Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250/350 vs 500

[CaZeek]

Hello,

I've been reading up on these cards (and the 150), and it seems there are a lot of problems with the 150s. I decided the 250 or 350 is a better bet, but I see the 500s are about the same price. I know the 500s have more features, but are they the same quality level as the 150s with more features, or are they higher quality as well?

Basically, which model would you reccomend, based on MPEG-2 hardware encoding and picture quality.

Thanks for the advice in advance!

[edDV]

The 500 has two 150's on one card
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauppauge_Computer_Works

The 250/350 + PVRUSB2 are the classics that work with many applications.

The 150 and 500 are the latest.
Forum here -> http://www.shspvr.com/

[Baldrick]

and visit www.shspvr.com

[FulciLives]

I would stick with the 250/350 or the USB2 model.

The 150 model is junk. I bought it and returned it after a week or two.

I've heard that ironically the 500 does not have the problems of the 150 but since the 500 is just a couple of 150's I don't trust the 500.

I seem to recall reading that you can put two 250's in a single computer and use them at the same time to record two different programs at once.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[edDV]

or even six
http://www.snapstream.com/Community/Articles/medusa/default.asp

[CaZeek]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't really have need for the dual cards, I was just looking at it from the standpoint that they are the same price anyway.

I will go with the 250 or 350 then!

[jman98]

I have the PVR-350 and it is the best video capture card I have ever owned. If you don't need the video out function, I think that is the only difference between it and the PVR-250.

[TaoTeWingChun]

Hey CaZeek, if you DO go with the 250, kindly let me know where you purchased it from - I've been looking around for it myself and haven't found a single retailer that stocks them anymore!

Thanks In Advance!

Cheers!

TTWC

[SHS]

There alway eBay or if had look there on Hauppauge Web Store, Buy.com, Amazon.com Mwave.com, PCConnection.com or eCOST.com

[FulciLives]

I know newegg stocks the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250

In fact here is a direct link ---> CLICK HERE

This is the 980 model which has a NTSC tuner. There is also a 983 model which is identical but has a PAL tuner. Both the 980 and the 983 can capture NTSC and PAL using the composite and/or S-Video inputs.

Also the 980/983 versions of the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 are both non-MCE versions. MCE is short for Windows Media Center Edition and there is a special version of the WinTV PVR 250 made just for MCE.

In short you do NOT want the MCE version unless you are running MCE in which case I pity you!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CaZeek]

Newegg was where I was initially looking. Buy.com is coming up as the cheapest for either the MCE or the non-MCE. Newegg has been by far the best online retailer I've ever dealt with, but I've bought from buy.com once too, and it went very smoothly, so I don't think you can go wrong with either of those.

[FulciLives]

Newegg was where I was initially looking. Buy.com is coming up as the cheapest for either the MCE or the non-MCE. Newegg has been by far the best online retailer I've ever dealt with, but I've bought from buy.com once too, and it went very smoothly, so I don't think you can go wrong with either of those.

I supplied the newegg link because TaoTeWingChun had mentioned having problems finding it and I knew newegg carried it so that was that.

I wasn't trying to suggest that you or anyone else should buy it from newegg and only newegg.

I was just trying to be helpfull with a direct link

If it will be cheaper to buy it from BUY.COM then by all means do so!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[CaZeek]

Newegg was where I was initially looking. Buy.com is coming up as the cheapest for either the MCE or the non-MCE. Newegg has been by far the best online retailer I've ever dealt with, but I've bought from buy.com once too, and it went very smoothly, so I don't think you can go wrong with either of those.

I supplied the newegg link because TaoTeWingChun had mentioned having problems finding it and I knew newegg carried it so that was that.

I wasn't trying to suggest that you or anyone else should buy it from newegg and only newegg.

I was just trying to be helpfull with a direct link

If it will be cheaper to buy it from BUY.COM then by all means do so!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

No no, I wasn't responding to you, I was responding to TaoTeWingChun too. He directed his question towards me, so I thought I should reply- a bunch of misunderstandings here

[TaoTeWingChun]

Thanks for the reply, team - I do appreciate it!

I still don't quite understad why the local retailers (CompUSA, Circuit City, Best Buy, et al) no longer stock these, but at least I know they are still in production!

Next paycheck I will be approx $130 lighter, for certain!

Cheers!

TTWC