Leadtek Winfast TV2000 XP Expert what do people think

[jeremymacmull]

Ok as a follow on from the 9600xt thread

thanks to all those that replied i now know that the ATI 9600xt does not have video capture

so i have elected to buy a video capture card i only need composite in

it was mentioned that a 10bit filter based on the CX2388X chip rather than the bt878 chip would be better so i have looked and come up with this card the Leadtek Winfast TV2000 XP Expert for £40 from overclockers.co.uk anyone know of a better card for about the same price (top end £50) or is this a good card

i want to capture VHS from a camcorder. which has composite out and the card has composite in

JEREMY

[jeremymacmull]

just did a search my first search did not turn up anything and the second one did

it seems its a mixed bag what people think of the leadtek winfast tv2000xp expert card

i ONLY want it for capturing from composite sources i can use my audigy 2 zs for the audio is this a good idea or will i have sync problems.

does VDUBmod or vdub work on this card and does it have the wdm drivers everyone bangs on about

any help would be appreciated. thanks im a newbie to capturing although been here otherwise a long time.

Lastly if i captured in 768X576 full pall using huffy what kinda of amount of time would i be likely to get with an 80gb hdd empty this should get me 2hrs of capturing right??

JEREMY

[lexor]

from what the replies were to my post about that card, it takes about 13GB for 30min huffyuv capture.

btw would you mind pointing me to some reviews that expose it's shortcomings? all I see is propaganda...

[jeremymacmull]

Um ive not found any reviews that expose its shortcomings but ive not really looked i was hoping someone here would point me in the right direction but more so someone who has used it for capture and has opinions on it (DONT say www.google.com)

the only thing that seems consistent is that the audio support is not so hot so a lot of people reccomend using your sound card to capture audio and since i have an creative audigy 2 zs which is a 7.1 soundcard i dont think thatll be a prob

JEREMY


PS 13 gb for 30 mins huffy at what resolution 768X576 ?? or less ??

but basically i should easily get two hours then on a 80gb ibm 7200rpm 2mb cache 120gxp hdd right !! plus maybe space for some editing

JEREMY

[lexor]

yup rez is 704x480, and about review you said you found mixed impressions so I thought you found some bad reviews.

also I'm not really sure what you mean by composite capture. It seems to only have Coax (for cable tv), S-Video, and some audio ins.

[jeremymacmull]

composite as in composite out the yellow little connector out of some vcrs and camcorders ive seen it and it does have it most if not all cards do that can capture.

its when u have three plug red black/grey and yellow the yellow is video composite while the red and black/grey is audio l + R

mixed reviews cos they found the tv software to be buggy and the sound quality of the capture to be not so good so they reccomend using your sound card for it. which i shall do. but the picture quality is supposed to be excellent so thats all that matters to me.

JEREMY

PS the capture things are available by a av 9 din dongle thing which attaches to the back of the card. this dongle give composite in svideo in and L+R audio in

[kevzee]

hello

I purchased the Leadtek 2000 expert earlier last month
overall the picture is good
i have read around and found out that the decoder chip
does not use any noise filtering,which does show up,
but i am also getting some faint verticle ghosting bars
which some peolple would probally not even notice,
but once you see them, you can't avoid them :)

i use virtualVCR tweeked for leadtek patch (the only capture app
that allows the leadtek expert to capture 768 X 575 to avi?)

i can capture 2 hrs of video with no dropped frames (the capture app has a audio dynamic resampler option)

if anyone else has the verticle bar problem with a possible solution please drop me a line

kevzee

[jeremymacmull]

@kevzee

"i use virtualVCR tweeked for leadtek patch (the only capture app
that allows the leadtek expert to capture 768 X 576 to avi?)

i can capture 2 hrs of video with no dropped frames (the capture app has a audio dynamic resampler option"

could u tell me more about this virtualVCR patch thing

and what spec is your system that u can capture for 2hrs without dropped frames my spec is in my signature and the drive im capturing to will be the ibm one .

JEREMY

[Arachnotron]

- This card has WDM drivers (all cards have nowadays)

- for VCR capping you always need an external soundcard with TV cards

- The sound sync problem is a wdm/directshow related problem which doesn not hit everybody. Some people have problems, some don't. It is not a problem of this specific card I think. A real (internal) soundcard instead of AC97 on-board sound also seems to help.

