Best Vid Card (<$200) for HT PC to display on 50" Plasma (1 Viewer)

[Timmy Jackson]

I'm thinking of building a PC to use with my 50" Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK. I need (1) a really great Video Card for less than $200 and (2) a Digital TV Tuner Card to receive Cable TV High Definition video. I think I've found a pretty good Tuner Card: either the Leadtek PVR2000 OR the Hauppauge 1042 Win TV150 (anyone have any thoughts on either?).
When it comes to Video Cards, I'm just having a hard time wrapping my mind around all of the differences between the cards, etc. I'm not concerned about gaming. I mainly just want a PC that will be able to record (to the HDD) HD & SD programs and then play them back really well (like any HD broadcast should look).
Any thoughts or suggestions

 

[Matt Wright]

You'll be happiest with the PVR-150 as it is more widely supported then the Leadtek alternative.

As for the graphics card look for one of the passively cooled GeForce 6600 cards. Many (but not all) models offer component/s-video/composite or DVI output for connecting to your home theater.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814135183

http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_inf...me/video-cards

 

[Timmy Jackson]

Just want to make sure of something...
The PVR-150 can record High Definition video, right? As I mentioned before, I want to use it with my cable HD signal as well as standard definition. Thanks for the help with the Video Out Card as well.

 

[ThomasC]

Nope. Here are a couple that do: http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/hdtv-cards.html

 

[Matt Wright]

Sorry recording directly from cable HD for all intents and purposes is not possible until CableCARD support arrives in late 2006 with Windows Vista.

The HDTV tuner cards are effectively for over the air HD only.

You can understand more about the complexity of the issues here:
http://www.diy-pvr-dvr-htpc.com/inde..._Digital_Cable
and here:
http://www.diy-pvr-dvr-htpc.com/index.php/QAM

 

[Timmy Jackson]

...but the Hauppauge will record OTA high def. signals along with SD cable, right?

 

[ThomasC]

The Hauppauge PVR-150 has absolutely no high definition recording capability at all.