cheapest mpeg2 encoder card

[reven]

with xcard you wont need a seperate tv out on a graphics card, but xcard will only display gbpvr (its contents not border frame etc), not your desktop, so if you have a computer just hooked up to the tv, and no monitor, then you should get a graphics card with tv out. if you got a monitor, or a program like pcanywhere, then no need to bother (most gfx cards have tv out anyways).

the 150 doesnt have tv out.

[jomi9801]

Thanks sub and reven! You both have been able to answer questions which would have taken me a looooooong time to find elsewhere. You guys are great!

So what you are telling me is that I _could_ buy an xcard and then use my desktop pc to access the desktop of my htpc.

hmmm... that may be the best of both worlds. I just did some checking and found the azureus + Rss feed plugin to download all the shows I miss automatically. So I could set that up.

You two have helped me completely figure out what I'm going to do to build my own htpc (finally). I think I'm going to buy an XCard and move my 200GB HDD from my desktop machine to my new htpc.

One last question: If I buy a XCard and setup my HTPC using GBPVR- will my wife be able to figure out how to record her favorite shows? THAT is my #1 goal. =)

Thanks again guys,
-Mike "Cheapskate"

[sub]

Yes, your wife will be able to work it out.

The only thing to be aware of with the XCard is the OSD hardware is only 256 colors, which means the default skin looks a bit crap (because it uses many colors), and its not great for using the pictures plugin. Other than that, its good.

[jomi9801]

Could you point me in the direction of a good 256color skin?
(Being as I just purchased the card at buy.com- I also found a $5 off $50 or more promotion- so the card was only $79.30).

Thanks,
-Mike

[NBAustin]

Dont do it. Just get the PVR150. The AVerMedia UltraTV™ 1500 MCE is not support by GB-PVR.

Why not? It seems to be a popular card.

[sgilani]

I picked up an AverMedia M150 off of eBay for $20 shipped for a second tuner, works great! I found that the tuner on the M150 is much better than the tuner in my PVR-150. eBay usually has a bunch of M150 cards, since it's marketed as an MCE card most people don't touch it.. but it works perfectly fine in regular 'ole XP.

btw, the best thing about the M150 for me is the RCA audio jacks! Makes it simple to hook up an STB. Don't have to mess with those 3.5mm-to-RCA adapters.