- The capping options in vdub were developed when windows 98 and the BT878 both were king. By now both are beginning to show their age. (Which does not say anything about vdub as a video processing app. There it is absolutely first rate and very much up to date)

Vdub/vdubmod caps using the older windows 9x vfw interface, and might have problems with this card (and any other modern card for that matter) as it has to go over a Microsoft supplied vfw wrapper program if you use w2k or winXP and wdm drivers (which, again, all modern cards do). If it works, great, but apart from the BT878 crowd I get the impression not many people can use vdub for capping under winXP or win2000 any more. (sligh attemp at trolling here :D )

So I wouldn't worry too much about that one.

By the way, most of this stuff is in the capping guide and the faq of this forum.
:sly:

[jeremymacmull]

Thanks very much Arachnotron

so virtual VCR it is.

is this program free where can i get it etc

i have the audigy 2 zs soundcard so i can use that for capping the sound

will i likely have sync problems ?? etc etc

Jeremy

PS on a side note apart from capping since im getting this card whats the TV like

ive already got a nebula USB for DVB-T digital terrestial so im not really interested in analogue tv much as picture would be dire etc compared to my digital tv card but as long as i have it i might as well use it for the teletext. whats that like on it anyone

JEREMY

[Arachnotron]

Get virtualVCR here (it is freeware):

http://virtualvcr.sourceforge.net/

You can still try virtualdub, it might work for you.

Sync problems: try and see. Your system looks ok as far as that is concerned.

TV quality: no idea. I have a Hauppauge card with a CX23881, so probably different tuner. In general, TV quality of these cards is ok.

TV cards are more sensitive to bad antenna signal then regular TV sets though.

[jeremymacmull]

thanks for all the help Arachnotron i found your advice very very helpfull

(i would not have know to look for a card with the 10 bit chip as compared to the 8 bit bt878 before nor would i have know about virtual vcr ) thanks again

JEREMY

[kevzee]

my machine specification is a pentium 2.6 Ghz
100 gig western digital hard drive
ac97 onboard sound

i run RGB source coverted to s-video

i removed the tuner module from the card to try and clean up the noise
but i still find vertical ghosting bars running down the center of screen

they are very faint and want to know if anyone else has them
(you need to turn up the brightness and contrast in device settings of capture app)
i mention it because once encoded to dvd these anomilies can show up

the virtualVCR patch for xp is here http://wave.prohosting.com/avarakin/Video/

kevzee

[vljenewein]

I have the Leadtek WinFast TV2000 XP Deluxe board and I have not had any problems or experienced video noise or line. I just bought the "Expert" model. If you wish to get a bit of users feedback, visit www.newegg.com click "shop by category", go to Video Devices and Add ons and take a look at Leadtek. You can look at several others, but there it is listed with unbiased feedback on those that bought it and are using it. The 10 bit processing is much desirable. I'm a photographer, and it's easier to blur a picture later in the darkroom in enlarging with a soft filter than it ever is to blur a picture at the moment of capture, and then try to sharpen it later. My MPEG-2 files look great btw, and soon to get the newer board and shold also expect improvements and such. There are a BUNCH of codec options when you "rip" from the camcorder to the hard drive. almost too many.
Vern

[jeremymacmull]

@ vljenewein

thanks i found the reviews on newegg to be most insightful and very usefull

well it looks like this is definately the card im going to get then thanks all for all the help

JEREMY

[Owen]

The “Expert” is a great card. No noise here.
I have used many BT8x8 cards, an MSI TV@naywhere and a Flyvideo 3000.
The “Expert” is the best for full resolution PAL capture over Svideo.

I always use FlyDS for capture and have perfect sound sync using the on board sound on an Asus P4P800 Deluxe main board fitted with a P4 2.8C running at 3.5Gig.
I normally capture direct to FFVFW Mpeg4 codec or Xvid with Radium Mp3 sound at DVD data rates.

Regards,

Owen

[Kb_cruncher]

I get horizontal lines with a strobe like effect with my "expert" tuner which is really annoying and i find the color to be wrong compared to my hauppage card the color is really bad e.g at the start of every movie on my sat tv is a logo that is gold, the expert shows this logo to be dark bronze and overall the colors seem to be squashed and everything looks almost sepia.

