New Capture card or not?

by SonChaser Nov 12, 2006 2:19PM PST

I'm debating buying a new capture card due to my displeasure w/ the card that came w/ my PC (Gateway GT5032, Athlon 64 X2 4200+, Win XP MCE, 2GB RAM, 120 & 250 GB HDs).

The cards I'm thinking about are the ATI All-in-wonder 2006 (PCI-E) that has the tuner card and vid. card too. My other option would be the Pinnacle USB PCTV HD ProStick.

The only hesitation is that I only have standard cable, and I fear that I will not be improving the quality of my recordings w/ a new capture card. I'm thinking the Pinnacle one might work since it has a HD tuner and I have heard that standard cable still has basic channels broadcasted in HD if you have a tuner for it. I don't know if the ATI All-in-wonder has an HD tuner in it. Also I have Comcast Cable. My other option is just to continue downloading TV recorded shows from the internet (that were recorded in HD) and burn them to DVD. I prefer not to do this method as it is more insecure and time-consuming...but I don't know if I have another option.

So if anyone has a suggestion of what card I should get or if I should get one at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Discussion is locked

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Standard Definition is ratty stuff.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 12, 2006 10:17PM PST

I've never found a card that someone would say it was better on their PC. Have you used other systems like this? If so, you would know it's not the card but our PC display showing off all the rough edges of NTSC video.

Bob

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Quality issue

by SonChaser Nov 14, 2006 1:56AM PST

Are the rough edges you are referring to the fuzziness or just that bar along the bottom?

The quality issue I'm referring to isn't the annoying bar at the bottom, but a general fuzziness for the whole picture. Shows that I have seen recorded from HD stations look great and they were captured by PC I'm assuming.

So my question is that will buying a new capture card reduce the fuzziness of the video (even though I only have std cable) or should I not even consider a capture card w/o an HD tuner. I was hoping just getting a new capture card with a hardware decoder and not (like my present one) relying on the OS to process the video would reduce some of the fuzziness if not eliminate it. Or my other thought is just to get one with the HD tuner to avoid the whole problem.

Thanks for your help

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NTSC (SD) is fuzzy.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 14, 2006 4:30AM PST

PC users (mac too) will complain. You'll read HDTV owners b***** about this when they view SD content. Think it over. Your PC display is about HD resolution. You'll see all the warts of SDTV.

Another tuner won't fix that.

Bob

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Pinnacle Moviebox DV

by JAMESG111 Nov 18, 2006 11:05AM PST

Take a look at Pinnacle Moviebox DV obtainable from http://www.4videoequipment.com/video/store2/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=988&E=Pinnacle+Systems-MovieBox+DV+Analog+to+DV+Converter+for+PC+MAC+(ADVC-100)

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Capture Card

by harley2ride Nov 20, 2006 3:35AM PST

What is the card that came with your Gateway? What resolutions will it capture at 720 x 480.

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Capture Card info

by SonChaser Nov 21, 2006 5:19AM PST

It's a ATI Theatre Pro 550 from what I can tell. It does capture at 720x480 from what the settings tabs I've seen while capturing.

The Gateway I have is Model# GT5032 in case you think I have the wrong card.

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Correction

by SonChaser Nov 22, 2006 5:29AM PST

I was incorrect, my capture card is:

Part#: 104185 - Powercolor Tul Theater 550 PRO TV Tuner

according to the Gateway Website.

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Just FYI.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 22, 2006 5:34AM PST

Having used both ATI, and a powercolor card I can write "it's not going to get better" if you replace that card.

It's standard definition signals and it's ratty, noisy and more.

Bob

New Capture card or not?

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