real time minimum capture requirements

[g12345567]

What are the minimum computer / capture card requirements for real time dvd capture to hard disc. I know I need to upgrade my computer but am in need of minimum dvd capture specifications before I get new hardware.

[holistic]

There is no need to capture DVD, blockbuster catches them for you, trains them, then rents them to you.

for real time dvd capture to hard disc

Don't waste your time .Go buy a standalone DVD recorder if that is what you want to do.
example : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,906278,00.asp

If it is the 'backing up' of DVD's you wish to do then of most importance is harddrive capacity. 'Backing up' involves transferring the *.vob's (video object files - the movie) to the hardrive for either compression to fit 4.38Gb or removal of extras to fit DVD+\-R.
1Ghz + processor and 256Mb RAM is sufficent - Unless they need to be back by 9pm :P

For capture/conversion of home VHS/hi8/DV the following applies:
Hi8-VHS are heavy harddrive loads if you want to capture full frame uncompressed. 5200/7200rpm dosen't matter so long as it can do 25+Mb/sec sustained writes. DV non issue as it is 3.7Mb/sec.
Fast processor will be a bonus for mPEG encoding. A 1 Ghz will do the job a 3.2 Ghz will do the same job - faster.


What would really help .......crystal ball fogged up.......is you intentions and your current computer setup.

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[g12345567]

i just wanted to capture tv episodes and music clips from cable tv in the highest available quality. (stuff unavailable on dvd) Since I have dvd burner I thought dvd would be the best quality to capture in. I only have an

amd duron 1200
512mb sdram pc133
120gb seagate 7200rpm 8mb cache
sb live
standard tv tuner card brook tree chipset.
windows xp pro with all available updates and .net frames (some apps use that)

but it doesn't work too well. very jerky and not smooth output, dropping frames. Even when capturing vcd resolution too.

thats why I fell the need to upgrade. Or should I just upgrade to a better capture card?

[holistic]

amd duron 1200 - adequate
512mb sdram pc133 - more than adequate
120gb seagate 7200rpm 8mb cache - more than adequate for task - is DMA enabled - suggest one drive for capture one for OS.
sb live - adequate - i have this card
standard tv tuner card brook tree chipset. - i had this chipset also on my AVerMedia
windows xp pro - no comment - need something don't we ! - ensure NTFS file system - turn off indexing

important : make of motherboard - this may be your weakest link

I achieved 352*480 huffyuv captures on my AbitBE2-II ,900 celeron with 30Gb ATA66 harddrive with no frame drop (**except for audio syncing/bad source)- You should be able to do the same, if not better.

Get a copy of VirtualDub - In the Aux setup program the should be a function to test harddrive write speeds (from memory ,not at video compter right at moment)
I Recommend capturing with VirtualDub 352*480 (576) with huffyuv codec.
Frameserve from there into TMPGEnc.

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