suggestions to pick my hardware

[jcck2003]

I got a question about weather to choose AMDXP or P4, I think I will go invest in a P4 2Ghz er and 512 DDR, a large hard drive about 80GB,

now I am look into a good video capature card, looking into convert some stuff into VCD, mainly capture stuff from the camcorder (now another question is should I buy a full-blow digital cam or regular one for about 300 and let computer do the work), maybe also looking into backup my movie collections on VHS (MicroVision or copy guarded)

is one of those ATI All-in-wonder card any good ? I saw a product by Pinnacle came with a caputre card, does anyone have any experience with this type of thing what can you suggest

will I been able to build the computer for within $500 ?
also for the experienced, what forum works the best for me ??


Thanks
JK2K3

[videojoe]

If you want to save yourself a lot of time and hassle, go buy a DV cam with a analog passthrough feature. I have seen the sony TRV240 for $450 or I think the Canon ZR40 for $500, these were on sale at the time, I only give the prices for comparason. I bought the Sony TRV340 (same as 240 w/digital still capability) and it works perfectly for transfering old vhs to SVCD. I messed with 2 capture cards over a period 3 months to tweak them to similar quality standards that the DV cam provides out of the box. Plus a DV cam will capture much higher resolution video than an analog hi8 cam. So your home movies will be of much better quality, almost DVD standards.

I have heard the sony DV cams will ignore macrovision but have not tried it with any commercial VHS tapes. I have seen macrovision removal devices for like $20-$30, so backing up your legally purchaced tapes will be possible either way.

Any $20 firewire card will allow you to import from a DV cam, but I have heard to avoid ones with the TI chipset.

[yg1968]

Everybody has an opinion on what is the ideal way to achieve what you are looking for. Personally, I would go with a Sony or Canon with a passthrough feature and use it as a capture card. You will need a firewire card and cable for your computer. My preference is for a Sony digital camcorder. Most Sony digital camcorders have a passthrough feature (except the TRV-140). Others prefer a Canon DV camcorder. The Sony has the added advantage of defeating macrovision (the Canon doesn't). Either way, I think that a DV camcorder is worth the extra money as the quality is much better than anything else that I have seen. Once that you decide on a DV camcorder, you might as well get one with a passthrough feature.

[fmctm1sw]

will I been able to build the computer for within $500 ?
also for the experienced, what forum works the best for me ??


Thanks
JK2K3

If you know what you are doing inside a PC, you can upgrade on the cheap. I was considering an upgrade a while back and I had a P4 motherboard, celeron 1.7GHZ CPU and 256 DDR RAM lined up for about $250. What does your case look like? ATX? Or is it a "name brand" like HP, Packard Bell, compaq, etc??

P.S. If you don't know where to post, post in newbie. Someone will move it if it's wrong....

[jcck2003]

I think I am going to keep my case (may not fit the newer motherboard since now days it came with NIC and other connectors) and just upgrade the power supply, my wife said I have too many computers, so as long as I don't get a new case, it is not considered as new computer

what would you suggest for the optimal hardward for doing this kind of thing (since my wife have not approved the purchased, still trying to get the most band out my/her buck)

JK

[fmctm1sw]

I think I am going to keep my case (may not fit the newer motherboard since now days it came with NIC and other connectors) and just upgrade the power supply, my wife said

That's the problem with 'em JK...they say stuff But to business, I don't think you'll have a problem with a NIC. A lot of motherboards have these buit in now. It's more an issue with the shape and size (form factor) of your current motherboard/case. It's kind of hard for anyone to tell you what to get. But for me, I had an Intel 845G motherboard, 256MB DDR RAM, and a celeron 1.7GHZ lined up. I'd much rather have a real P4 chip but my budget wouldn't have allowed it. Hell, it hasn't even allowed that meager upgrade yet.....