I also find that the s-video in has a "wire mesh" like effect, i can reduce it by decreasing the sharpness in virtualvcr but it is also very annoying.

So overall i am not impressed with this card compared to my hauppage WinTV Radio(bt878) card.

I read that the MSI TV@nywhere has an updated driver for WinXP that has SP1 installed, i wonder if this is the problem with the expert?

[vljenewein]

I downloaded and instlled the "newer" WinFast PVR and the drivers "WDM" from the leadtek site. I had no luck at the "usa" site and so downloaded from the tw site.

Could be the drivers and such giving you a problems becuase I have no problems with color shift on the capture video compared to the original. There is a setting in the PVR setup in configuration that will adjust the colors in 3 different settings if you want something differernt. "I also find that the s-video in has a "wire mesh" like effect, i can reduce it by decreasing the sharpness in virtualvcr but it is also very annoying." I've never encountered this..ever on the older "Deluxe" card or the newer "Expert" card I just installed last night.

Try to download and install the newer drivers and PVR program from their website. I know I had some problems installing my Winfast TV2000 XP Delux some months ago, and I believe it was from using the drivers on the CD that came with the card. The downloaded drivers fixed all the problems.

On a side note, the one oddity with capturing last night with the Expert card was I had no sound. I have a Canon ES75 Hi8 camcorder that has an S-Video out and also a mini plug (looks like stero plug)on the side that has audio and video out and goes to RCA type conntectors - one for audio - one for video. I connected the audio connector to the audio on the Expert card (white to white) but I had no sound on playback. There is a connector internally in the computer that connects the soundcard to the Expert card and I might have them switched around backwards. My workaround was to use the existing audio out from the camcorder and put an adapter on the RCA that allowed a Mini-plug and I plugged that into the input of my Soundblaster Live sound card on the back of the computer. That set up worked. Video and audio sync are correst too.

Vern

[Kb_cruncher]

The "wire mesh" effect could be caused by my source input which is digital satelite because i get exactly the same effect through the s-video in on my hauppage card too.

Downloading the latest drivers and PVR now, i'm using an ftp client to do it because the drivers listed are later release compared with the one offered via http :cool:

[vljenewein]

Well, I did some tinkering with the PDR of my WinFast TV2000 XP Expert card, (herein after referred to as "expert") and the setting of the PDR.

I had no audio. Someone else may have experienced this so I will tell you what I found and what I did.

No sound although I had video and everything was connected to the expert card where it should be ... s-video in and remote audio from camcorder going to the 'white' RCA jack IN on the expert card.

When I would record the only way I got any audio with my video was when I was connected with a mini-jack adapter to RCA and plugged into the "line-in" of the card directly. Although, there is a 3 wire connector from the expert card to the AUX - In on my sound card. I would get video if only connected to the expert card.

Read some more at www.leadtek.com website and the audio is controlled by the sound card, so I checked the setting in control panel, and everything is as it shold be.. THEN!!;)

I started up WinFast PVR (Personal Video Recorder) and looked at the configuration. Seems it defaulted to Audio In (line in) and Audio Out (line in). I changed the Audio In setting to (AUX IN) and teh Audio Out to (Speaker Out) and tried it and now I have audio with the video. The setting is correct IF you have your audio source from your camcorder, vcr, whatever connected directly to the Line-In jack on the outside of the sound card. What you need to do to utilize the connector wire from the expert card to the sound card is to change the setting in the PVR to the above for AUX so it works with that 3wire plug audio out -> AUX in.

Hope that helps anyone else out having this sound issue.
Vern

[kevzee]

hi

I have been playing around with this card for about a month now
but i cant get rid of shadow/s as seen on the following picture.

http://admin1234.users.btopenworld.com/line.jpg

anyone have any ideas

i tried different leads, different sources and noise reduction filters.
my old capture card (philips chip) doesnt see it.
is it because the expert card is too good ?

kevzee

[vljenewein]

Intersting shadow! I'd worry more about the guy on the right with one eyebrow! LOL well, anyway, I was wondering if this shows up in the original source? What is the source, vcr tape? It could be that it finds it because it's there, and you might be able to blend it out by reducing the saturation level on the configurations of the card.

