Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE Dual TV Tuner Card - $141.46 Shipped - Buy.com

[GottaDEAL]

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=RjWYtCqO0*M&offerid=28707&type=2&subid=0&url=retail/product.asp?sku=10386574" target="_blank"><img src="http://ai.pricegrabber.com/product_images/6726000-6726999/6726821_125.jpg" border="0"></a><br /><br />In stock! Perfect for your HTPC. Buy.com has the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE Dual TV Tuner Card for a low $141.46. Free shipping is also included. New customers can use the $10 off $150 coupon below if you order something else.<br /><br />Watch one channel while recording another with the WinTV-PVR-500MCE and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. WinTV-PVR-500MCE contains two complete TV tuners, each with their own hardware MPEG encoder. Just set the Media Center Edition to record that late night TV show while you continue to watch the ball game, with full PVR capabilities. Pause live TV, replay and skip forward, all while your other TV show continues to be recorded to your PC's hard disk.<br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=RjWYtCqO0*M&offerid=28707&type=2&subid=0&url=retail/product.asp?sku=10386574" target="_blank">Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE Dual TV Tuner Card - $141.46 Shipped - Buy.com</a><br /><br /><b>Discuss the deal in this thread.</b>

[Scott]

oooooo....

 

Now THAT is some HTPC goodness right there...

[RossMAN]

Ooh this is so tempting.

 

Hauppauge makes excellent TV Tuners, it's a dual tuner card and free shipping!

[i-bystander]

Great deal. I would get this (or this one) if I wasn't so broke.

 

I blame you Ross and Brad!

[Brad]

Of course if you have the slots available, it's a little cheaper to use 2 separate cards (WinMCE2005 supports up to 3), but if you are using a microATX case with limited PCI slots, this is the perfect option.

[i-bystander]

Of course if you have the slots available, it's a little cheaper to use 2 separate cards (WinMCE2005 supports up to 3), but if you are using a microATX case with limited PCI slots, this is the perfect option.

What cards would you suggest instead? How much and is it worth it to upgrade to MCE? Wouldn't Sage (and others) be a better option?

[linh]

Ooh this is so tempting.

 

Hauppauge makes excellent TV Tuners, it's a dual tuner card and free shipping!

unfortunately, i'm having probs with their software not blocking out the screensaver.. grrr.

 

this would have been nice to have... only $40 more than I paid for the pvr150 (I had to buy it at compusa.. retail... I needed it right away ).

[Brad]

What cards would you suggest instead? How much and is it worth it to upgrade to MCE? Wouldn't Sage (and others) be a better option?

The stanard WinTV-PVR150 cards are basically the same as this model - just with one tuner (and FM, IIRC).

 

All WinTV cards: http://hauppauge.com/Pages/prods_pvrs.html

 

Note the differences between the regular and MCE versions. If you are going to use MCE, then stick with the MCE versions, otherwise you might want to go with the "regular" versions since they come with remote and more software.

[RossMAN]

Of course if I buy this I'll need to buy MCE 2005 ... it's a vicuous never ending cycle.

[Brad]

From the site: The MCE versions do not come with a remote control or an MPEG video decoder. If you are building Media Center systems, please check with Microsoft for their latest list of compatible remote control and MPEG decoders.

 

But you can still use the MCE versions with Myth, Beyond, Sage, etc...

[i-bystander]

The stanard WinTV-PVR150 cards are basically the same as this model - just with one tuner (and FM, IIRC).

 

All WinTV cards: http://hauppauge.com/Pages/prods_pvrs.html

 

Note the differences between the regular and MCE versions. If you are going to use MCE, then stick with the MCE versions, otherwise you might want to go with the "regular" versions since they come with remote and more software.

I'm waiting for the " ...it's a little cheaper to use 2 separate cards... " response.

 

Which 2 separate cards would be cheaper than $141.46 shipped?

[Brad]

2 of these:

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00064GI2O

[Scott]

Or 2 of these for some "low profile" goodness.

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006G36VI

 

Low profile boxes make sexy HTPC machines.

 

:)

[Brad]

Or 2 of these for some "low profile" goodness.

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006G36VI

 

Low profile boxes make sexy HTPC machines.

 

:)

That's what I have in my HTPC-in-progress. 2 of those and an Fusion HDTV low profile HD tuner in an Antec Minuet case.

[RossMAN]

Brad - do you have pics of your HTPC-in-progress?

[Brad]

nope. i'll take some and post them later this week.

[i-bystander]

2 of these:

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00064GI2O

Yeah, but those are MCE - I don't have MCE.

 

A remote would be nice too. Do these things have video out/s? I can't tell from the pics.

[RossMAN]

Isn't it a function of the video card to have video out?

[linh]

Isn't it a function of the video card to have video out?

if it has it...

 

but these tv cards don't have video out i don't believe. As for the poster who didn't have MCE.. I don't think it really matters... but you can always buy the non MCE version.

[i-bystander]

Isn't it a function of the video card to have video out?

Yes, of course - but these are TV tuners (whose main function is to get video IN, not necessarily out).