Low profile capture card options

[GLE3]

I just bought a used Small Form Factor (P4 3.2GHZ, 1GB ram, no hard drive yet) Desktop that only takes low profile PCI cards. I want a capture card that does NTSC/ATSC/ClearQAM in hopes that I can create a homemade PVR(first attempt). It looks like my options are limited when it comes to capture cards but I was wondering if there were any thoughts out there about the cards I’m going to mention for concideration. I’m listing PCI-e and PCI, as I could use both, but I would prefer PCI if I had a choice(if there is a PCI card out there that doesn’t suck). If anyone has another card to mention please let me know. Just to let you in on all of my plan, I’m using the PVR just for capture. I’ll have it connected to my PS3 via gigabit Ethernet for playback.

Other questions:

It seems so many people don’t really care for the software that is sent with the cards. I don’t really know much about what software can do for a capture card(by comparison) so any info I can get with that would be cool. I am running Windows XP Home and don’t plan on upgrading any time soon.

Some cards come with a post capture converter that will rencode from Mpeg2 to Mpeg4. Are those features still available under a 3rd party software?

Is it possible to get an Electronic Programming Guide without a subscription?



Looks like most cards are PCI-e X1:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100043
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116037
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815293011


There are a couple that are PCI:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815306009
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815127008
http://www.cyberestore.com/hdtv-tv-tuner-cards/dvico-fusionhdtv7-cool-atscntscqam-tuner-free-shipping.html

[danno78]

Just one note: Asus My Cinema-EHC3-150 and Hauppauge 2250 are driven by the same brain SAA7164, the main difference between them is software. So, with a third software should behave identical. One is cheaper.

[themaster1]

Cards compatible with dvbviewer would be a plus imo , have a look here:
http://www.dvbviewer.com/en/index.php?page=features

Apparently there is one from TechniSat, the Airstar ATSC or the HD version see here
This company make good cards generally for dvb-s-t-c

[usually_quiet]

ATSC and QAM are usually recorded in their native MPEG-2 format, and place little load on your CPU.

Multi-core CPUs are a better choice if the TV card does software encoding for analog. Since you have a single core CPU, ideally you should get a card with MPEG-2 hardware encoding to take the burden of encoding in real time off your CPU. PVR software support for hardware-MPEG-2 encoding is better too. All of your PCI-E cards offer that feature. Your PCI cards don't.

The Hauppauge HVR-2250 features 2 analog and 2 digital tuners (any 2 can be used at the same time), is supported by most PVR software and has a very large user community. The ASUS My Cinema-EHC3-150 offers a lot of extras for the price, although it is not as popular and has only one analog tuner plus one digital tuner.

The Diamond ATI TV Wonder HD 650 Tuner PCIE, which I have, might work too. VisonTek sold a version of the same card and still sells a low-profile bracket that looks like it will fit http://estore.visiontek.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&pr...mart&Itemid=64

Hopefully your new HTPC has a decent VGA card so it is up to the task of playing back live TV while you are setting up your PVR software. I don't have a media extender, but I question whether you can view live TV that way until the PVR software is set up to use it.

As far as third-party software for XP...

BeyondTV supports ATSC/NTSC/QAM and is reasonably easy to install and use, plus has a free trial. It offers a feature called "ShowSqueeze" to convert recordings to .wmv, DivX, or H.264. I have tried BeyondTV for ATSC with a Windows 7 system. I have a 3.0 Ghz dual core systmem and for some reason BeyondTV pushed CPU use up to 55% while it was running. Maybe it behaves better for Windows XP. Of your cards, only the HVR 2250 is on its supported list for QAM, though the ASUS My Cinema-EHC3-150 may still work.

GB-PVR has a free guide option if you use MC2XML and Microsoft "legacy service". I didn't try GV-PVR for QAM or analog cable, only ATSC. I wouldn't say GB-PVR is easy to set up but it can be done. It supports most cards with BDA drivers, even if they aren't on the supported list.

Regardless of the software QAM can be a lot of work to set up. Channels must be manually mapped to the program guide, so if there are a lot of them it takes a long time.

[Edit] Many different conversion programs that are available separately instead of being part of the PVR suite can convert from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 after the fact.

Although this varies, TV tuner cards often don't have a digital tuner that is as sensitive as most TV tuners and need a stronger signal. You will need to add an amplifier if the signal is not strong enough.

[GLE3]

ATSC and QAM are usually recorded in their native MPEG-2 format, and place little load on your CPU.

Multi-core CPUs are a better choice if the TV card does software encoding for analog. Since you have a single core CPU, ideally you should get a card with MPEG-2 hardware encoding to take the burden of encoding in real time off your CPU. PVR software support for hardware-MPEG-2 encoding is better too. All of your PCI-E cards offer that feature. Your PCI cards don't.

Hopefully your new HTPC has a decent VGA card so it is up to the task of playing back live TV while you are setting up your PVR software. I don't have a media extender, but I question whether you can view live TV that way until the PVR software is set up to use it.

.

