Should i keep my ATI AIW32Meg Or should i upgrade to a new

[leguerisseur]

I would like to know should i keep my ATI AIW 32 mg video card or should i upgrade to a better one?

I am capturing my videos thru this video card, i am wondering if i could have better result with a better video card?

your help is apreciated!

Thx

Leguerisseur

[Bodyslide]

I had the ATI AIW card you have, I just picked up a 9200 ATI AIW for less than 100.00, and I have had no issues. I capped home movies to DVD. And so far no issues.

[Panash]

Are you upgrading to get better gaming or better video captures?

For better gaming, follow bodyslides suggestion.

For videocapture, are you still using the Ligos encoder that came with the card? If so, then get Mainconcept's Mpeg encoder, it'll be much better than ligos, that is if the machine is powerful enough (1.2GHz for VCD, 2.8GHz for DVD)

PN

[leguerisseur]

My machine is 1.7 Mghzt pentium 4

Its mainly for videos, so at 1.7 its not good enough for DVD?

[Panash]

Ok for 352 by 576 I would think, but pushing it for 704 by 576. You will need something in the region of a 2.8GHz machine for any real time MPEG software encoder.

Might be worth considering one of the Hauppauge 250/350/USB2 PVRs. They are quite nice and take most of the load off the CPU. Can be bought quite cheaply & a lot about them in Videohelp & on the web.

regards

PN

[Amish Electrician]

At the risk of sounding stupit here how would i upgrade the incoder on my all in wonder. I never knew this was possible i thought you just incoded with what ever ATI was giving.

[Bodyslide]

I capture with the 9200 AIW with Full DVD specs all the time with no issues with my setup. I also use the ATI software to capture.

[neomaine]

leguerisseur,

I'm still running my ATI AIW 32mb on my AMD 1200+ and capturing to NTSC DVD (720x480) with no dropped frames and perfect sync with MMC 8.7. So, first thing is that your CPU specs are fine. I didn't check your hard drive specs (I have a drive specifically for capture that stays defragged and as empty as possible) and would think that would be your first bottleneck. I would also make sure to not have ANYTHING else running on your system while capping to make sure.

I've upgraded my PC and migrated that one to my kids (who play with capturing) and the only reason I got a newer (ATI 9600xt) was to play newer games with. Otherwise, I'd still be capturing with the trusty old ATI AIW 32mb DDR.

The only thing I've done differently, since the newer versions of ATIs dvd player (which has the mpeg2 codec) wouldn't install with the new MMC, was to get WinDVD. It provides the mpeg2 capabilities lost not installing the ATI DVD Player. And like someone else mentioned liking a different codec than ATIs, I much prefer WinDVDs mpeg2. It seems much more clearer and smoother and since then, I've had MUCH fewer problems.

[Heywould3]

leguerisseur,

I'm still running my ATI AIW 32mb on my AMD 1200+ and capturing to NTSC DVD (720x480) with no dropped frames and perfect sync with MMC 8.7.

is your aiw 32 a radeon? MMC aboce 7.6 or 7.7 wont work on any other board. i thought that had the rage 128 chip in it?...(maybe the early radeons wer 32?) dont remember..

that being said.. i have an old AIW in an old celeron 450 with th rage pro 128 chip. it will cap great at the full res 7.6 is able to do with out droped frames. and thats pretty good..

[lordsmurf]

Which ATI AIW is this?
- ATI 7000-series (Radeon DDR32?)
- ATI RAGE 128
- ATI RAGE 128 PRO

The 128 PRO can be hacked for ATI MMC 8.7
The RADEON cards (7000-9000 cards) all use up to ATI MMC 9.x
The oldest non-PRO 128 card cannot. Not good card compared to THEATRE-chipped ones

All of the cards since about 2001 use the THEATRE capture chipsets. They all act pretty much the same. No need to upgrade. I have an ATI AIW 7200 (sold as ATI AIW 32MB DDR card).

The only reason to updates cards is for "graphics", which is for video games and other animation stuff. It has ZERO EFFECT on video work. These are what the NUMBERS in the cards mean (7000, 8000, 9000, etc). "AIW" means video, not the numbers.

And ALWAYS, when using ATI AIW card, use ATI MMC for best results. See guides here:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/capture/atimpeg/atimpeg.htm
http://www.digitalfaq.com/capture/atiavi/atiavi.htm

[neomaine]

heywould3,

Yup, as Smufy said, an ATI AIW Radeon 32mb DDR with the Theatre chip. You can find them for under $30 on Ebay...but it won't be mine!!

[freebird73717]

I have the same aiw 32mb card and it is great! I don't game so that isn't an issue.