For people using ATI ALL IN WONDER cards

[amdworld]

with an ATI ALL IN WONDER 9700 or 8500,
if u record with the BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE, (lets say mpeg2), how much HD space should u make sure u have before u capture a 5 min show?

oh yea, and capture wise, do both 9700 pro AIW and 8500 AIW capture the same quality?

[bbb]

I did some research on ATI AIW cards and this is what I found.

*Older ATI AIW use analog tuners - good (best?) quality.
*ATI AIW 7500, AIW 8500 use analog tuners - good quality
*ATI AIW 8500DV uses a digital tuner - bad quality, lots of noise, tuner being discontinued.
*ATI AIW 9000, AIW 9700 use newer analog tuners - good quality and new deinterlacing engine.

If you want capturing only, get an older AIW or a AIW 7500. $50-$120
If you want good gaming and capturing, get a AIW 9000. $160
If you want great gaming and capturing, get a AIW 9700. $350

DO NOT get the AIW 8500DV. Look here if you need convincing:
http://www.sunstorm.com/stuff/ati.htm

AIW 7500/8500/8500DV Discussion Thread:
http://tinyurl.com/clyt

[theDiatribe]

um.. no...sorry pal- but my 8500DV doesn't look that bad, and I'm just watching local chanels thru a crappy bunny ear antenna. I thinks whoever did that comparison may have had the setup different on each machine. furthmore, if they were coming in from the same source, the split may have caused a decrease in the signal strength. ALSO- prossesor speed and capture settings can reduce qualiy. AND how do you know those results weren't altered? the only picture that is even somewhat accurate is the #86, but that's really not a fair comparison. When first starting the program, the picture looks like total crap (all fuzzy like that) for about 3-5 seconds while it's finding the signal. After that, it's as clear as a sunny day.

grrrr

[bbb]

It doesn't look "that bad?" Does it still look somewhat bad? Please post pics of some captures so we can get an idea of how your AIW 8500DV captures.

Also, many/most people do use splitters since they have cable tv (and their computer is usually not the only device to connect the coaxial signal). So, if a AIW 8500DV can't handle a splitter why would this be considered a good buy?

Last, there must be something wrong with the AIW 8500DV tuner since ATI discontinued using it in the AIW 9000 and AIW 9700 (went back to analog tuners).

[andkiich]

If your going straight to MPEG-2, I find that an hour can be roughly 1 to 1.5 GB(using ULEAD videostudio6)
If your capturing to an AVI file, then depending on resolution, you're probably looking at roughly 12GB for a 320x240, or 30GB for a 720x480 capture of about an hour.(Using VirtualDub)

These are rough estimates from my experiences and your mileage may vary.

[amdworld]

thx for the replys!~
hey, but wasn't MPEG-2 better quality than AVI?
don't get how avi can take up sooo much space while mpeg-2 takes less

and where can i get the ati 9000 for 160 bucks?

lastly, which vid card can capture at this quality:
(screen caps of mpeg-2 quality i really want) (can the 8500, 9000 AIW get this quality? thx

Caps:





when i put this to full screen, i can see no boxes, even with my geforce 2 mx.
looks like if it were directly watched from tv.
so.. which AIW can capture at this quality? thx (u can say.. almost dvd quality or dvd quality! lol)

[ChillBill]

Does anyone else agree with bbb?

I was about to buy a new vid card mainly for capturing from my digital cam, and was probably going to get the AIW 8500DV, but was also considering the 7500. SO now I'm wondering if I really want the 8500.

Also, does the 7500 have a DVI (firewire) port on it?

Thanx

[MJPollard]

I did some research on ATI AIW cards and this is what I found.

<snip>

DO NOT get the AIW 8500DV. Look here if you need convincing:
http://www.sunstorm.com/stuff/ati.htm

AIW 7500/8500/8500DV Discussion Thread:
http://tinyurl.com/clyt

Fortunately, I only use the tuner for watching TV while working; I don't do any captures from it. I'm assuming that this issue with the tuner does not extend to the composite and S-video inputs (as I've done excellent captures with those, from both my VCR and my laserdisc player)?

[amdworld]

do u people think the 8500 AIW ATI can do the job of the pic i showed u?
and which software can:

u watch tv on, record at any random time, lets you set to which quality (mpeg2, avi, etc..) and also allows u to TIME or like.. program it so that it starts recording at a specific time/date?
if i need more than one software, could u name me some plz? thx

[andkiich]

AVI is uncompressed
MPEG-2 is compressed

That is the difference. A lot of editing programs work better with uncompressed AVI, than they do with MPEG-2.
Hence why some people capture to AVI, then convert/edit/etc to MPEG-2.

It takes a bit longer to do it AVI to MPEG-2 to VOB, but it has always given me outstanding quality that way.

Also, I am using freeware, bundled software and a few purchased programs(TMPGENc/Nero), so the money I saved by not getting super duper top of the line software causes me to have to go with a little more processing time. No bug deal really as I can automate most tasks and let them run while I sleep or am at work.