Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250/350 vs 500

CaZeek · Meep Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Location: NJ, DC, or Baltimore

Hello,

I've been reading up on these cards (and the 150), and it seems there are a lot of problems with the 150s. I decided the 250 or 350 is a better bet, but I see the 500s are about the same price. I know the 500s have more features, but are they the same quality level as the 150s with more features, or are they higher quality as well?

Basically, which model would you reccomend, based on MPEG-2 hardware encoding and picture quality.

Thanks for the advice in advance!

edDV · Posted: Mar 02, 2006 02:36

The 500 has two 150's on one card
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauppauge_Computer_Works

The 250/350 + PVRUSB2 are the classics that work with many applications.

The 150 and 500 are the latest.
Forum here -> http://www.shspvr.com/
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Baldrick · Administrator Joined: 09 Aug 2000 Location: Sweden

and visit www.shspvr.com

FulciLives · Posted: Mar 02, 2006 02:47

I would stick with the 250/350 or the USB2 model.

The 150 model is junk. I bought it and returned it after a week or two.

I've heard that ironically the 500 does not have the problems of the 150 but since the 500 is just a couple of 150's I don't trust the 500.

I seem to recall reading that you can put two 250's in a single computer and use them at the same time to record two different programs at once.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman
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edDV · Posted: Mar 02, 2006 03:31

or even six
http://www.snapstream.com/Community/Articles/medusa/default.asp
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CaZeek · Meep Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Location: NJ, DC, or Baltimore

Thanks for all the replies. I don't really have need for the dual cards, I was just looking at it from the standpoint that they are the same price anyway.

I will go with the 250 or 350 then!

jman98 · Member Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Location: Freedonia

I have the PVR-350 and it is the best video capture card I have ever owned. If you don't need the video out function, I think that is the only difference between it and the PVR-250.

TaoTeWingChun · Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Location: Mahopac, NY

Hey CaZeek, if you DO go with the 250, kindly let me know where you purchased it from - I've been looking around for it myself and haven't found a single retailer that stocks them anymore!

Thanks In Advance!

Cheers!

TTWC
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SHS · Member Joined: 11 Oct 2000 Location: Ravenna, OH

There alway eBay or if had look there on Hauppauge Web Store, Buy.com, Amazon.com Mwave.com, PCConnection.com or eCOST.com
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SHS Unofficial WinTV-PVR

FulciLives · Posted: Mar 02, 2006 17:41

I know newegg stocks the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250

In fact here is a direct link ---> CLICK HERE

This is the 980 model which has a NTSC tuner. There is also a 983 model which is identical but has a PAL tuner. Both the 980 and the 983 can capture NTSC and PAL using the composite and/or S-Video inputs.

Also the 980/983 versions of the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 are both non-MCE versions. MCE is short for Windows Media Center Edition and there is a special version of the WinTV PVR 250 made just for MCE.

In short you do NOT want the MCE version unless you are running MCE in which case I pity you!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman
_________________
"The eyes are the first thing that you have to destroy ... because they have seen too many bad things" - Lucio Fulci
EXPLORE THE FILMS OF LUCIO FULCI - THE MAESTRO OF GORE

CaZeek · Meep Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Location: NJ, DC, or Baltimore

Newegg was where I was initially looking. Buy.com is coming up as the cheapest for either the MCE or the non-MCE. Newegg has been by far the best online retailer I've ever dealt with, but I've bought from buy.com once too, and it went very smoothly, so I don't think you can go wrong with either of those.

FulciLives · Posted: Mar 02, 2006 19:58

CaZeek · Meep Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Location: NJ, DC, or Baltimore

TaoTeWingChun · Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Location: Mahopac, NY

Thanks for the reply, team - I do appreciate it!

I still don't quite understad why the local retailers (CompUSA, Circuit City, Best Buy, et al) no longer stock these, but at least I know they are still in production!

Next paycheck I will be approx $130 lighter, for certain!

Cheers!

TTWC
_________________
"I've got a present for ya!" - TTWC