Where is the best place to spend my upgrade $? (If anywhere)

[Lcarvone]

I use a Hauppage PVR-250 for all my captures,watching TV, and VHS conversions on my PC and haven't really had any problems. I have a little $$ I'd like to use to upgrade my system in order to make the whole process better (if possible). My current pertinent specs are as follows:

Athlon 1900+ (1.6 ghz actual)
512 megs PC2700
160 gig WD1600JB (7200 rpm, 8 meg cache, ata100)
Radeon 7000 AGP 32 meg SDRAM

My question is based upon my usage of the hardware based PVR-250, where would my $ be best spent? Keep in mind I don't play games...basically capture TV, surf the web, e-mail, VHS conversion and that is it :P

[jtommyj]

How much is "a little $$" ?

For doing what you say you do,your set-up seems adequate .Maybe just sock it away for a new system in the future.

Tom

[MOVIEGEEK]

For less than $100 you could get a nVidia 5700 or ATI 9600 videocard that supports DX9 and is faster(clock and memory) than a 7000.You also could get a faster CPU for the same money but make sure your motherboard supports it.
IMO a fast videocard and CPU is essential for capturing..not to mention gaming.

[Lcarvone]

MOVIEGEEK,

The gaming part I understand but why for capturing? The PVR does most if not all of the work correct? If it needs "help" from the vid card than how much?

BTW, to answer jtommyj's question in terms of little $$ I am talking ~ $50 plus whatever I get for selling the original part.

[jtommyj]

I would sit tight and take the wife out to a nice dinner, honestly,or like i originally said,sock it away until you really need something if something goes like the vid card or whatever. I can't see where an extra $50 is going to make enough of a difference to put into it at this point.

Tom

[MOVIEGEEK]

If the capturecard does hardware capturing then your sytem is fine,I would spend the money on a faster CPU.

[lordsmurf]

Put it in your sock drawer until later. Really.

New motherboard/CPU if the money is just burning a hole in your pocket that bad.

[ronnylov]

A DVD writer would be fine in your system if not already there. DVD burners are not very expensive, maybe $60.

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, for your purposes, you're more than fine. Possibly a nice big flat screen? Put the money away until you "need" a completely new box (Like when Pentium 5 hits us)

/Mats

[SatStorm]

Buy a new HD, and spent some money to software... Donate also a bit to freeware software or register some of your shareware stuff...

[lordsmurf]

Buy a new HD, and spent some money to software... Donate also a bit to freeware software or register some of your shareware stuff...

Yeah, I agree with this one too.