Thanks for noteing this, I didn't even realize. It has the Computer manufacturers video card which isn't the latest and greatest but it does support DXVA. I may upgrade. My dilemma is that I have one X16 Express slot and 2 PCI slots. If I use the X16 for the video card, I'm stuck with a PCI capture card. If the PCI-e capture cards are the best of the bunch, then I would have to get a PCI video card(which might be a waist using PCI interface???). I could go the USB route but I am trying to consolidate everything into one small machine(which might be a bad idea)....

While we are talking cards, would you consider a sound card a must?

[usually_quiet]

ATSC and QAM are usually recorded in their native MPEG-2 format, and place little load on your CPU.

Multi-core CPUs are a better choice if the TV card does software encoding for analog. Since you have a single core CPU, ideally you should get a card with MPEG-2 hardware encoding to take the burden of encoding in real time off your CPU. PVR software support for hardware-MPEG-2 encoding is better too. All of your PCI-E cards offer that feature. Your PCI cards don't.

Hopefully your new HTPC has a decent VGA card so it is up to the task of playing back live TV while you are setting up your PVR software. I don't have a media extender, but I question whether you can view live TV that way until the PVR software is set up to use it.

.

Thanks for noteing this, I didn't even realize. It has the Computer manufacturers video card which isn't the latest and greatest but it does support DXVA. I may upgrade. My dilemma is that I have one X16 Express slot and 2 PCI slots. If I use the X16 for the video card, I'm stuck with a PCI capture card. If the PCI-e capture cards are the best of the bunch, then I would have to get a PCI video card(which might be a waist using PCI interface???). I could go the USB route but I am trying to consolidate everything into one small machine(which might be a bad idea)....

While we are talking cards, would you consider a sound card a must?

The fewer cards added, the better.

Exactly what onboard video chip are we talking about? If this system is not going to be used for anything other than TV or a little web-surfing it would be better not to add a video card unless you must, and get a PCI-E TV card.

For stereo, the onboard sound will probably be OK. IMO a sound card probably isn't necessary unless you plan to use a home theater system.

A USB TV device is an option, but the stick types don't generally offer hardware encoding. Hauppauge makes a USB device with hardware encoding http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116029 The Diamond ATI TV Wonder HD 650 is available as a non-stick type USB device, and it is cheap in white purchased at Fry's website. http://www.frys.com/product/6124759?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG Tiger Direct has the black version for a bit more. It has the same support from PVR software as the PCI-E version. The digital tuner on my card could be better, but TV card tuners are not usually as good as TV tuners. The hardware MPEG-2 encoder is very good.

People do build HTPCs using slim cases but there are some problems associated with it. You are already aware that the selection of cards that will fit is limited, but there is more. The power supplies that fit these cases are no more than 300 to 350 watts (sometimes less), which restricts the choice of motherboards and video cards you can use. Finding the right size replacement PSU is harder too. Case fans are sometimes under 80 cm, noisier, and move less air, and there is less air inside the case. This means the system is more prone to overheating, especially when you start adding video cards and tv cards that may block circulation as well as create heat themselves.

[GLE3]

The fewer cards added, the better.

Exactly what onboard video chip are we talking about? If this system is not going to be used for anything other than TV or a little web-surfing it would be better not to add a video card unless you must, and get a PCI-E TV card.

For stereo, the onboard sound will probably be OK. IMO a sound card probably isn't necessary unless you plan to use a home theater system.
.

Actually I plan on making this PVR as standalone as possible. Just planning to capture (rencode) then transport media files to my PS3. That’s about it. I’m thinking about buying a wireless mouse and keyboard and using my Plasma TV as a monitor if I would need it.


945G chipset that uses GMA 950
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/index.htm

Other specs
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/sdspecs0.htm#wp1133451

Pic of Mobo
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/sdabout0.htm#wp1075336

[usually_quiet]

Actually I plan on making this PVR as standalone as possible. Just planning to capture (rencode) then transport media files to my PS3. That’s about it. I’m thinking about buying a wireless mouse and keyboard and using my Plasma TV as a monitor if I would need it.


945G chipset that uses GMA 950
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/index.htm

Other specs
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/sdspecs0.htm#wp1133451

Pic of Mobo
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/sdabout0.htm#wp1075336

The on-board video should be enough for playing live TV during set-up, and will allow you to use a plasma TV as a display as long as it has a VGA port. You will also need a headphone jack to RCA stereo adapter for sound from the TV.

Good thing you have your PS3. If you wanted to add a blu-ray drive to that PC, you would need to get a discrete video card. The on-board video does not support HDCP, and there's no HDMI or DVI port. There is also no mention of Nvidia's Pure Video technology in the specs for the onboard video, so no built-in hardware acceleration for H.264, WMV/VC-1, or MPEG-4 playback.

Unfortunately, the OptiPlex GX620p desktop power supply is only 280W and the maximum wattage allowed for the PCI-E x16 slot is only 25W. That will limit your choices for video cards if you decide you want to add one anyway.