ATI All in wonder vs. Radeon + Tuner Card

[123fish123]

I was on Dell's site building a new PC 8) and the options on their Dimension Desktops don't offer the All-In-Wonder cards.

I have an all in wonder now so I didn't know if there was any down-side to going with a Radeon Graphics card and then having a separate TV Tuner installed.

Any difference? My PC if from 2001 so it's been awhile...

[lordsmurf]

There are not many good secondary tuners to choose from. Plus you have to use more slots.

Hauppauge PVR 250 for MPEG recording, PCI card, is okay
For AVI only, check out a Philips-chipped PCI card

[123fish123]

There are not many good secondary tuners to choose from. Plus you have to use more slots.

Hauppauge PVR 250 for MPEG recording, PCI card, is okay
For AVI only, check out a Philips-chipped PCI card

That's what I thought...but why would dell have you pick an ATI Radeon and then use a generic TV tuner/remote and not give the option of the All-In-Wonder cards....seems very odd to me!

[lordsmurf]

Because Dell makes crappy computers these days. They give less options and sometime use non-standard parts to make their computers, all at a premium price.

Why not build a computer yourself? Or buy a pre-built, and just own up to the fact that you'll have to yank out some crap and put in better components.

I've done it both ways. Only once in my life was I able to buy a pre-built computer that needed no fixing, but that was only because I was able to specify all the pieces in advance (one of those "build your own" systems, back in 2001).