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While the ability to watch TV on a computer has existed for a while, Windows Media Center has brought more attention to the idea. However, this is not a normal ability and requires special equ... Read more [+]

While the ability to watch TV on a computer has existed for a while, Windows Media Center has brought more attention to the idea. However, this is not a normal ability and requires special equipment. This can either be a graphics card that includes a TV tuner, a separate TV tuner card, or a separate external device (usually USB).

The next concern is an analog vs. a digital TV signal. You will either need to know which is available in your area, or get some form of hybrid or combo card that can do both. An analog TV tuner that can do its own decoding (in hardware) is considered higher quality than ones that off-load it to the main processor.

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Vista View Saber 2020
  • Editors' rating: 4 stars
      Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
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Vista View Saber 2020 Reviewed on 12/04/2006

The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a dual analog TV tuner and have an open x1 PCI Express slot, the Vista View Saber 2020 offers the best image quality we've seen.

Specs: 32 MB, PC

ATI TV Wonder 650
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
  • User rating: 3 stars out of 22 reviews
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ATI TV Wonder 650 Reviewed on 09/11/2006

The Bottom Line: ATI's flagship TV tuner card offers the best image quality we've seen from a TV tuner card and includes over-the-air HDTV support, but it's still not as good as a direct cable-box-to-TV signal.

Specs: PC

ATI TV Wonder 200
  • Editors' rating: 2h stars
      Overall score: 5.0 (2.5 stars)
  • User rating: 1h stars out of 9 reviews
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ATI TV Wonder 200 Reviewed on 09/01/2006

The Bottom Line: ATI's budget TV tuner card is fine for occasional TV watching or recording, but serious viewers will find that much better devices aren't much more expensive.

Specs: PC

Diamond XtremeTV PVR660 USB 2.0 Power Pack Edition
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
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Diamond XtremeTV PVR660 USB 2.0 Power Pack Edition Reviewed on 08/30/2006

The Bottom Line: The Diamond XtremeTV PVR660 USB 2.0 Power Pack Edition boasts the best combination of features and quality of any external TV tuner we've seen, but it shares the same image-quality problems as other TV tuners.

Specs: PC

WinTV-PVR-USB2 Personal Video Recorder
  • Editors' rating: 3 stars
      Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
  • User rating: 3h stars out of 15 reviews
$108 at 1 store Add to my list
WinTV-PVR-USB2 Personal Video Recorder Reviewed on 02/08/2006

The Bottom Line: The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-USB2 offers admirable image quality, but you'll need to bring your own A/V cables.

Specs: Hauppauge WinTV PVR-usb2 - TV / radio tuner / video input adapter - Hi-Speed USB, Hi-Speed USB, TV tuner - Hi-Speed USB - External, S-video input, Composite video input, Stereo - max sample rate: 44.1 KHz

ATI All-In-Wonder X1900
  • User rating: 2h stars out of 10 reviews
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ATI All-In-Wonder X1900 Reviewed on 01/31/2006

Editors' Take: If you're looking for 3D graphics and a TV tuner in a single card, ATI's new All-In-Wonder X1900 looks like the new leader of the pack.

Specs: ATI Radeon X1900, 2560 x 1600 / 60 Hz, 256 MB, PC, 2

Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500 MCE
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
  • User rating: 3 stars out of 6 reviews
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Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500 MCE Reviewed on 11/10/2005

The Bottom Line: Hauppauge's WinTV-PVR-500 MCE is a good choice if you want to record two programs simultaneously, but it assumes you have a Media Center remote and the correct decoding software.

Specs: Hauppauge WinTV PVR-500MCE - TV / radio tuner / video input adapter - PCI, PCI, TV tuner - S-video input - Plug-in card, Composite video input, Stereo

ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XL (256MB, PCI)
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
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ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XL (256MB, PCI) Reviewed on 11/10/2005

The Bottom Line: The ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XL will have you gaming, watching TV, and listening to FM radio, but it doesn't stand out in any one area.

Specs: ATI Radeon X800 XL, 2048 x 1536 / 85 Hz, 256 MB, PC, 2

eVGA Nvidia Personal Cinema 5700
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
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eVGA Nvidia Personal Cinema 5700 Reviewed on 06/30/2004

The Bottom Line: One of the first Nvidia-based self-contained 3D-graphics/TV-tuner cards, eVGA's Nvidia Personal Cinema 5700 is adequate for anyone who wants to watch and record TV and play games on the same PC.

Specs: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700, 2048 x 1536 / 60 Hz, 128 MB / 128 MB (max), PC, 2

All in Wonder 9600 XT 128 MB AGP Card
  • Editors' rating: 3h stars
      Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
  • User rating: 2 stars out of 30 reviews
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All in Wonder 9600 XT 128 MB AGP Card Reviewed on 04/23/2004

The Bottom Line: It'll take a little tweaking to get the most out of ATI's latest All-In-Wonder, but for the price, this TV tuner/DVR/radio tuner/graphics card is a fair deal.

Specs: ATI Radeon 9600 XT, 2048 x 1536 / 60 Hz, 128 MB / 128 MB (max), PC, 2

44 results
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