Which AIW card?

[martin1b]

I recently bought a Hauppauge PVR250. I like the capture quality but since it's in MPEG2, I really don't have the flexibility that I want for editing, etc. I could use womble but it really seems to me that mainstream users go with ATI and raw AVI editing is supported by most applications. The PVR250 seems to be more geared towards a PVR solution rather than capturing, hence the name . I think that it's going up for sale. There are some other products out there but it really seems to me that the AIW has the most support and is the most mainstream. I want to capture home videos and backup existing titles that I have and want to keep the quality the same and burn to dvd.

I search the boards and watch all kinds of opinions and look at all of the AIW models. There is the 7500, 8500, 9000, 9200, 9800, etc etc etc. I want to capture DVD quality with maximum flexibility and support from software and groups like this. Sounds like all ati's are similar. Is the video memory important for capturing or is it just for normal video memory usage? Can I get a 64mb and be ok while capturing? My brother has a 7500 (128mb) and says that he get's flawless results, even using moviemaker 2 as capture sw.

Which one should I get for the price range of under $100? I'm fine with ebay, etc. Doesn't have to be new. Best software to use?

Thank!

Bill

[yoda313]

Hello,
An alternative:

virtualdubmpeg2

It takes mpeg2 files and converts them to avi with any filter/edit you do. I've done it with my pvr250 quite successfully. You might give it a try before buying a new card.

Kevin

[babyboo]

I have both the 7500 and the 9600. I use the 7500 in an older system. Neither of them have caused me any problems. The 7500 has 64MB and the 9600 has 128MB. I am happy with both of them.

[neomaine]

martin1b,

Well, I've got an old (and trusty) ATI AIW 32DDR. It was among the first AGP based cards and its been great. Well, other than MMC 6.4 that came with the card back then. MMC 7.1 came out shortly afterwards to save their butt.

Captures from VCR, cable and satelite (DISH) come out with extremely good results. I essentially always capture to DVD (no need for VCD with the DVD burner now) specs at 720x480 4500vbr and 192 48k mp2 audio. Every once in a while I'll even hook up the game consoles to it. Looks amazingly good on my 21" monitor.

I run the latest capture drives from ATI and have stayed with MMC (their capture software) v8.7 since it came out. Nothing that's come out since has anything worth upgrading from my standpoint.

Unless your into gaming, the memory size and speed won't mean much. These cards (or even the 64mb) could be had on ebay for under US$35.