Newbie question about pvr cards

[Tilly123]

Hi all,

What is the best TV tuner to buy, i have windows xp home and would like to setup sage. PS: I am on a tight budjet, but i would like a pleasurable setup, not a headach!!

Thanks in advance, Tilly

[CollinR]

Get a Hauppauge product, excellent performance and wide support. PVR150 is the cheapest and only can tune a single show at a time, PVR500 is twice the money and 2 tuners. You'll find PCI slots to be getting rarer and rarer so I always suggest the PVR500. For HD the HVR1800 which is a single analog and a single digital tuner on a PCIe x1 board. These express slots are becoming more popular making use of them is wise.

[Tilly123]

Thanks for your help, if i get the prv150 will i be able to record channel 28 and watch channel 56?

Thanks in advance, Tilly

[CollinR]

Originally Posted by CollinR

PVR150 is the cheapest and only can tune a single show at a time, PVR500 is twice the money and 2 tuners.

Get a PVR500.

[malbec]

To record one and watch another you need two tuners. So, as CollinR put ti, get a PVR 500 (there is no such thing as too many tuners).

Also, if you have not purchased Sage yet, try a bundle pack at PCAlchemy as it usually saves you a couple bucks.

[Tilly123]

I just bought this bundle: SageTV 6 / PVR-150MCE / Firefly Remote preprogrammed for Sage / NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder Bundle for $159 USD. What is the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder Bundle?

thanks for all your help

[malbec]

I know just enough to be dangerous. The decoders, I believe, provide the ablity to decode the various recordings for playback on your computer. Sage has one built in, however it does not support the playback of DVDs where the Nvidia decoder does. The Nvidia coder is the "preferred" decoder of choice. However, you only need it if you are watching shows via your video card on your PC. If you use an extender (an MVP or the new HD extender to be released Monday) as your only means of watching shows, the decoder is of little to no value to you - I believe. I bought it, but no longer use it/have it installed as all my TV viewing is done via extenders.

Hopefully somebody more knowledgable than I will be along to correct anything I have misstated.

BTW ... Congratulations on the purchase!!! Welcome to the team!!!