Nice image, clean and clear (except for the 1 eyebrowed guy).

BTW I bought and downloaded the Nero 6 Ultra that has the NeroVision Express2 with it and it does a decent enough job of creating chapter, titles, etc. takes a while. I tried the Video 7 from Ulead and do NOT have kind words for the resulting quality of the video it created using it's "capture" mode for the winfast card. It looks like something you see on TV when they are using satellite phone.. except worse!

I also use a program I found on the internet that is a GREAT little editor called Chopper XP. I can QUICKLY start on a video file and go to where I want ot 'mark out' and save it. I used save as *.mpg rather than the *.vob file that is the default and it worked great that way.!! www.digital-miner.com

[hartford]

@ kevzee

I have the "XP" version (BT8xx).

Is your example from using the Leadtek application?

I've only seen that sort of thing (interlace artifacts) when using
VirtualVCRpatched.

The Leadtek application seems to do a "blur" when it captures; at
least it does on my XP version.

[Kb_cruncher]

Thats exactly the same effect i get with the expert only i called it a "strobe" effect as it moves down the picture a few times a second and in my case it is horizontal not vertical.

I have tried the latest drivers and pvr with no change, i am so frustrated and disappointed with my so called "expert" that i'm gonna take to it with a sledgehammer and get me a MSI TV@nywhere.

[vljenewein]

On my Winfast expert card I can open up the PVR and there are several "Capture Format Profiles" to choose and withing each there are other "Video Codec" that are listed. Perhaps trying the MPEG-2 optinamal or DirectBurn DVD would produce a better video for you.

I've wondered what some of the codecs I have will do. Some are: MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (pretty much standards), Windows Media(R) Video Compression, DV Video Encoder, Indeo video 5.04 Compression Filter, Indeo video 5.10 Compression Filter, MJPEG compression, Cinepak Codec by Radius, DivX Codec 4.12, Nero Digital Video Encoder, Huffyuv v2.1.1, Intel 4:2:0 Video V2.50, Intel Indeo(R) Video R3.2, Intel Indeo Video 4.5, Indeo Video 5.10... and so on. Several more, but you get the idea. There are several choices of Capture Format Profile and then there are within each of these, serveral choices of Codec versions.

I would suspect that Choosing the Nero Digital Video Encoder would be a good choice when I am working with the Nero Vision Express2 editing program?? I would believe that the more information you save (capture) to the hard drive the better for quality. As the program you choose to make your final movie will re-code the digial file into respective titles, chapter, and so on and the better it is before the better it should be after it is done. Am I right on this thinking or just "wishing"?
Vern


BTW isn't there a way to insert a file or small jpeg picture into the body of the message?

[kevzee]

Hi guys

I am going to try a MSI TV@nywhere card
it has got the same chip on board

i will get back to you when i have installed it

kevzee

[Terillius]

I just got this card (tv2000 xp deluxe) and it has really impressed me so far. My only comparison was my old geforce4 with onboard VIVO though. The only problem so far is that the PVR software scheduling is pretty fickle. It seems to record at random within my limits and I can't figure out why. I also get vertical noise, but I think it's noise from my ancient building's crappy wiring.

Are there any other options for scheduled capturing? I read that I can use VirtualVCR with command line options and task scheduler, but I have a pretty complicated recording schedule and that would be a real pain.

[vljenewein]

You might try going to leadtek's web site and downloading and installing the PVR from there. http://www.leadtek.com.tw/support/download.asp?pronameid=292 There were some updates to it I do believe. It might help. Also there are some drivers there as well. They are not MS certified but seem to work excellent on my XP home machine.

BTW my next goal is a AMD 64bit clawhammer and MB to support it at 800 MHz Front Side Bus. I've read about it at www.newegg.com and it's a real killer for speed!! Should work great at encoding.

[Terillius]

First of all, huhhuhuhuhuhuh, clawhammmmmerrrr....:o

I actually started with the latest versions of drivers and software. I uninstalled everything and put it back on last night and it caught my 3 shows just fine. Hopefully it keeps working.

