Hi8 caputure, sporadic massive dropped frames? Best cap res?

[grant_millgate]

Am trying to capture my Hi8 tapes using :

p4 1.5, 256Mb, 40Fb 7200 rpm, pixelview play tv pro cap. card.

I have had some success with Vdub, dropping about 2 frames per minute at 352X288, Huffy, YUY2, 25 fps, but the dropped frames sporadically increase to huge rates of droppage and the audio sync goes to shit.

I think it is certain parts of any given tape that give the problem. Problem with tape quality or is it the images recorded?

Drive is defragged, I have tried all sorts of settings and can capture with low dropped frames at 704x576, so I dont think there is a problem with the machine keeping up with writing the data.

Have also tried iuVCR which capped 2hrs with 0 dropped frames reported but I noticed that the avg fps captured steadily dropped and by the end of the clip the audio is way out of sync, so I think it was lying about the dropped frames. Maybe it did not drop any it was trying to write, but it did not capture them all in the first place.

I have read through this forum extensively and notice people get mixed results capturing from any analog tape. I dont want to throw money at the problem or be told to go DV as I am a poor student and just want to work with what I have.

What resolution is best to capture with for Hi8, ie, what is the actual resolution stored on the tape? Or is this factor linked to the camera?

What program will best capture without frameloss? In addition, what program can drop the frames (if it is a problem with my tapes) but keep the audio in sync? To tick or not to tick the 'lock audio' box in Vdub settings?

I have seen time base correctors mentioned, and using flowthrough digital cameras as suggestions to these issues, are they the only answers?

I bought my computer a year ago with this mission in mind and am desperately frustrated. Please Help.

Grant
Sydney, Australia.
Exact System details in Profile.

[grant_millgate]

...oh and am using WDM btwincap drivers, though have tried the latest from the prolink site and the IU drivers (which I could not make work)