Opinions on MPEG-2 hardware encoding cards

[webqaz]

I have been thinking about getting a card with MPEG-2 hardware encoding and was just wondering what everyone recommends. Im thinking about spending around $50-$70 on ebay. Also does anyone have links to any samples of their video quality?

[yoda313]

Hello,
I use the hauppauge wintvpvr 250 mpeg encoder card. I like it very well. It has several dvd quality settings and is quite versatile. The quality is excellent to my eyes.

The only downside to a mpeg encoder card is that many programs will not recognise the card for recording purposes. The files it makes will load in any media player though.

If your going to want to record directly in avi you can't do that with an mpeg card. But if all you want to do is make vcd, svcd, and dvd without converting then mpeg cards are a good value.

For $100 USD and up you can get excellent quality mpeg cards. Do a little spec comparisons and make sure you have the computer power to use it.

Kevin

P.S. Have fun with the backups when you get one

[FulciLives]

Of all the hardware MPEG cards out there the one with the best quality seems to be the Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 and the WinTV PVR-350 with the two models being pretty much the same except the PVR-350 adds a MPEG decoder for playback (which most people don't care for or really need although it could come in handy).

Here is a website dedicated to the WinTV PVR cards:

http://www.shspvr.com/

Also you might be interested in the ATI AIW or ATI VIVO cards which seem to do a great job BUT they are partial hardware partial software MPEG encoders ... a hybrid ... so you still need a decent speed computer ... probably around 2.0Ghz or faster for Full D1 resolution MPEG captures.

So if your computer is fast enough the ATI AIW/VIVIO models in the 9000 series is worth looking into.

Either way you ain't gonna find either of these (the Hauppauge or the ATI) at the price range you are looking at UNLESS maybe it is used.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Here is a website with mostly ATI capture card information:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/

[yoda313]

Hello,

except the PVR-350 adds a MPEG decoder for playback (which most people don't care for or really need although it could come in handy).

One more difference between my pvr 250 and the pvr350 is the 350 also has a fm tuner built in. This is great for those who want to record a radio show or station onto their computer directly (without a seperate card).
Kevin