[vljenewein]

Terillius: Glad that the Scheduling worked for you! I've really had a blast with the card. It does take some time, and you should be willing to be an experimenter and keep tweaking. Try this or that and do a capture. change something you think might improve it and try a capture. I noticed that the stock capture from my 8mm tapes were kind of muddy, and so I tweaked the brightness up a bit and the saturation up a bit with the settings. I went too far at first and it only takes a little bit, but, My GOSH, what an improvement.

If you take a look at this website I posted a pic of some of the codecs available. Are these all useful, or just to certain software applications? http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=259568#post259568

Oh, and the ClawHammer I referred to is the newer AMD 64 Bit processors. Microsoft has a free download or CD of the Windows XP 64bit operating system for users... free. (like that price). The speed of the new AMD chip is something to behold. It has great potential I feel, for use in the re-coding of video files. It cuts the MP3 conversions time to better than 1/2 of what normally took.
Vern

[JustinH]

I have that same card, and my results are terrible just taping stuff from regular cable tv.

Even when i had digital it still looked funny.

I have those lines like above, only much worse.

I think its the quality of the analog cable signal I have plugged into it. Even on my tv it looks fuzzy.

I will try my camera with a s video and see how that looks.

I still like the card, it does what i want it to do, record tv when I am away, and I don't have to pay a bill for stupid tivo.

For the amount of tv I watch (very very little) it works fine.

JH

[Terillius]

I cut the vertical lines considerably by moving my splitter away from the heater and the back of my computer. I think it would actually be worth it to get a splitter with a signal booster. I mean, I only have 12 feet of cable between me and the wall, i didn't think I would have any degradation.

As for codecs, I use divx exclusively. I record a simpsons episode at about 1000 kbps and then use virtualdub to cut the commercials and it ends up at about 175 MB, perfect for four episode CDs. I just tried the huffyuv codec to record and it is nice because it is less cpu intensive so I can do stuff without worrying about dropping frames, not to mention the benefits of VBR. However, its like what? 10GB/hour? Damn!

[kevzee]

hello again

i installed a msi tv@nywhere master yesterday and all ghosting is now gone
it uses the same cx23881 video decoder chip as the leadtek card
the picture seems slightly softer but not noticable
and there seems to be slightly more color bleed but it can be cleaned up in post filters
i just installed the drivers and then captured with virtualVCR

so for me the msi@anywhere card is my recommendation

kevzee

[vljenewein]

I had some outstanding success with the Leadtek Winfast Expert card tonight, and I felt it would be amiss not to share things I did. They may help someone else out, or at lest give them a direction to go.

I started up the PVR and went into configuration. There I set the capture mode to DirectBurn DVD NTSC , and I modified that configuration to be 1000 for video quality (600 default) and the kbps from 6000 to 10000, chose VBR and saved it giving it a name. I then changed the 2nd over feature in the Video part to just a little bit more brightness, saturation, and contrast, and saved that color profile as a name.

The frame rate was checked at 29.97 fps and limited the file size to 1048 Kb.

After I captured the file from the analog camcorder (as an *.mpg) I used Chopper XP version 2.2 to chop the scenes to what I wanted and named them 1xxxx.mpg, 2xxxxx.mpg and so on. I used Nero Vision Express 2 to do the building of the title, import the saved *.mpg files, create chapters, etc. and my burned DVD has title, chapters, background menu, etc. and plays like the original source, but seems a bit more brighter and richer.

Just my take, but Winfast and Nero make a sweet combination. AND I've tried Ulead's Video Studio 7, DeskShare's Video Edit Magic 3.18, Cyberlinks, and even one called NeoDVD Plus 5 version. I found that Nero has the best time for recoding, gives DVD compliant movies, ie.. *.IFO, *.VOB etc, and the thing plays great on a set top DVD player.

I had no idea there were so many options in video editing software out there. Using Nero 6 Ultra (that includes Nero Vision 2) seems to give nearly every option I need to preserve the analog video. Also I saw no ghosting, lines, or other aberrations in the final movie.

[jeremymacmull]

See now that is the kind of post i need to see

so i think ill probably be using nero from now on

although i might use premiere pro to edit the clips first

JEREMY

[Q-W-Y]

Ghosting is caused by badly filtered power supply.
So if u want to take it off, just add a big electrolytic capacitors in parallel with HDD power cable (both voltage branches (5V and 12V).

