HDTV Support on a $180 videocard with PCI-Express

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

While window shopping at CompUSA online, the spec for the Xtasy Radeon X700
Video Card, PCI Express, 256MB DDR includes HDTV support
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=332175&pfp=BROWSE

while the Radeon X800 Video Card, PCI Express, 128MB DDR
DOESN'T support HDTV
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=329472&pfp=BROWSE

Is the first card a good enough choice even though it has fewer pipelines (8 on
the 256 MB card vs. 12 on the 128 MB card)?

Would I need a Hauppage USB 2.0 Win TV - PVR for $150 to round this out, since
the All-In-Wonder cards don't seem to exist or are affordable for PCI-Express?
Or would the top card listed cover enough of the functions for viewing VCR, or
Cable, or HDTV cable box outputs?

 

[J. Clarke]

While window shopping at CompUSA online, the spec for the Xtasy Radeon
X700 Video Card, PCI Express, 256MB DDR includes HDTV support
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=332175&pfp=BROWSE

while the Radeon X800 Video Card, PCI Express, 128MB DDR
DOESN'T support HDTV
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=329472&pfp=BROWSE

Is the first card a good enough choice even though it has fewer pipelines
(8 on
the 256 MB card vs. 12 on the 128 MB card)?

Would I need a Hauppage USB 2.0 Win TV - PVR for $150 to round this out,
since the All-In-Wonder cards don't seem to exist or are affordable for
PCI-Express? Or would the top card listed cover enough of the functions
for viewing VCR, or Cable, or HDTV cable box outputs?

Every Radeon board since the 8500 DV at least and possibly earlier has
supported HDTV outputs. Some come with a component dongle, others you need
to pay 20 bucks or so extra to ATI Direct if you need component output
(which is only an issue if your HDTV can't take DVI/HDMI or you can't find
settings that it likes) but they all have the capability.

A WinTV-PVR won't get you HDTV--it's analog only. If you want HD from a
cable box you should be looking at a Dvico Fusion board which should get
you the unencrypted HD channels--to get the encrypted you'll need a DVI or
component capture board, which is pro equipment costing a thousand bucks or
so and won't have any PVR functions.

 

[JEBEDIAH DUPREE]

While window shopping at CompUSA online, the spec for the Xtasy Radeon X700
Video Card, PCI Express, 256MB DDR includes HDTV support
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=332175&pfp=BROWSE

while the Radeon X800 Video Card, PCI Express, 128MB DDR
DOESN'T support HDTV
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=329472&pfp=BROWSE

Is the first card a good enough choice even though it has fewer pipelines (8 on
the 256 MB card vs. 12 on the 128 MB card)?

Would I need a Hauppage USB 2.0 Win TV - PVR for $150 to round this out, since
the All-In-Wonder cards don't seem to exist or are affordable for PCI-Express?
Or would the top card listed cover enough of the functions for viewing VCR, or
Cable, or HDTV cable box outputs?

You can probably get better (and cheaper) choices at newegg.com