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General discussion

HP A Series and TV Tuner Card

by xvoltn Sep 3, 2006 7:35AM PDT

I purchased an HP 1430N as it was a better machine than the M-series in my research. The M series comes with alot of junk and I wanted a basic system that I could upgrade. I now find out that the A-series from HP is upgradeable in every place except the TV tuner card. I am having a hard time getting a straight answer from HP (see below). Besides the external USB TV tuners, has anyone been able to get an internal card to run on the A series? What about a combo card like the ATI 1900? Help!

I have included a summary of my "HP Chat" below:

Barney D
Thank you for staying online, I have checked the specifications of a1430n desktop computer and see the system is shipped with 3 PCI slots and 1 PCI-Express card. Out of the 3 PCI slots, one is already occupied and two are available for expansion. So, you can install PCI TV-Tuner card in this slot without any issues. If you have any PCI-Express graphic *** tuner card, you can also install such card on the computer Yes, it is true that few brands may not support due to compatibility issues. However, you should be able to install an internal TV-Tuner card in the available PCI (OR) PCI-Express slots


XXXX
OK..does HP have a list of recommended models?


Barney D
I truly apologize that we do not have information as there are no tested results with internal TV Tuner cards on this model computer.

Barney D
The PCI slots on the motherboard shipped with the computer does not have a capability to hold TV tuner card. A TV tuner card is the one that would provide with many features such as Watching Live TV, Recording Live TV shows etc., A card with such huge capability needs to be installed on the PCI slot that actually supports.


Eric Topp
That would be a "no" not a "may" as the HP documentation suggests


Barney D
No. There are few TV tuner card that exclude the advanced features. Such TV tuner cards are supported by the PCI slots on the motherboard.

XXXX
But we don't have a list of these? I under stand but I don't want an external USB device. The introduction was due to your bundeling not my requirements. The M series had many features that I did not want or would ever use. What about the ATI 1900 which uses the PCI express slot. This is a new combo card that is a high end graphics card/combined with a TV tuner?


Barney D
You can try using the card, however I cannot give you the assurance on the functionality of the card. Yes, you would be able to use the graphic part of the card, however few features related to the TV tuner may not function as per the HP declaration.

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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That's the truth.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 3, 2006 10:06AM PDT

No one will even give you a bona fide guarantee anything will work in anything. But I've used TV cards from ATI and Hauppaugge for years and yet to have them fail me. Yours would be the first. But is that a guarantee you'll succeed?

No.

Bob

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OK...With an A Series
by xvoltn Sep 5, 2006 10:48AM PDT

Bob,

Did you use them in a HP A Series as I don't want to try different cards if you have one that works. HP made it sound like the motherboard had been designed NOT to take a high powered tuner but that it could take a "normal" tuner. Just looking for experience.

XVOLTN

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Nope.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 5, 2006 12:13PM PDT

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. Said cards have worked in every machine I've tried for over a decade. But ocassionally someone wants a ironclad guarantee that it will absolutely positively work without a hitch.

You can imagine no one will give you that.

Bob

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Point
by xvoltn Sep 5, 2006 10:29PM PDT

OK, let me try to clearer:

1) Do you have an HP A series?

2) If yes, what TV tuner card have you installed?

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Not me, no.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 5, 2006 10:47PM PDT

Not me, no.

-> I had hoped that my 100% success rate over 10 years with what may be over a thousand machines would be enough but it's not.

Let me be brutally honest with you. EVERY PCI TV card I've used from ATI and Hauppauge has worked in hundreds of machines of too many makers. It's like asking if a GE lightbulb will work in your hallway. While I can share that it always has for me, there is a small chance (be it ever so slim) that it won't.

There are also chances that a TV card will work in one HP A series but not yours. This is highly unlikely but you seem to be wanted some assurance that no one can offer.

Please go get the card and install it.

Bob

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HP a1310n TV Tuner
by lovinfla Sep 7, 2006 8:48PM PDT

I have a HP a1310n also. I have done extensive research as well. I have benn told (by HP & service Tech's) that the Hauppauge WIN TV-PVR 500 MCE card, part #wintvpvr500. that has a Dual Tuner, is what HP uses as STANDARD TV Tuner in a1310n.I found the best price 139.99 at snapstream.com. I have also been told that this card WILL work. I ordered one and am convinced it will work ... I will let you know.
Mike

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