To upgrade or not to upgrade?

[nem2k2]

I'm currently using a Leadtek 2000XP Deluxe software-based card (with the WDM Recorder plugin) for my HTPC and while it works ok, some of the TV channels (antenna-source) look awful. I have a T-junction connector so I can use the same aerial for my TV and HTPC, and the channels look fine on the TV but some look really bad through the TV card. Also, I find that without using pay-to-use MPEG2 encoders like Elecard, the audio is out of synch with the video stream.

What sort of improvements in my HTPC experience would I see if I upgraded to a hardware encoding card like a Hauppage PVR150? Better image quality? Better synching without needing 3rd party encoders?

Basically I'm looking for a reason to fork out the cash to upgrade my TV card

Any advice/help appreciated!

[nitrogen_widget]

I had a software encoder card.
Beutiful picture also.
Only, I kept getting dropped frames on the system I wanted to use it in.
recordings looked like they were underwater.
live Tv looked fine though.
The 1.7ghz Athlon wasn't enough.
Even when I dropped the resolution my CPU was at 85%.

So I bought a PVR-150. It was cheaper than upgrading the MB & proc.
CPU usage is next to nothing & my recordings are rock solid.

I can't comment on the quality of the signal though.
It could be your cableing or it could be the quality of the tuner itself on the card.

I use direct-tv so I just use my cards aux inputs.