ATI Tv wonder pro remarks/comments

[theheckwithyou]

hello i was wondering how many people who has an ATI tv wonder pro and how do they like it.
currently i am thinking of buying one
i am a n00b at capturing stuff so i'm not sure what is good

i am currently using
2.8ht p4
512 ram
9700 pro

would there be any problems i would run in to?
any remarks/comments?

[lordsmurf]

You'll run into the standard BT/CX chip limitations. I'd honestly suggest a Theatre chip based card from ATI. An ATI VIVO to go with your current card (look on eBay) or an ATI AIW VE to go in PCI slot (can switch graphics between this card and your current ATI as needed).

[theheckwithyou]

thank you for the fast reply
when u said ati vivo is that another graphics card? or is that an add on card for capturing use?

for the ati aiw ve, i understand that i would have another video card but would i be able to use the AIW functions while not using it for the my monitor where i would use the 9700 for that.

out of the two which is better?

or should i just give it up and buy an ATI AIW 9800pro? i know this will cost about 100 dollars more than just buying a capture card but i want a nearly hassle-free soultion

[lordsmurf]

Hassle free would be one card.

But to save $$$ you can add the VIVO card (capture only card using Theatre chips) or add a PCI AIW (and then change the primary display in the BIOS/CMOS as needed).

[theheckwithyou]

this might sound stupid but i'm assuming that only ati makes the VIVO card right? i have searched ebay but i'm not seeing any of those cards. how old are they? is there any where else i would able to find one of those?

[bottle-necked]

You want a hassle free solution... Then I suggest the AIW 9800 Pro. Ive been using mine for a few weeks and it's nothing but impressive. It's the best ATI product I've ever owned. The first time I turned the machine on I could 'see' the difference it made over my old AIW 8500 card. The colors are deeper and brighter. You'd just haft to see the difference to believe me. I was smiling.. I don't think you'll find a better match up for your P4 2.8 than this card. My P4 3G 'rocks' with it.

I can't recommend the TV wonder card. What I've heard about them they 'compare not' to the 9800.

Good luck.

[duhmez]

other compainies make vivo cards. they just don't call them vivo. They will say "video in, tv out"
Definately don't get a tv wonder, they are bad times.

[theheckwithyou]

okay some few questions, if i do get the aiw ve how is the captureing quality comparing to the aiw 9800 pro?

when i change the primary display in the bios that means i have to connect my monitor to taht video card? (silly question)

and when i capture using the aiw VE do i have to set it to primary?

when i convert file types AVI to MPG or vice versa does it matter which car i use(the aiw ve/9700 pro) ?

how much of a hasel would i go though if i get the aiw ve?

[duhmez]

How is the quality of a VE compared to regular? I can't say for sure, but probably identical. ATI uses it's rage theatre chip for encoding, and as far back as the original aiw 32 MB radeon back in the day captures just as good as my shiny new AIW 9700 Pro.

[lordsmurf]

How is the quality of a VE compared to regular? I can't say for sure, but probably identical. ATI uses it's rage theatre chip for encoding, and as far back as the original aiw 32 MB radeon back in the day captures just as good as my shiny new AIW 9700 Pro.

Those VE cards use BT/CX chips, not ATI Theatre, last I saw.

[duhmez]

How is the quality of a VE compared to regular? I can't say for sure, but probably identical. ATI uses it's rage theatre chip for encoding, and as far back as the original aiw 32 MB radeon back in the day captures just as good as my shiny new AIW 9700 Pro.

Those VE cards use BT/CX chips, not ATI Theatre, last I saw.

If that's so, then stear clear! You want rage theatre. I will check and report back, there is amachine at work with an AIW VE..........
the bt chipset has rather annpying limitatons that made me really mad when i boght a TV wonder.

[theheckwithyou]

How is the quality of a VE compared to regular? I can't say for sure, but probably identical. ATI uses it's rage theatre chip for encoding, and as far back as the original aiw 32 MB radeon back in the day captures just as good as my shiny new AIW 9700 Pro.

Those VE cards use BT/CX chips, not ATI Theatre, last I saw.

If that's so, then stear clear! You want rage theatre. I will check and report back, there is amachine at work with an AIW VE..........
the bt chipset has rather annpying limitatons that made me really mad when i boght a TV wonder.

hmm i thought they had the theatre according to this
http://www.ati.com/products/radeon7500/aiwve/index.html