Should have bought the AIW instead of 6800GT

[JamesN]

Hi,
I am regretting to buy the 6800GT video card. This is because now I want to record the old video tapes onto DVD disks, which means I need to get an add-on video card or a AIW card. Questions:
1. Which video card do I have to get?
2. Any PCI video card out there? I don't want to swap out my 6800GT
3. What software do you use to do this?

Thanks!

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 90nm / MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum
Corsair Value 1024MB PC3200 / BFG 6800GT 256MB
Seagate 7200.7 200GB SATA / NEC ND-3520A DVD+Rw
CoolerMaster TAC-T01-E1C / TruePower 480W

 

[pauldh]

Well, reasons to be sorry would be that the AIW X800XT outperforms your card and was on sale for only $338 at one time. But no need to worry. Video cards and video capture cards are two different things. The AIW series happens to combine them that's all. You won't lose the great gaming of your 6800GT. Just buy a seperate PCI TV Tuner/ Video capture card, which has nothing to do with your current AGP video card.

I'm no expert on this and maybe others can point you toward other hardware based capture devices. But I've used <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122180" target="_new">this one</A> in many systems including 2 of my own. I just use the supplied software, along with the NTI DVD software that came with my burner, as well as Nero 6 suite. Not sure how much better the <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122200" target="_new">PVR model</A> is compared to the expert, and no time to read into it right now. But no worries about adding a separate card instead of buying the AIW. The AIW just might have saved you some money depending where you live. AIWX800XT AGP is a good deal in the USA, but so is a 6800GT AGP.

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<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pauldh on 05/11/05 12:21 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[cleeve]

The AIW would have been nice, but all is not lost.

Keep your 6800GT, just get an add-in PCI card, the Ati Theater 550 cards have great video capture capability.

________________
<b>Geforce <font color=red>6800 Ultra</b></font color=red>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~3300+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 412 FSB @ 2266 Mhz)</i>
<b>3dMark05: <font color=red>5,275</b>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I'd ask Crashman which he thinks would be best, the Theatre 550 or the Hauppauge series. He's had experience with both I think, and the X800XT as well (*cough* see review front page *cough*).

I heard that of all the theatre 550 cards to get the Sapphire and MSI ones are the ones to go with because they still use the old software which is a little more user friendly and flexible IIRC.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com/" target="_new"><font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Pfft!

GF6800GT was a terrible choice, and so would've been the X800, he shoulda bought an XGI Volari Duo, imagine it, just Awesomgra!


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com/" target="_new"><font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[pauldh]

The AGP AIW X800XT was on Newegg and Buy.com for $338 shipped after $50 rebate.


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[Crashman]

You just need a video input card. These aren't graphics cards, they're input only. A lot of site advertize firewire cards under the name "video input", but that's a complete lie.

Video Input cards have most commonly been TV tuner cards, with the tuner omitted to save money. Today they're less popular than TV tuner cards, which also offer video input.

VHS is low quality, for the best results you'll want a card with the best filters. I'd suggest a Theater 550 series card, from Saphire, Powercolor, etc. These cards are identicle to the ATI TV-Wonder Elite, but don't include the same remote. They're also much cheaper.

You don't need a remote for what you're doing, so I'd go with the cheapest Theater 550 card you can find. Oh, and the software sucks, but it's usable, so you won't have any problems.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[cleeve]

Doh! AGP! Missed that.

In that gase, the 6800GT was pretty much the best thing he could buy...

________________
<b>Geforce <font color=red>6800 Ultra</b></font color=red>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~3300+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 412 FSB @ 2266 Mhz)</i>
<b>3dMark05: <font color=red>5,275</b>

 

[pauldh]

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102492" target="_new">Retail Box BBA AGP AIW X800XT $333</A> Never mind the extra AIW features, show me an AGP card that outperforms this for $333.


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[pauldh]

Yeah, it's going in and out of their one day sale's page I think. Might be a different price tomorrow. But still a good deal for anyone needing it today.



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[BirdRobin]

BARF.

AMD A64 3200+ Newcastle @ 2.4 Ghz
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1GB Corsair DDR400 ValueSelect (CL2.5) @ DDR440
Geforce MX440 64mb @ C300Mhz/M400MHZ on FANLESS COOLING >.<