Author Topic: Cheap Alternatives to Hauppauge? (Read 13459 times)

rampy · « **on:** January 08, 2004, 03:37:36 PM »

As you may know, or not know... I'm notoriously frugal when assemblying my systems. Well that's not fair: I'm very keen on value and price/performance =)

I'd buy the Hauppauge 250 most likely as it's very well supported by Open Source PVR software, and has low CPU requirements as it does the MPEG2 Encoding heavy lifting...

But I can't help but wonder about products like... Leadtek winfast PVR products

I'm sure i've seen that card or similiar at newegg for aroun 50 beans (or at least less than 100)...

Anyone try it? Does it NOT offload the "heavy lifting" as well as the H250?

Rampy

planetjay · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2004, 06:46:39 AM »

Spend the money. It's worth it!

Let me explain.

I have 5 old, old, old, Hauppauge WinTV cards. The first ones. Full Length, Full Height, ISA ones. Circa 1996. They still work fine. And they worked on (WELL) on a P90. Yes, NINETY MEGAHERTZ! So while others are making capture cards this year, and maybe a year or 2 previous, Hauppauge has been doing it for about 9 years now.

Next I have a Pinnacle DC-10 Studio. Great card! No tuner and software sucks ass. I just bought the very latest Pinnacle Studio 8 upgrade even. Still sucks ass. And it's just straight video capture, No VCR, PVR, or Time Shiffting.

Then there's the ATI All-In-Wonder Rage 128 Pro. Software sucks the same old ass. It did have a tuner. It does double as a video card. It works with Linux. Video capture quality in Windows or Linux, well..., sucked ass. With a Celeron 700 even VCD quality was difficult.

Next in line I bought a AverMedia AverTV Studio. Software dies once a month or so requiring removal, a registery cleaning util., and reloading. Also the connector that my cable TV connects to snapped off. Expect more on that in a future (reaming) review!

So then I bought the Hauppauge PVR-250. First of all the software DOESN'T suck ass. It sniffs it a bit from time to time but I can live with that. The card has Hardware MPEG2 encoding.

That means:
1. Slow CPU is no problem.
2. Recorded file can go straight to DVD.
3. Video quality is always great.

So far the only real bitch I have is that, I can't use the included remote to do anything other than change channels, change volume, open and close the program, and general VCR functions. It also makes a great VCR. Just click record, and it dumps to MPEG2 NOW.

So anyway THAT is why you should buy the PVR-250 Rampy.

Anonymous · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2004, 05:24:15 PM »

Does the Hauppauge PVR-250 have an TV OUT source or is this only available for the Hauppauge PVR-350. I look on their site and it does not mention anything about this. If it does not have a TV out do I need a graphics card that will support this?

rampy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2004, 05:35:12 PM »

Quote

Does the Hauppauge PVR-250 have an TV OUT source or is this only available for the Hauppauge PVR-350. I look on their site and it does not mention anything about this. If it does not have a TV out do I need a graphics card that will support this?

The PVR250 does NOT have a TV out... it has a TV/coax/svid input and of course the vaunted MPEG2 encoding chip, so YES you'd need a graphics card with TV out capabilities to view it on your TV. (i'd check to make sure said card was compatible with the PVR series before buying a new one)

The PVR350 DOES have TV input and output (svideo output at that!) and chipset hardware mpeg2 encoding AND decoding.

One reason we are so high on the via EPIA M10000 mini-itx series of motherboards/chips is that the onboard video has svideo out as well as a built in MPEG2 decoding... making it a natural, and tiny/sleek mate for a pvr250

Does that help?

rampy

Anonymous · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2004, 05:49:28 PM »

Thanxs Rampy that is what I was looking for.

Anonymous · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2004, 06:35:13 PM »

Regarding the EPIA M10000 mini-itx series mother board it seems that only one video tuner card could be installed. Is there any way to put more than one?

rampy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2004, 07:22:24 PM »

Quote

Regarding the EPIA M10000 mini-itx series mother board it seems that only one video tuner card could be installed. Is there any way to put more than one?

Just to keep this thread on topic and to call more attention to teh question I posted a relevant question in THIS THREAD HERE about PCI riser cards

rampy

davidslee_98 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2005, 07:48:32 PM »

My winfast pvr2000 card was pretty good (only $90) until my computer starting freezing. I even heard a high pitched whine coming from it one time when it froze. I'll probably go with the hauppauge now.

Orion · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2005, 09:45:26 PM »

"Sorry, the page you requested was not found."

Can you update the link to leadtek card you were talking about? thanks

Regarding the PVR350 that has TV out...my understanding is that it only output as mpg stream only...it doesnt "drive" your os onto your TV screen.

thylacine222 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2005, 09:49:15 PM »

Well, there's the AVerMedia M150, which is only $60 at Newegg. It's well supported now with that Blackbird Driver for Linux.

PeterSpikings · « **Reply #10 on:** May 04, 2005, 08:41:30 PM »

Quote from: Orion on April 24, 2005, 09:45:26 PM

Regarding the PVR350 that has TV out...my understanding is that it only output as mpg stream only...it doesnt "drive" your os onto your TV screen.

It does under linux using ivtv, there's a framebuffer driver which you can use as a display adaptor in X windows.

Peter.

rampy · « **Reply #11 on:** May 04, 2005, 09:10:14 PM »

Holy blast from the past. This is the 4th thread ever posted on the forum way back in january 2004!

Things have changed alot since then

rampy

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