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  1. Member
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    Sep 2007
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    Canada
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    I am hoping someone can tell me what capture card is most reliable, best value, and suits my needs, for under $100.


    My system is in the mail:

    (ordered today, I can't freakin wait!)

    -Core 2 Duo E6550
    -Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
    -Foxconn 7600GS 256Mb
    -Corsair 450W PSU
    -OCZ 2Mb DDR2 ram
    -500Mb SATA Seagate hard drive
    -OS will be XP Pro (avoiding vista for now)
    -standard ATX case (NZXT Apollo)


    My capturing needs are:

    -under/around $100
    -Record good quality video from TV/Satellite (mainly basketball)
    -Store on hard drive for editing and burning later
    -Simple n easy to use/install
    -Don't really need TV tuner, just channel 3/4 for Satellite

    (currently looking at the Hauppage PCI 150, the ATI all-in-wonder 200, and the Leadtek PCI TV2000 XP expert, but feel free to recommend something else)


    Thanks very much folks.
    ---------------------------------------------
    old school downloader, novice builder
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  2. Member yoda313's Avatar
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    I'd say go with the hauppauge. Good company.
    Donatello - The Shredder? Michelangelo - Maybe all that hardware is for making coleslaw?
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  3. Member
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    what's the difference between hauppage 150 pci mce and the non-mce?
    ---------------------------------------------
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  4. Member
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    Sep 2006
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    Central Illinois
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    Originally Posted by coolbyme
    what's the difference between hauppage 150 pci mce and the non-mce?
    The difference is that the MCE edition does not include a recording program nor a DVD authoring program. You will need both, together with a good mpg editor. I like VideoReDo.....cost about $50 and you can try it for 10 days or so before you buy.

    Don't buy a white box or OEM version. Get the standard 150, which also includes a remote control. Also plan on buying a S-Video cable and Y-audio cable (RCA to Mini-Jack). You will not get best results with RF (channel 3 or 4) input.

    The 150 has been troublesome for many. I have a PVR 250 and would rate it as "Good", after editing the Registry in three places to fix video sharpness and audio problems. Both the PVR 250 and 350 are out of your price range. The PVR 150 has an IR blaster which might work to change channels on your set-top box.

    My advice would be use the apps and drivers that come on the installation CD. DO NOT download the latest updates from Hauppauge unless you have problems with what comes with the card.
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  5. Member
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    so you would go with the non-oem Hauppage pci 150 w/remote ('bout $100) over others in my $ range?

    thanks for the help
    ---------------------------------------------
    old school downloader, novice builder
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  6. if you got the satellite i'd advice you to take a DVB-S card especially for sport footages which obviously require more resource with an analog card.

    Price is different but that's worth it

    around 100$ you should find something i believe
    *** DIGITIZING VHS / ANALOG VIDEOS SINCE 2001**** GEAR: JVC HR-S7700MS, TOSHIBA V733EF AND MORE
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  7. Member
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    the only DVB card I find is the ATI PCI TV WONDER 650 BOX for around 160$, sounds tough from what I read, is it easy to get it straight from the dish? or do I need a wack of other programs and days to mess around with it? is it stable, does it go out all the time?

    if not, I am going with one of my original 3
    ---------------------------------------------
    old school downloader, novice builder
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  8. Member
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    Sep 2007
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    any word on the following?


    MSI Theater 550PRO PCI

    Sapphire Theatrix 550 Pro PCI

    Sapphire Theater 650 Pro PCI


    all priced around $100....
    (thanks)
    ---------------------------------------------
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  9. Member Marvingj's Avatar
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    Apr 2004
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    Death Valley, Bomb-Bay
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    A $100.00 smackers is not what it use to be but I would go with Hauppage PCI 150.
    http://www.absolutevisionvideo.com

    BLUE SKY, BLACK DEATH!!
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  10. Member
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    Originally Posted by Marvingj
    A $100.00 smackers is not what it use to be but I would go with Hauppage PCI 150.
    thank you kindly, this is a totally new area for me

    I am down to the Sapphire 650 Theatre pro (same price as the 550 Theatrix??) or the Hauppauge 150
    ---------------------------------------------
    old school downloader, novice builder
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  11. Member
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    Sep 2006
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    Central Illinois
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    I would avoid the 650 Pro.....hardware drm. Same advice regarding MCE and Vista.

    I have the ATI Wonder Elite (550 Pro Card) X 2, but the included software (Power Cinema 2.0 and 3.0) only do scheduled recordings thru RF input. I rate the PVR 250 as "Good" and the Wonder Elite as "Better".

    The newer 550 cards use ATI's recording software (MMC I believe it is called). All the 550 cards recognize Crappo-Vision and ATI's website now mentions drm regarding the 550.

    Don't know about Canada, but in the US, Cable and Sat. TV providers are using set-top boxes that can and often do use drm (broadcast flags) and even Crappo-Vision on the analog outputs to prevent recording. The PVR 1/2/350 is not affected by either of these anti-recording schemes, provided you use the included recording software (WinTV2000). The ATI cards do not include DVD authoring software, which will cost you another 50-$100 US.

    Most important thing is do buy only from a company that has a good return policy. No one knows what will or will not work on your new Box.
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  12. Member
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    ""buy only from a company that has a good return policy. No one knows what will or will not work on your new Box""

    GOOD ADVICE thanks

    don't know what or how "drm" is though, or why to avoid it, but thanks anyways

    so the Sapphire Theatrix 550 pro over the Hauppage PVR-150?
    ---------------------------------------------
    old school downloader, novice builder
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  13. Member
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    Sep 2007
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    I just picked up the Hauppauge 150 for $99 Canadian (probably overpaid a little, but at least the store has good poilicies for help after

    thanks y'alls
    ---------------------------------------------
    old school downloader, novice builder
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