Xc= 1/(2PI*f*C) -so the more capacity the better. I use two capacitors with 4700 MicroFarads/16 V per one supply ramus



+12V GND GND +5V
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
--[I-- --I]--



--[I-- marks capacitor :)

[ marks positive pole





So if you connect 2 capacitors to every supply ramuses where are connected HDDs or CD-ROM drives, your problems will dissapear.

[Khambatt]

Incoming newbie post =)

I appreciate the information here, in the guides, and on the other threads I've read. I've spent about 15 hours reading various information during my 5-day wait period, and althought it frustrated me, I have learned a lot because of it.

My question on this card is rather basic. I am considering buying it. I currently have 4 PCs on a home network, very rudimentary. I am running XP Home, no router, just a hub, zonealarm firewall. The 4th pc is a P3 600 with 256 megs of ram and an OLD ATI All-in-Wonder 128 card. It's 8 megs. I use it to watch tv. I want to begin taking my VHS-C tapes and converting them to digital format to burn on to DVDs.

Therefore, I want to get a card that will support composite in (this card does) to do the capture part. I have either a P4 1.4 GHZ with 768 megs of ram and about 10 gigs of HD space on OR a P4 2.6 mhz with 512 megs of ram and about 150 gigs of HD space that I can put the card into. However, BOTH currently have onboard sound. My question is this:

Does the Leadtek card take the audio from either the composite in OR from my cable if I watch TV and someout output it to audio? The current ATI All-In-Wonder that I have has a line out from the AIW to my audio card. Does the Leadtek? Or does the leadtek have an internal (in case) jumper that I need to connect to the sound card which would be a problem, considering I have onboard sound?

And, although I am sure a separate sound card will provide better audio, will it make *THAT MUCH* of a difference. Please keep in mind I am not a professional. I will be transfering home movies taken on a crappy cam-corder of my Kid's birthday party.

I am prepared to purchase the card, and start to learn how to capture using the appropriate software (ie, Virtualdub if necessary, or something else). I just want to make sure I am covered on Audio before I do.

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply (if you do)

[vljenewein]

Khambatt, you said, " I have either a P4 1.4 GHZ with 768 megs of ram and about 10 gigs of HD space on OR a P4 2.6 mhz with 512 megs of ram and about 150 gigs of HD space that I can put the card into."

Put it into the P4 2.6 with 512 megs. Onboard sound is not a problem. There is an adapter cable supplied with the expert cart that lets you go from the card (audio out) to your onboard motherboards sound "AUX IN". Barring you don't have that, and it would be rather unlikely, you can connect via the RC cable directly from your camcorder source and if you have to, put an adapter on it from RCA to mini jack and just plug it into the line in on the back of the computere near the sound cards line out plug.

Either way, you need to remember that when you load and run the WinFast PVR software that there are provisions for setting how your address your audio input. There is AUX, line in, etc.. so, choose that which you are going to use. I've used both ways. Here is a link to take a look at the specs and there a link to the actual product link site. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-180&catalog=47&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1


Q-W-Y: Your suggestions are great merit! There had to be a simple answer to why the same card performs so well in my (or other's) computer and so oddly in someone elses. The Card manufacturers try to address all aspects of their designe, but there are so very many different hardware configuraions out there. My thought, could you not just replace the Power Supply with a more quality PSU with higher wattage to circumvent the spurious ghosting? I run 450Watt PSU on my computer, but then ALL 4 IDE slots are taken up, along with a lot of other necessities as well.
Vern

[kevzee]

hi

RE: Q-W-Y

the ghosting i see is also on the capture screen not just on the captured footage
would these extra capacitors also effect motherboard voltages (ie leadtek card)?

kevzee

[Q-W-Y]

Originally posted by kevzee
hi

RE: Q-W-Y

the ghosting i see is also on the capture screen not just on the captured footage
would these extra capacitors also effect motherboard voltages (ie leadtek card)?

kevzee

It will also effect motherboard voltages.

