Tuner Card Recommendations, Please (1 Viewer)

[npoenn]

Hi, I have an HTPC which I've built, running XP Pro SP3.
The specs are:
Motherboard: Asus M2A-VM (bios v1803)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64x2 5000+ (2.6GHz)
RAM: 2 x 1024MB PC25400 (Dual Channel)
Video: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
Remote: MCE Remote
most current drivers for all hardware (as of August 1, 2008)

I currently have a cheap, $15 Sabrent capture card, but the video quality on it is very poor and grainy.
I'm looking for a decent tuner card, either PCI or PCI express, that I can use on this system, preferably costing under $150 USD, and supporting analog and digital input (for future-proofing).
I'll be using it to watch analog cable, as well as a Wii, and PS2, so hopefully a phono (RCA) input as well as coax.
I won't be recording, or having multiple inputs running concurrently.
Thank you all.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Hi npoenn

The new Hauppauge HVR series has some nice features, thinking either the HVR1600 (single tuner hybrid either atsc or HW analogue) or new HVR2250 ( Dual tuner version, can be 2 atsc\analogue or one of each)
HVR1800 is dual tuner one astc, one analogue.

Depends on how you regard futureproofing (if there is such a thing), but the 1600 should do exactly what you have asked.

 

[npoenn]

thanks for the tips!

 

[mupsje]

hauppauge nova s,,,, aka hvr-4000

 

[pigboy306]

Pinnacle 3010ix is an abosolute steal here in the UK twin tuners at £25 works a treat too

 

[josch.hh]

Most of the guys here in the forum use the FireDTV/FloppyDTV from "digital everywhere".
This device seem to have the least problem with suspend/hibernate.
I would recommend this.

 

[thenunz]

I'm looking for a good quality dual tuner that supports analog and digital cable and also allows for simultaneous use. HD support and a single cable input would make it grand. I currently have a hauppauge hvr1600, the quality is just OK. I'm looking for much better quality. The Dvico FusionHDTV7 appears to be what I am looking for but I have seen others in the forums slam it hard. I'm running XP pro with no intentions of going to vista anytime soon.

 

[DugieHowsa]

I just spent two weeks fighting with a VistaView Saber DA-1N1-I on my XP SP2 (and then SP3) PC. I had no luck getting it to work in either MP 0.2.3 or 1.0RC2. I researched the DVICO FusionHDTV7 Gold, and although the hardware seems to be solid, its seems the software that it ships with has issues. I have not been able to find anyone who can say whether it works with MediaPortal or not. The chipset is supported, so if I were to guess, I would say it would.

I am in a tough spot, as I need a low profile card, and I need it to be a PCI card. Why? Because the heat sink from my graphics card intrudes on the space of my open PCI-e slot... DOH!

There was one thread that seemed to make some good recommendation for Australia, but here I am hoping to see what those in the United State and Canada have had success with.