If by any change you find a Kwold card and you would like to buy it because of the hardware MPEG2 codec, make sure that you get the DVD maker version. Kworld sell many different cards, some with hardware MPEG2 codec, and some without it.

If the card has a TV tuner and looks like this:

http://www.iln.com.au/pv256.html
http://www.provideo.com.tw/PV256T.htm
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=mp2pci-tv
http://www.kworld.com.tw/products/pro2/kw-tv-version.htm

Then you got the equivalent to Provideo 256T.


If your card does not have a TV tuner and looks like this:

http://steve.kittelsen.com/pv256c/
http://www.provideo.com.tw/PV256C.htm
http://www.kworld.com.tw/products/pro2/kw-capure-version.htm

You have the equivalent to Provideo 256C

These two cards have a streammachine 2210 (aka Cirrus Logic CS92210) MPEG2 codec and can capture at DVD specifications up to 704x480.

If you got a card made by Kworld that does not specifically say “DVD maker” you may not have hardware MPEG codec.

Before you continue keep in mind that these cards do not like some VIA/AMD chipsets configurations. Keep in mind that also that there are many happy users with these chipset. I’m one of the lucky ones (I got an Asus TUV4X – Via chipset for PIII cpus).


The drivers for Kworld DVD maker (or Provideo 256) cards can be found here:

http://www.provideo.com.tw/driver.htm

For the 256T (the one with TV) just scroll down to a section called “TV-FM Tuner Encoder / Decoder Capture Series” and you will find the drivers there. Avoid using Kworld drivers because thay may not work with Direct X 9 and have more problems in general.

For a Provideo 256 forum go here:

http://www.iln.com.au/forum/index.php