PVR-250BTV vs. ati aiw

[ataylor20]

I have a ati All-in-wonder card and its fairly old. I bought it a few years back. Im considering upgrading to the Hauppauge PVR-250BTV.

The main reason for the upgrade would be two things:

1) Much better video out display - My current card is distorting the picture quite a bit from what it looks like on out of the satelite itself.

2) Better recording quality with the same or less space requried to record.

Would either of these two items change at all?

thanks,

AT

[SprDtyF350]

Originally Posted by ataylor20

I have a ati All-in-wonder card and its fairly old. I bought it a few years back. Im considering upgrading to the Hauppauge PVR-250BTV.

The main reason for the upgrade would be two things:

1) Much better video out display - My current card is distorting the picture quite a bit from what it looks like on out of the satelite itself.

2) Better recording quality with the same or less space requried to record.

Would either of these two items change at all?

thanks,

AT

The PVR250 does not have video out so it isn't going to make that any better. The PVR250 is a Hardware decoder card where the AIW is a software encoder. The big difference is in CPU usage. The PVR250 does most of the work. Your computer will be much more responsive, won't be pegging 100% cpu usage when recording, or when using the computer for other things while recording.

Recording quality and space are more a matter of bitrate that you are recording at. If you recorded at the same bitrate with either card the space should be pretty close. The PVR250 can record at a high bitrate, with outstanding picture quality with very low CPU usage. The AIW probably could record at a high bitrate also but it would take a really powerful computer.

I use an AIW in one of my machines for the S-Video out only. I use BTV Link on that machine. Works ok for that. Maybe you should look at the decoder you are using, or maybe update the drivers for the AIW. My picture quality using the S-Video out looks pretty good. Mine is an older one also.

I would get the PVR250 just for the performance difference alone. I run 2 PVR250's, and an ATI E-Home in my main BTV machine and it will easily record 3 programs at the same time, while everyone watches different things at the same time. Not going to do that with an AIW, or any other software encoder type card.

Randy

[ataylor20]

Wow.. thanks for all the help.

I guess the PVR isnt really waht Im looking for. I cant use s-video in!?! So maybe I need to get a connection for that. But then im still going to be switching back to coax from whatever device I use for the input.

Im not really worried about the processing speed right now, I have a pc completely devoted to recording.

So you just saved me from the purchase for no reason. But im curious of a way to get a better picture out.

AT

[SprDtyF350]

Originally Posted by ataylor20

Wow.. thanks for all the help.

I guess the PVR isnt really waht Im looking for. I cant use s-video in!?! So maybe I need to get a connection for that. But then im still going to be switching back to coax from whatever device I use for the input.

Im not really worried about the processing speed right now, I have a pc completely devoted to recording.

So you just saved me from the purchase for no reason. But im curious of a way to get a better picture out.

AT

The PVR does have S-Video in. I used to have my satellite boxes hooked up to them. (Went to cable awhile back). To use it with a satellite box you hook the audio, and composite or S-video from the sat box to it. To change the channel on your Sat box from BTV you can use a serial cable if your Sat box has a Low speed, or wideband data port on it. Not all of them do. Or you can use an IR blaster. I used to use the serial cable. The PVR also has an onboard tuner, and a composite input. What it does not have is any video output. I mean, you can't use it to hook up to your TV to see the output. That's where your AIW, or some other video card with TV out will be still needed. If you wanted to use the PVR for your TV output you would need to use a PVR-350 which does have an output.

Hope I haven't confused you..

Randy