Tony Loewen

recommendations for higher end video and audio cards for pc?

Good afternoon and a cheery hello!

I'm pretty new to the forum here, and to HT in general. I do, however, have a pretty strong tech background and tons of ambition. I've always been pretty strong on the audio end, and just jumping into the whole theater concept now.

First, a little background. I'm am electrical tech for hydro up here in Manitoba. I have just accepted a permanent job way up north in Gillam (look it up on a map sometime, and you will see why I might want to set up one killer home theater.... it is about 3 or 4 hundred miles from anywhere worth going, barring wilderness, which I happen to love). I've just started ripping my collection of DVD's and CD's to my computer for ease and convenience, and we are using the video out on my GeForce2 MX 400 card with *satisfactory* results, but we can always do better. Right now I just have an SB Live! sound card, and we can definitely do better than that. I am ripping the DVD's to high bitrate divx with ac3, plus I still watch DVD's on the computer's drive, and want to take full advantage of everything I can. I figured I've spent well over $4000 on this computer I'm sitting at, so I want to start using it as the supercomputer it is supposed to be.

It's a pentium 4 2.00 GHz with 768 MB ram and plenty of storage (240 GB at the moment, I hope to invest in a RAID soon). The only problems is the piddily 64MB video card with s-video out, and the severely limited SB Live! sound card. When we finally do make the trip up to Gillam, we will have much much more disposable income, as it's pretty much unlimited overtime, and I would like to come home and kick back and relax in my personal theater, maybe have some friends over and watch some movies or satellite and have a couple of drinks at the bar, so I want a really killer setup.

We will be investing in either a dlp or lcd projector, and I am already scoping some of these out. Also, we will be getting a fairly high end dolby receiver (haven't looked too much into this yet). So here's my question to you guys out there. What would be some of my better options for interfaces between the computer and the video/audio devices? Dolby 5.1 is, of course, a bare minimum as far as sound goes, with my sights set on perhaps THX 7.1 or near equivalent. As far as video goes, I would like something near the best there is. Anyone out there have a similar set-up, or any advice on what I should be looking at? Just for fun, we can say there is no real upper end as far as price goes, unless we get too too ridiculous, but I can always have something to shoot for, I guess...

Thanks alot in advance, and I hope you guys out there can help me do this thing up right!

Dave Moritz

I would look at Pny Video cards and use Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card 6.1 surround (DD-EX & DTS-ES). The Pny cards IMHO are one of the best out there and the video quality is awsum. Hope this helps ?

Tony Loewen

Thanks for your help, Dave. I will be checking into each.

AdrianC

If you want a really powerful video card and audio card, get an ATI Radeon All-In-Wonder 9700 or 9800 for video and a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro. The two together should run about $600 with the 9800, or $480 with the 9700. The difference between 9800 and 9700 is pure speed. If you don't need the extra speed, get the 9700.

Joe Hsu

For HT purposes, I would look at ATi's line of cards, whether it be AIW or not (depends on if you need/want the tuner). For audio purposes, I would do some searching and researching on the M-Audio Revolution 7.1. Many people use this for an audio card, and some have even modded it to make it better. For HT, you don't need a huge breakout box, since most likely you'll just be utilizing the digital output.

Congrats on the job, and good luck building the system!

Tony Loewen

Thanks guys, I've been looking at the ATI cards as well. The AIW seems to be a little above the PNY/nVidia cards in performance, and also in price. I do, however, want the performance. A guy at work here was talking about a 7.1 card he had got from Robotniks Canada for around $200 I think. He was supposed to be sending me some info on it.

Anyways, I'll keep ya posted on the system as it grows. If any of you like fishing or hunting, Gillam's a hell of a place to visit!

Cheers, and thanks again.
Tony

Dave Moritz

You didnt let us know where Gillam's was located

Neil Joseph

I second the Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy Platinum.

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Gordon Moore

Hey Tony,

Gillam eh, walk 50 paces and you've crossed the whole length of the main drag .

You can order M-Audio products from designer graphics in Winnipeg (if you're shopping local)

designer graphics


Other local suppliers:
Also, computer boulevard:

Computer Boulevard

lesser known but really competative:
Itech Systems

And my fav (these guys are awesome):

mlhsystems

Get a PYN or ATI (non AIW) card and then throw a tuner card like this in your system and you should be good to go

Francois Caron

If you want to save a few bucks, you can get an ATI Radeon 9600 Pro instead of the 9800 Pro. The 9600 Pro has become the latest "best bang for the buck" video card on the market.