PCA Forums

I figured out that my ATI AIW was running in a system that cannot capture fast enough so I was getting crappy video/audio sync so I moved the AIW in my main machine and here is the problem.

You cannot use an AIW AGP as the second card initialized in a dual monitor system, the AIW has to boot first I had a PCI card in with the AGP intializing first, no go. So, I tried to boot an older PCI AIW first but that screws everything up having two AIWs installed so I pulled the PCI out and have only the AGP AIW running with my second monitor turned off (sucks) for now.

Here is what I want to be able to do:

-Run a dual monitor setup
-While running two monitors capture TV with some type of capture card

I guess I need either a newer PCI AIW or maybe some other type of card/device to capture TV with. Suggestions please, what are you guys using, if you are running a dual monitor and TV capture setup please tell me what you have running.

thanks,

glass

I've never ran dual monitors so I can't help there. But some video cards let you run dual, right?

If so, then it seems you'd just need what I use, a good tv tuner that captures well. They make them that support either just cable/anaolog or digital and even HDTV.

Here's what I use:
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products ... eater.html
That's the older 878 chipset, they have 880 and 881 now which means better picture.

Main thing I love about it is the sound. Most tv tuners are only stereo, this is dolby 5.1 surround sound (I only have 4.1 though). I've tried a tuner with just stereo, and there is NO comparison. With some movies and especially sports, you really notice the surround sound difference. It really is like a good home surround system, if you have decent 4.1 or better speakers the sound really does surround you.

More versions here, depending on what you have:
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/prods.html


However, the one I have comes with crappy software for recording. So I use <a href="http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/prod ... ">powervcr II</a> to watch and record. I use the DV recording selection and it is darn good. When I use just mpeg or the other selections, sound is all out of sync, or fuzzy.

You conect via cable or satellite? You'd need one for whichever you do use.


Best place I've seen to get them is newegg, or perhaps on the forums.


You can get the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 0">leadtek expert</a> with the newer 880 chipset tv tuner at newegg for around $50. It's stereo and records very well I've heard. Even comes with a remote.

Isn't there a setting in bios for AGP/pci first boot? if you set it to PCI your PCI video card should be primary and your AGP should be 2nd.

Pugs,

With an AGP AIW you must intialize it first via the BIOs, if you dont' it will not work as a tv card, only as a video card.

Blade,

I took your advice, it looks a haupage card will work with a dual monitor setup. My AGP card is dual dual head so I ordered a PCI Haupage card, the 250 from newegg. We'll see how it works in a couple of days, if all goes well the AGP Dual head card will give me double monitor and the haupage will display and capture TV on either monitor, sweet if it works and from what I've read on other websites it will.

Thanks for the heads up

glass

You're MUCH better off with a seperate video card capture card (one not integrated into the video card). The trick is, for ideal quality, you want one that captures at 640x480 (most of the ones under $100 capture at 320x240). Read the specs.

Any of the dual head Radeon video cards do dual monitor just fine. I'm using a 9800.

You also DO NOT want a USB capture device unless it's USB2.0. Even then be wary - read reviews online.

QUESTION: Do you own a DV camcorder? If so does it have AV inputs? You're MUCH better off using the DV camcorder as a capture device - the quality will be far superior to most affordable capture cards. All you need is a firewire interface card if you haven't already got one.

I use my DV camcorder as a capture device and it works great. Quality is stunning and I never drop any frames.