Video Card Help

[StevePPD]

I am looking into making my PC into a somewhat media center. There are a few things I would like it to be able to do but I need some expertise on what I need.

I would like to be able to capture video VIA standard cable, and component A/V cables.

My PS3 outputs via component, I would like to be able to record on the PC as I play a game on my standard def tv.
I would also like to be able to record TV on to my pc as well through the cable ran to my TV.

I am not sure what kind of Video Card I need, can someone help me?

I currently have an ATI Radeon 9000 AGP and know nothing about it.

[rallynavvie]

You should not rely on a video card alone to do all that. Despite what some others here will say: VIVO cards suck.

Since you aren't interested in HD output just yet you can get away with any video card that supports a TV out. Most of them these days will support your PC monitor and a TV with component cables. A lot of us who run HTPCs use two displays like this as we use our PCs for internet and other work in addition to being an HTPC.

For capture I'd recommend a Hauppauge tuner card. For instance the PVR-150/250 will capture from an analog cable source (unscrambled cable TV using a coaxial connection) or will work with most cable company STBs. The HVR-1600 also allows for OTA HD content if you use an HD antenna with it (even digital HD cable with the right software) yet it also has an analog tuner like the others. You don't have to use the HD portion of it but it would give you the option to someday. However these don't work with component video input, only coaxial, s-video, or rca.

Capturing from your PS3 is going to tricky, if not impossible. The problem is that the computer has a slight delay when recording and you're seeing that when you're playing it back on your TV. You could find a splitter for the cabling and have one go to the PC with an analog (like s-video or rca) and the other go to your TV but the delay running it through your PC would be pretty detrimental to your gameplay in most cases. I tried this once with my PS2 with Gran Turismo and I'm pretty sure that's what it must be like to drive drunk

[mgithens]

I am looking into making my PC into a somewhat media center. There are a few things I would like it to be able to do but I need some expertise on what I need.

I would like to be able to capture video VIA standard cable, and component A/V cables.

My PS3 outputs via component, I would like to be able to record on the PC as I play a game on my standard def tv.
I would also like to be able to record TV on to my pc as well through the cable ran to my TV.

I am not sure what kind of Video Card I need, can someone help me?

I currently have an ATI Radeon 9000 AGP and know nothing about it.

1 - there is no way way to capture HD output, there are no component video capture cards... sorry... Svideo is as good as it gets...

2 - never use a video card to capture video, these are mostly software based encoders and even the more powerful machines will struggle... get a dedicated hardware capture cars - the PVR150 from Hauppauge is plenty, but it is Svideo and less than $100.

3 - in truth there is very little difference between Svid and Component on a SD tv... but the approx 1 sec lag between real time and screen time will keep you from being able to play... a splitter is probably the only way to get away with this, so that the computer will just record and your setup will be unaltered...