ATI TV Wonder 650 - High Definition Personal Video Recorder for PC 100-715331 PCI Interface - Retail

Windows Vista Media Center user

Reviewed By: Rob on 2/6/2008

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

Pros: Works wonderfully with Windows Vista Home Premium Media Center. My brother has had luck with Windows Media Center (XP) excellent picture when ran full screen. Hasn't erred once on my machine since I bought it.

Cons: Records interlaced in WMC. This is only an issue if you watch ATSC programs in Windows Media Player (in a window, not full screen) as Windows Media Center plays back flawlessly even scaled down to a window.

It's unable to utilize both ATSC and NTSC tuners at once. Shouldn't be a problem because without some serious registry hacks in Windows Media Center you can't use both. (one or the other)

I haven't tried but apparently recording ASTC/NTSC while watching the other will cause errors.

Other Thoughts: Would be nice if it had true dual ATSC and NTSC tuners. (As I sync WMC recorded programs to the Zune and Zune won't support DTV for some odd copyright nonsense or something like that)

Otherwise, in Windows Media Center this does what it's designed to do flawlessly: sit in the background and produce a wonderful image. (ATSC, that is. NTSC is still kind of ghosty)

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No Wonder

Reviewed By: Speedracer on 2/5/2008

Tech Level: average - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

Pros: 1.Did'nt Crash Windows Xp Yet.
2. Analog Cable in looks good but I have not figured out the audio problem yet.

Cons: 1. No Manual, no technical documentaion with CARD.
2. No Audio. I have to disable this Card's HD Audio to get my PCI Audio to work with other apps. Audio is still dead with drivers enabled and in Catylyst pack.
3. Catalyst has to be the worst software package I have ever seen.
4. Confusing Specs NO CLEAR QAM support on PCI card only on PCIE card and then only with VISTA.

Other Thoughts: I think AMD wants ATI to get out of this business altogether. When you look at the software and documentation you can see that they have taken all the money away to support the product. I expect ATI to exit this Wonder Biz by 2009.

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Reviewed By: on 1/5/2008

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

Pros: works good, i use it mostly to capture video from my video camera.
works great to watch tv.

Cons: The software it comes with is not the greatest. if you have vista or media center, you don't really need it. Installation on vista is tricky,
so if it crashes, let vista install the drivers, then install the other software.

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