Best TV Tuner card?

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nGAGEd55

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iv got a Leadtek TV2000 expert which isnt a bad card, but it isnt compatible with XP Media Center 2005, so im looking for one that is, any advice on what card to chose??? I was thinking of the Leadtek PVR2000, but im not sure if its the best out there.
 
Last edited:
nGAGEd55 : It is difficult to get in SA. take2.co.za are the only people I know about.

No TV tuners come close to Hauppauge. They pretty much are the only good ones that dont cost a fortune
 
can anyone maybe comment on the Leadtek PVR2000?
cos for me its the cheapest to get, cos its availible at rectron.
 
it'll work, and it's cheap, that's about it.

the top dog right now in back to back test is the ati theater 550 card. Low profile, single tuner. Buy two if you want dual tuner functionality. It has a 3d comb filter which does an amazing job cleaning up composite signals (most set top boxes can output composite, or rgb, and tv tuners dont accept rgb as an input, so you have to downgrade to composite, which makes the theater 550 so attractive).

pvr500 is great, just make sure you get the "optional" expansion bracket/daughtercard so you get 2 composite and 2 svideo and 2 audio inputs so you can actually run two sources into it. As standard, this is generally not supplied.

Problem is...this htpc stuff is addictive, and you can spend hours staring at the tv tryng to correct every visual error you find...so starting out with a great tuner (for a few hundred R's more) is a wise decision.
 
You really dont want to get a card that doesn't have hardware mpeg encoding
 
A few years back I went for a el cheapo, no name brand(R350). Was mortified with performance(didnt have hardware mpeg encoding), Got myself a leadtek, was very good. Sold it with my old PC, not sure on the model but i think i paid about R550 for it
 
I had PVR2000, not bad and it is easily available. I changed it only because it was not compatible with Dscaler 4111.
 
HEY GUYS, is nobody checking stuff out!!! PINNICALE MICRO has the hauppauge cards on their pricelist for a while now
 
nGAGEd55 said:
iv got a Leadtek TV2000 expert which isnt a bad card, but it isnt compatible with XP Media Center 2005, so im looking for one that is, any advice on what card to chose??? I was thinking of the Leadtek PVR2000, but im not sure if its the best out there.
Click to expand...

are you talking about using it in media centre or just using it in windows via its winfast pvr software

i had no problems both ways
 
I have the same setup and the TV2000 expert is not compatible with MCE 2005 and nero 7 mucks up
 
photonman said:
are you talking about using it in media centre or just using it in windows via its winfast pvr software

i had no problems both ways
Click to expand...
do u mean u could use a TV2000 with MCE?? cos that could save me a few bucks
 
Farquaon said:
HEY GUYS, is nobody checking stuff out!!! PINNICALE MICRO has the hauppauge cards on their pricelist for a while now
Click to expand...
I know, but they dont have the PVR 500, and thats the one I'd want.:D
 
yes i am still currentl using it

I have the tv tuner in my pc but i really use it.

it works no problems under media centre.

I hav'nt tried it lately...i will later on tonight and then back with info to say its all good etc
 
If pannacle doesnt have something on their list ask them to source it for you. Esp since they already stock other cards by the same manuf. I just got myself the pvr 350. Busy building a mythtv box with it. For the case i used a POS barebones system ( case, mb, pci-riser ). It fits in with all the rest of my TV/AV equipment.
 
photonman said:
it works no problems under media centre.
Click to expand...
Is it a newish card you're using? cos i see they've got the TV2000 Expert with new packaging and remote and was thinking maybe its an updated card aswell.
 
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