MCE TV Tuner Roundup: Featuring ATI's Theater 550 & NVIDIA's NVTV
by Anand Lal Shimpi on April 12, 2005 6:26 PM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
Second Place: Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250
Hauppauge is a name that has been around in the PC TV tuner business for a very long time and they are also extremely common in the MCE scene. Note that while Hauppauge has a fairly extensive lineup of TV tuners, most of them are quite similar to one another. For example, the WinTV PVR-250 is identical to the PVR-500, although the latter has two tuners. The PVR-250 is also identical to the PVR-250MCE and the PVR-350.
The WinTV PVR-250 actually offered significantly better image quality than the competition. Everything looked a lot softer rather than having that hard grainy look that we saw in the previous runner-ups.
The overall picture is quite good, although the colors are a bit oversaturated. In the lower middle you can see minor text box issues.
There were very few text box related issues with the PVR-250, basically nothing compared to the previous few cards. You do pay for the image quality though. The WinTV PVR-250 sells for between $130 - $150, over twice as much as the 3rd place ATI eHome Wonder. At that price, it's tough to justify the Hauppauge, even taking into account the image quality benefits.
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Tiorapatea - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
That all changed when Microsoft released Windows XP Media Center Edition. Bringing the first true 10-foot UI to the PC...Whilst I don't generally like to nitpick too much, I really do find the lack of attention given on this site to Linux solutions a bit puzzling. Linux really isn't all that hard to get going, particularly for enthusiasts. And Anandtech does aim, I believe, to cater for enthusiasts.
Tiorapatea - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
trey007 - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
I have the ATI HDTV Wonder, but I haven't built nor bought a MCE PC because I'm waiting for more confirmation that it will work with my HDTV Card.Also, if I'm not mistaken, it comes with a standard TV Tuner as well, so this article confused me when it said I would need both.
Kishkumen - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
Something to keep in mind, if you have any thoughts at all of using MythTV at some point instead of MCE, you probably want to stay as far away from the ATI cards as possible. Hauppaugue cards have very good drivers, support and knowledge base for both MythTV and Linux in general. ATI TV cards... mmm... not so much... Then again, there are already HDTV based Linux cards with pretty good OTA and QAM capability fully supported under MythTV. You may not even need a crappy analog card. Although a PVR-150 will probably be useful for a while with those obscure analog holdouts on the far end of your cable listings.ChiefNutz - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
Finally, Someone did a comparison review with several cards!!! I've been waiting for ever to see tests run against that ATI Elite & the Hauppauge / NVTV forever.. I do agree with #19 though... but i thought MCE 2005 doesn't support mpeg 4 anyways.. Thanks anadtech for fullfilling my wishes!!! yesoverclockingoodness - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
#24 (Cygni): I agree with your comments, but I disagree with your ideas behind AnandTech. AnandTech is a business, and a successful one at that. If I am not mistaken, AnandTech makes at least $1.2 million a year from ad revenue.And for Anand and his editors, this is a full time. It's not a hobby anymore. :)
BikeDude - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
So... Which one of these cards features Win64 drivers...?--
Rune, soon to enter a TV-free reality...
Cygni - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
Im glad I get to battle through 30 "OMG U LEFT OUR PRODUCT X, THE WHOLE REVIEW = WORTHLESS" posts in every single AnandTech comments thread.A) The PVR-250 Retail is $140 on Newegg.
B) The 150 ISNT IN STOCK at Newegg or Mwave, and has barely been on the market at all. Again, it takes time to write a review and do all the hours of testing required (especially when you realize that THIS IS A HOBBY to everyone who writes the articles). If the card isnt available, or has barely hit the market, how is AnandTech going to have it for a review started weeks ago unless somebody sends one?
C) And ya... if it aint on Newegg, Mwave, or ZoomZipFly, i dont count it as a real price/availability. ;) Call me crazy, haha.
Cant believe how much some people complain about a free website run by volunteers just trying to help people out...
BUBKA - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
Lets Go...... Mountaineers!!!
Googer - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - link
One of nVIDIA's former Executives used to be a big wig engineer at LSI. Now can any one tell my why nVIDIA's solution is using LSI's silicon? Hmmmm....