DualTV or PVR500...

[briands]

Well, with my transition to HD, the need for most of my SD tuner cards has gone. I do still need to keep one as an Svideo capture for my lowest priority tuner, so I figured I'd keep one of the dual tuner/encoder ones around. There lies the question. I'd like to play with the "loop back hack" (actually I'd rather there was no reason to need the hack) and maybe to play with FM tuning. Any thoughts on which is better suited for these two uses.

BTW - this will be in my WHS server, so maybe neither of these are really feasible.


Nvidia DualTV -
Pro - newer technology, "better" encoders, better form factor
Con - never had very strong Nvidia support - will drivers be available

Hauppauge PVR500 -
Pro - Hauppaug still seems to know it exists
Con - Additional input takes additional slot, runs a little warm

Any thoughts?

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by briands

Well, with my transition to HD, the need for most of my SD tuner cards has gone. I do still need to keep one as an Svideo capture for my lowest priority tuner, so I figured I'd keep one of the dual tuner/encoder ones around. There lies the question. I'd like to play with the "loop back hack" (actually I'd rather there was no reason to need the hack) and maybe to play with FM tuning. Any thoughts on which is better suited for these two uses.

BTW - this will be in my WHS server, so maybe neither of these are really feasible.


Nvidia DualTV -
Pro - newer technology, "better" encoders, better form factor
Con - never had very strong Nvidia support - will drivers be available

Hauppauge PVR500 -
Pro - Hauppaug still seems to know it exists
Con - Additional input takes additional slot, runs a little warm

Any thoughts?

I'm running nVidia DualTVs in my WHS. (Was 2-down to 1) I had PVR500s but felt nVidia with their decoder gave a better picture. Make sure you find the very last (latest) drivers. They support more than 1 card in a single PC.

Gerry

[Fluffdaddy]

I have both but is only using the nVidia DualTV card now.

Better picture

[bhyman1]

The nVidia card is much better than the Hauppauge. Better quality picture.

[paulbeers]

Use the Nvidia Dual. I don't own one, but I have seen enough screen shots to know it is better. Keep the PVR500 around and if for some reason you lose the drivers (and nvidia stops supporting entirely), then drop the PVR500 in. I had an Avermedia Purity 500MCE (dual SD) which was leaps and bounds better than my Hauppauge PVR500. The only advantage of the PVR500 was better support across platforms.

[briands]

Gerry, can you check the version of driver you are using... I can't seem to get this one (my last tuner) working.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by briands

Gerry, can you check the version of driver you are using... I can't seem to get this one (my last tuner) working.

1.34

NVIDIA DualTV Full Install-Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-Windows XP


1.31 won't do it for you.

Gerry

[briands]

Originally Posted by gplasky

1.34

NVIDIA DualTV Full Install-Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-Windows XP


1.31 won't do it for you.

Gerry

Hmmmm. thought that's the one I tried... I'll have to give it another go.