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View Full Version : The best $42 I ever spent on computer hardware....



Woolen Horde
11-02-2003, 10:14 AM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-122-132&depa=1

I love this TV card. I used to own an ATI TV Wonder which was easily the worse hardware purchase I ever made. The drivers were complete shite, and the number of times that thing worked correctly I could count on one hand. But the Leadtek TV card is just the best purchase I've made in a long time, and it only cost me $42 from Newegg, no sales tax and free shipping (the price fluxuates daily, now it's $46.)

The drivers and hardware are rock solid in WinXP. It's got TIVO functionality, but the best feature is that I can record TV or FM Radio in any codec that I have installed on my system. Or, it can burn directly to DVD. I recorded Gilmore and 24 Tuesday night, and both shows (with commercials) took up about 500MB each, easy to fit on a CD. And quality was pretty good. Not MPEG-4 perfect, but better than I ever got from the ATI.

It has an S-Video input, so you can plug an Xbox or other console directly in and play on the screen. It even comes with a remote control and a little IR sensor, and I haven't played with that yet.

My only nits right now is that I can't seem to find the "Use TV as Wallpaper" function that people have talked about, or that it doesn't seem to let you keep the TV Window on Top of everything. Aside from that, it's an amazing deal for <$50.

But it has completely replaced my TV and VCR, especially with my slim new Samsung 19-inch LCD. ;)

Bull
11-02-2003, 02:41 PM
Wow, good deal. I paid a lot more for my Haupauge (sp?) card. Can you record from an analog video camera, too? Does it have regular RCA input jacks?

But it is a cool technology. I can't wait for XP media center edition to become available to home builders. By that time, I am going to be ready to upgrade my gaming rig and I will put this 2ghz Anthlon to work as a media center for storing digital pictures and tv duty.

Woolen Horde
11-02-2003, 03:29 PM
Specs are listed here, including inputs...

http://www.leadtek.com.tw/multimedia/winfast_tv2000xp_2.shtml

There are a ton of people in the Newegg reviews who said they plugged their VCR's into their TV cards so they could transfer their VHS libraries to digital form (CD or DVD).

jeffjones
11-07-2003, 02:28 PM
I have one of these for sale, if anyone's interested. I'll make you a good deal on it. It's in perfect condition, i just don't need it anymore, as I now have a big TV and Tivo in my room. I was using the card to get TV on my PC, and record shows to the hard drive.

[email protected]

Nathan Phoenix
11-07-2003, 03:43 PM
Do you know if this device can be used to operate a DirectTV satellite tuner?

Bull
11-07-2003, 04:00 PM
Do you know if this device can be used to operate a DirectTV satellite tuner?

No help on your question, but I know Tivo can do just that.

Sean Tudor
11-09-2003, 02:14 PM
EDIT : I have just answered my own questions. :roll:

Does this work in combination with your main video card ? YES I assume it would allow a TV window on your desktop ? YES Could I create a VCD CD to play back on my DVD player using this card ? YES Does it allow timer recording like a VCR ? YES

Sorry for the goofy questions but I have never used one of these before - it sounds interesting. I was thinking of getting a 2nd VCR for our other TV but this sounds better.


http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-122-132&depa=1

I love this TV card.

Qenan
11-09-2003, 02:31 PM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-122-132&depa=1

I love this TV card.

Whoa, deja vu. I just bought one so that I could watch my basketball games on the computer while my wife and daughter are monopolizing the TV... haven't got around to installing it yet, though.

Sean Tudor
11-09-2003, 02:36 PM
I guess the only downside is that it won't support Australian TV stations when they convert to full digital format.

Woolen Horde
11-09-2003, 02:54 PM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-122-132&depa=1

I love this TV card.

Whoa, deja vu. I just bought one so that I could watch my basketball games on the computer while my wife and daughter are monopolizing the TV... haven't got around to installing it yet, though.

Just make sure to download the latest drivers from Leadtek's site. DO NOT USE THE ONES INCLUDED IN THE BOX. There are nightmare stories about people who used the ones in the box, especially if they're running an Nforce2 board. But even if you aren't, just save yourself the hassle, cause you know you're going to eventually install the newest drivers anyway.

Brad Grenz
11-10-2003, 12:47 AM
They include drivers in the box with pieces of hardware? Never even noticed! :wink: