Chinese copies - Magewell XI100DUSB

[david151]

The following link shows the same item number as the Magewell. On paper it also looks exactly the same specs as the Magewell XI100DUSB. So what is the catch? Is this a good copy of the Magewell XI100DUSB or is it an inferior product?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/XI100D-1080P-60FPS-UVC-USB-3-0-HDMI-Capture-Dongle-USB2-0-HDMI...QAAOSwYIxX~M5g

The problem is I can't find any reviews on this Chinese device anywhere. Has anyone tried one of these or opened them up to see what is inside them? Any feedback would be much appreciated as I am tempted to take a punt.

[Brad]

There are lots of generic Chinese devices, sold under various "brands". I believe Magewell is just branding this device that's designed and manufactured by some other firm. All of them should be made in the same factories. You may want to pay more to buy from a manufacturer known for good customer support, if there is one.

Sometimes you can find the original manufacturer selling the units by the container on Alibaba. Minimum orders in the 10,000 range.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_design_manufacturer

[jagabo]

In all likelihood it's the exact same device, bought from the same manufacturer. Magewell just silk screens their logo onto it, provides a little support, and jacks up the price.

We won't know for sure until someone takes the plunge and gets both to compare.

[lingyi]

Perhaps ironically, Magewell warns against knock-offs of their products (particularly the device linked to above) here (midway down the page):https://www.linkedin.com/company/nanjing-magewell-electronics-co-ltd-

BTW, the link on the post links to a cease and desist order. Either the company and their product is legit or it's very clever marketing.

[usually_quiet]

Perhaps ironically, Magewell warns against knock-offs of their products (particularly the device linked to above) here (midway down the page):https://www.linkedin.com/company/nanjing-magewell-electronics-co-ltd-

BTW, the link on the post links to a cease and desist order. Either the company and their product is legit or it's very clever marketing.

Your link also indicates that 13 First Generation Cards（models begin with XI）have or will be discontinued. Magewell stopped accepting orders for these models on May 31, 2016 due to chip and other component constraints. Maybe the XI100DUSB is one of them? Besides the aforementioned problems with parts, the knock-offs are probably cutting into their sales.

[david151]

In all likelihood it's the exact same device, bought from the same manufacturer. Magewell just silk screens their logo onto it, provides a little support, and jacks up the price.

We won't know for sure until someone takes the plunge and gets both to compare.

That's my exact thought and thats why I wondered if anyone had compared any of these Chinese copies to the "Magewell" banded ones.

As I used to import car parts from China per shipping container, I kind of know the way it works over there. Indeed most of these things are made in the same factory, so I suspect it's the same with electronics.

I am very tempted to take a gamble on one of these Chinese "copies", but wandered if anyone else had done this first?

[jmstack]

I have both a "Genuine MAGEWELL" and a copy. "USB 3.0 Capture HDMI"
I bought the copy first, believing that it really was a MAGEWELL, and it was actually after some communication with MAGEWELL support
that I was informed that what I had was a "counterfeit".

When connected, both units expose (through DirectShow) the same array of capture properties.
No surprise, since this comes from Windows, and not from any drivers supplied with the hardware.

Both units can in theory capture 1920*1080 at 60 fps.
In reality, only the MAGEWELL will do it. The "copy" will give around 30 fps for me.(but the frame rate seems very unstable...)
If I limit the capture rate to 25 fps (which is reasonable, since my camera outputs that...) both units will seemingly capture 25 fps.
However, there is a big problem with the "copy"!
In the 25 fps that my application program receives there will actually be many duplicates.
So, as I understand it: The "copy" will meet the demand from DirectShow which is "give me 25 frames/second", but it can't actually capture frames from the HDMI port at that rate and resorts to re-sending frames.
For many users this may not be a problem or even noticeable, but for me it is a big no-no

The application I use (I am the developer..) is a "low-budget" timing/photofinish application used mainly for canoe/dragonboat, and uses "single-stepping" through the captured frames,
and therefore it becomes very evident when there are duplicates.
With the MAGEWELL (as well as other brands that seem to work well e.g. Startech) I never see any duplicates!

MAGEWELL copies seem to come under several names and if have no first-hand knowledge about any other than the one I own.

/JS