Video card VS Capturing Device

[Ihab]

Hi ... i need to buy a graphics card with video capturing capabilities ... and my choices are limited ... and here they are:
Gigabyte 9200 VIVO 128 RAM
Powercolor 9200 VIVO 128 RAM
A non-brand ... powered by ATI ... 9600 PRO VIVO 128 RAM
And my last choice ... ATI 9500 PRO 128 RAM which doesn't support video in ... so if i am gonna get this card i would need another video capturing card as Hauppage or Pinnacle but i really have no idea about those cards ... so i need some advice in here if i am gonna get 9500 PRO.
Would you please help me fast as there are not too many of those cards in the market.
Thanks.

 

[cleeve]

First off, what are you capturing from? A digital source (like a DV cam) or an analog source (like a Hi8)?

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Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439

 

[Ihab]

Well i have a Hi8 Sony Handycam (analogue) ... but my dad got DV cam and i will be using also VHS tapes to capture from .... basically i need the analogue and the digital features. I checked Hauppage but they are sold for very high prices where i live ... What about Pixelview?? It is quite cheap but i have no idea about its quality.
Any help would be greatley appreciated.
Tahnks.

 

[cleeve]

Hmmmm. Okay.

If it was Digital only, you could get away with a Firewire card and be done with it. Not so lucky.

I'm guesssing that this is an amateur production, and I also get the feeling you want to play games with this machine as well?

If that's the case, you can't go wrong with the Radeon 9600 PRO VIVO.
The 9600 PRO is a great gaming chip, and the onboard VIVO should be fuine for an amateur production.

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Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439

 

[oymd]

bump

 

[Ihab]

Well yeah i am planning to play some games if i got the time for that ... BUT i need the card to be AIW or at least VIVO... that serves me well in part time gaming and purely amateur video gaming, editing, capturing... etc
But the thing is the card 9600 Pro VIVO i saw which is powered by ATI was brandless and that's why i am worried.
One more thing ... what if i want to install the latest software for it ... ATI has only 9600 PRO ... and no VIVO yet ... so if i install the latest software for it ... Will the VIVO function work ?? but i heard that ATI will release the 9600 PRO VIVO soon ... we are talking weeks time ...
What about Pixelview ... have you got any idea about them ??

 

[Ihab]

Oh ... do you really think so ??

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

ATI doesn't put VIVO on their cards that's usually just their partners. ATI doesn't want to compromise their AIW lines.

You can get VIVO from their partners, HIS, Creative and Triplex to name a few.

There are no nameless makers, it's not a market stall, so you should look harder and find out who is making that OEM R9600.


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[Ihab]

Well i searched for the ATI powered card 9600 Pro VIVO and here is a link ... http://www.gigacube.com.tw/products/r9600pro.htm
It's made by a company called GeXcube or Gigacube. I have never heard of it before. So what do you think? ... I have a feeling it's gonna do the job as i am not a computer freak ... i just a need a good gamer card with VIVO option.

 

[daddywags214]

Hate to say it, but gigacube sucks.

<b>nVidia cheated on me so I left her for ATi. ATi's hotter anyway...</b>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Avoid Gigacube like the plague, read my MANY other posts about their poor quality POS. See <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=362880#362880" target="_new">'Gigacube should I'</A> as an example.

If all you want is ViVo then go for it, it'll 'do', and give your very mediocre gaming performance (think along the lines of the FX5200Ultra or FX5600non-ultra). However if you want good video performance then go with either a better VIVO maker (REDai is the best IMO) or buy two separate cards. The Gigacube is a poor answer IMO.
But then again it is your money.


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[Ihab]

Thanks a lot ... I am not gonna buy the gigacube. But then again what should i get ??
My choices are cut down to this ... ATI 9500 PRO (made by ATI) and this is a great card and i know it can be overclocked to perform as 9700 PRO.
For the Video capturing ... My choices are limited to this ... Hauppage (WinTV-PVR series) which makes excellent cards but are quite expensive ... and PixelView (PlayTV Pro Ultra) that i don't have any idea about it and it is very cheap that makes you feel it's crappy.
So what do you think ??
Thanks again.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

R9500Pro is a great card. If you can get an R9700non-pro that would be good too/better.

Don't get the PVR version of the hauppage unless you really need tePVR function, the lower WinTV and WinTV FM should do fine at the same level, and be significantly cheaper. Personally I prefer something with RCA or SVHS jacks over just coaxial cable jacks. Howeve the thing is to find the capture card that suits your needs. It's hard to chose, but Hauppauge does have something for every need it seems.


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