told that a x1
card will work in either my spare x8 or x16 slot. I was looking at the PowerColor Theater 550, which as good reviews (other than the
software, but there are options available), which runs on a PCI x1 slot that will also run on my spare x8 slot. ...so that part of
the problem is solved. ...but I also want something that is compatible with Vista, and one review said that the card wouldn't work
with Vista RC2, which is what I'm going to install until the full release comes out. So the question - is there any card currently
available or that will be available soon that has good reviews that will work in a PCIe slot that is also Vista Compatible? The
other option, I suppose, is to use one of the external USB tuners, but I haven't found any reviews of any models that are postive in
terms of video quality.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[Conor]

...about half way through building a new machine, and want to figure out what to do with a TV tuner card.

I already have a Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 Motherboard and Gigabyte dual DVI video card that I want for dual monitor support. The MB has
2 PCIe x16 slots, 1 PCIe x8 slot, 2 PCIe x1 slots, and 2 older plain PCI slots. I need the 2 plain PCI slots for external scsi
equipment. The ATI AIW card in my old machine won't work in the new that doesn't have an AGP slot. A drawback of the MB is that one
of the x1 slots is useless with any type of card that I've ever seen because a heatsink on the board blocks the area behind the
card. The video card I've purchased has the typical large fan that takes up double the room, completely blocking the second x1 slot.
From what I gather, there are only 2 or 3 Tuner cards that use PCI x1, and none that use PCI x8 or x16. ...but I'm told that a x1
card will work in either my spare x8 or x16 slot. I was looking at the PowerColor Theater 550, which as good reviews (other than the
software, but there are options available), which runs on a PCI x1 slot that will also run on my spare x8 slot. ...so that part of
the problem is solved. ...but I also want something that is compatible with Vista, and one review said that the card wouldn't work
with Vista RC2, which is what I'm going to install until the full releasecomes out. So the question - is there any card currently
available or that will be available soon that has good reviews that will work in a PCIe slot that is also Vista Compatible? The
other option, I suppose, is to use one of the external USB tuners, but I haven't found any reviews of any models that are postive in
terms of video quality.

I use a PCI Hauppauge WinTV HVR1300 with is an analogue/DVB-T twin
tuner jobbie. Vista has native drivers for it and the XP drivers also
work. Works perfectly in Vista Ultimate Media Center. Only thing that
doesn't work for it at the moment is the infrared controller.

--
Conor

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[Jeff]

That one is the old flavor PCI and I won't have any available PCI slots. I need one that is PCIe.


I use a PCI Hauppauge WinTV HVR1300 with is an analogue/DVB-T twin
tuner jobbie. Vista has native drivers for it and the XP drivers also
work. Works perfectly in Vista Ultimate Media Center. Only thing that
doesn't work for it at the moment is the infrared controller.

 

[johns]

I wouldn't bother building for Vista. Who knows what that
thing is going to become? I've tested 2 versions so far,
and I'm not going to touch it for a long time. It is just too
slow for multimedia anything. My tests show slow downs
in nearly every app that is graphics intensive by as much
as 50%, and that is not an exaggerated figure. Test it
for yourself. Get any game, and the benchmark FRAPS,
and compare the FPS. Something else to be on the
watch for .... Just as soon as Vista Beta came out,
several of the "commercial" testers published web
articles claiming how wonderful Vista was. The figures
they quoted were bald-face lies, and it was obvious
that the commercial sector is going to push Vista
hoping to make sales on an unfinished product. The
first to do that was CNET, followed quickly by Toms
Hardware. You can debunk their articles with FRAPS
and any game you choose. I'm pretty sure the tv-tuners
coming into the country in November will be digital
tuners, and all of them will be pci-e X1. I also saw
an analog / digital combo coming in. Wait on them.
Wait on Vista for at least a year after it comes out,
or at least "borrow" a copy and bench test it until
they clean it up.

johns

 

[Conor]

I wouldn't bother building for Vista.
Muppet.
Who knows what that
thing is going to become?

Plenty of people. You've already had the release candidate.

I've tested 2 versions so far,
and I'm not going to touch it for a long time. It is just too
slow for multimedia anything. My tests show slow downs
in nearly every app that is graphics intensive by as much
as 50%, and that is not an exaggerated figure. Test it
for yourself. Get any game, and the benchmark FRAPS,
and compare the FPS.

Clue: BETA DRIVERS

****ing retard.



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Conor

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[Rod Speed]

I wouldn't bother building for Vista.

More fool you if its only something basic.

Who knows what that thing is going to become?

Who knows if little green men might land and **** us over ?

I've tested 2 versions so far, and I'm
not going to touch it for a long time.

Plenty claimed that with XP too. Some are
actually stupid enough to avoid it even now.

It is just too slow for multimedia anything.

Oh bullshit. Even MS aint actually THAT stupid, stupid.

My tests show slow downs in nearly every app that
is graphics intensive by as much as 50%, and that
is not an exaggerated figure. Test it for yourself.

Doesnt happen with playing avis etc.

Get any game, and the benchmark
FRAPS, and compare the FPS.

Freecell works fine.

Something else to be on the watch for .... Just as soon as
Vista Beta came out, several of the "commercial" testers
published web articles claiming how wonderful Vista was.

Wota surprise.

The figures they quoted were bald-face lies,

Bare faced lies. Not even possible to have a bald face.

and it was obvious that the commercial sector is going to
push Vista hoping to make sales on an unfinished product.

Yeah, yeah, they conspire in smoke filled rooms.

The first to do that was CNET, followed quickly by Toms Hardware.

How odd that neither of them actually sell anything.

You can debunk their articles with
FRAPS and any game you choose.

Nope, freecell runs fine.

I'm pretty sure the tv-tuners coming into the country in
November will be digital tuners, and all of them will be pci-e X1.

A Jap would at least have the decency to disembowel itself.

I also saw an analog / digital combo coming in.

You were warned about those magic mushrooms...

Wait on them.

No thanks.

Wait on Vista for at least a year after it comes out, or at
least "borrow" a copy and bench test it until they clean it up.

Dont need to 'borrow' anything.

 

[johns]

Plenty claimed that with XP too. Some are
actually stupid enough to avoid it even now.

Are you calling the entire Federal Government
stupid ? ... don't answer that.

johns

 

[Rod Speed]

Rod Speed wrote

Are you calling the entire Federal Government stupid ?

They havent said that.

... don't answer that.

Get stuffed.