Looking to buy a TV Tuner

I've spent some time reading some general things about TV tuners and some reviews and they seem to vary a lot. I'm looking for as close to perfect as I can get. I want an expresscard one over USB for physical reasons, but if I get stuck with USB is it worse performance wise? I read that some are HD and some are not. Shouldn't they all work for 720p? I also know that some come with their own software and others just use Windows Media Player. I definitely want some good software that works as a DVR with ad-skip and all that. I've also heard that some are really CPU intensive, which is stupid because the GPU is so much better for video! I definitely want one that uses the GPU over CPU. (BTW I have an NVidia card so I can take advantage of PureVideo and CUDA, etc.)

Can gaming consoles be hooked up to the computer via a TV Tuner?

Thanks for your help!! Hopefully some people will be able to give me recommendations for the "perfect" TV tuner.

 

Hauppague 950Q is the usb one I have. It does normal and HD channels, I use it here at college as my DVR. Works great with a Core i5-430UM and Intel HD graphics. A good choice if you choose usb.

And from searching Google, you can hook up a console to a computer through a tv tuner:
Link
Link

 

Thanks for the repy! I looked at the specs and it is a bit CPU intensive, but the 64mb vid memory minimum requirement is reassuring. However, the fact that it is USB over expresscard though means that I'm going to keep looking. It's definitely a possibility though. And thanks for the links.

 

Hauppague is a major manufacturer of USB tv tuners, but if anyone has the express card version, it should be them.

Additionally, I would offer you seek a dual channel tuner. It you have W7 Home Premium or above, you'll be able to use your system as a DVR in addition to being able to watch and record simultaneously.

 

Hauppague does have an express card version! It isn't a dual channel tuner, but I don't think I would take advantage of that any way since I am not a big TV watcher.

Jayayess1190, if you are still reading this thread, are HD recordings choppy at all for you?

 

No they are not. Thanks to upgrading from the SU9400 to the Core i5, all shows either SD or HD live and recorded are smooth. Yesterday I was watching Dancing With the Stars in HD while browsing the web with no issues.

 

a) hooking console using component on the TV tuner usually results in some lag
b) highly recommend using Windows Media Center as your TV app.. great DVR functionality compared to any other app you can find

 

You could try one that support USB 3.0 if your computer supports it. It would be a lot faster.

 

This.
10char

 

This is one reason why I'm going with the ExpressCard which is PCI-e over USB 2.0.

Is Windows Media Center actually a good app? Because the interface is terrible IMO.

 

This is a newer version of the expresscard tuner that I have: Newegg.com - AVerMedia AVerTV Express mini PCTV Tuner Card MTVEXMINI ExpressCard 34 Interface

It took me a while to find the drivers for mine that supported 1080, but eventually I found them (if you end up getting this and need them, PM me). The card works great both with the proprietary software and windows media center


The best DVR software is definitely Windows media center, and you can use the Lifextender plugin to remove ads from recorded TV:
http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/03/cut-out-commercials-in-7mc-with.html

 

how is it bad? I myself thought that the Media Center was the second best Microsoft product after Windows 7(and maybe xp)

it works out of the box, no delays, no problems, doesn't kill your CPU at all or seem to hang

 

Thanks V3locity for the recommendation.

I haven't really used Windows Media Center but like I said I hate the "dumbed down" interface where it only shows you a few things at a time and you have to scoll to see the others or click back a bunch of times if you are deep within a menu.

 

well, its meant for you to use with a remote 10 feet away, so the font has to be large and readable... and once you get used to the menu, you'll know how many times to click back or forth to get to a certain place

 

OK well that makes sense. I never thought of it as a program designed to be controlled with a TV remote.

 

I went with an AVerTV Express mini tuner that a guy that read this thread offered me. It doesn't come with a remote, but I will be using my wireless mouse. The AVerTV one is really nice in that it doesn't stick out hardly at all from the computer unlike the Hauppage one.