If you want to have even better cleaned voltage, then connect one small ceramic capacitor in parallel with all the fans which are powered from the motherboard. (one capacitor per one fan) e.g. 100nF (nano Farads)

[Q-W-Y]

Originally posted by vljenewein
My thought, could you not just replace the Power Supply with a more quality PSU with higher wattage to circumvent the spurious ghosting? I run 450Watt PSU on my computer, but then ALL 4 IDE slots are taken up, along with a lot of other necessities as well.
Vern

Yes, it pertinets to wattage too - if the capacitors won't help, then the Power Supply is unduly weak. Your PS is strong enought. I use 350Watt PS though I have almost the same configuration like you. It works greatly with capacitors. ;)

[assemblage]

I've never got mine to display a picture. It finds channels and plays sound, but no video. So far I'm very disapointed in the card. I was really looking forward to it and recording some bowl games and the Super Bowl and other things. Sigh ;(

[Khambatt]

I replied about my card on another thread... i'll summarize here.

I bought this card specifically based on reviews I saw on this thread plus a few others. I had spoken with the thread originator via email to answer some questions since I didnt have post ability yet.

I ordered the card from Newegg.com and it came in 2 days rather than 5. I opened the box and was originally a bit disappointed. I was under the assumption that there was a LINEOUT from the card that would go into my sound card. However, there are apparently 3 versions of the card and the one I got uses an internal cable/jumper. Luckily I have the layout of my mobo and found the "CD LINE" plug quickly.

I basically put the card in an available PCI slot, turned it on, cancled out of the plug-and-play wizard, dropped in the install disc, installed via the instructions, rebooted, connected the FM antenna and my cable in, put the batteries in the remote, pressed the ON button, and was watching TV. It took all of 3 minutes. The only configuration changes I had to do was make sure it looked for "CD LINE" rather than "LINE IN" for audio. I also changed the quality to BEST rather than GOOD .. just because I wanted higher quality.

I have used the card to do the following:
1)Convert VHS-C tapes from my camcorder using composite in
2)Record TV using the record button
3)record TV using the Titan TV Scheduling thing that comes up when you click the EPG button
4)Captures screenshots of the Oscars with Angelena Jolee with that SEXY DAMNED DRESS as JPGs.

I have had no problems with this card AT ALL. It ran good as gold out of the box and I'm THRILLED with it. it came with ULEAD'S MovieFactory 7 SE and DVD MAker or something 2.5 SE. The programs are SUPER EASY to use and I edited 2+ hrs of video down to 1 hour with some cool effects, then burned it to disc after authoring it with DVD Maker. All in all super card, super quality, super software. I'm very "up" on it.

I actually have an extra that I'm going to install in a second box unless I can sell it first hehe.

I havent figured out using VirtualDub with it yet. I tried reading the website and frankly found the instructions lacking. Given i'm a newb and not a full-fledged geek yet .. i couldnt figure it out and since the software that came with the card works fine, i didnt bother. Maybe one day I'll be "that good" and use it, but for now I'm VERY happy.

[jeremymacmull]

Very good summary Khambatt

i think assemblage either did not follow instructions or was just unlucky

JEREMY

I myself have had no probs

[assemblage]

I think I was unlucky. I RMA'd the first one to make sure I didn't get a bad one. The second one was the same way. Even using all the new drivers and software. I contacted customer service and they sent me a link to step by step instructions of how to install drivers. I already knew this though. I've spent a lot of time redoing this installation in every way I can think of. I even wiped the HD and reinstalled the MS XP OS and loaded the Direct X version that came with the card. I used old drivers and new drivers.

However, I have a local friend whose setup of his card was very simple, like Khamatt's, and it works well for him.

[vljenewein]

Great stuff, Khambatt!! I have the expert card listen to FM, recorded FM music with it. Watched TV, captured analog from my old 8mm camcorder and burned to DVD. However I used the Nero and I think every one has their preferrences.

You are very right about the cables, Khambatt! I couldn't figure out why I didn't have any sound and it dawned on me that it was connected to AUX on my Soundblaster card "IN" and not the "LINE IN" on the outside..Corrected that easily in the configuration.

assemblage, I'm not sure of your computer setup. There is a lot that goes into the considerations. What kind of Video card you have, how much memmory on the card, available RAM, Hard drive space, and so on. Is the TV cable connected to the TV and not the FM side? I did that once and wondered why the VCR was not comming through. *S*

The card does work good, and perhaps it's weakenss is it's clarity as a TV tuner, unless I have crappy reception.:D