"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:egv6m25n3n1dhsedd70kn5jro7l7k9nnjq@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:37:24 GMT, "Mattrixx"
> <someone@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>
>>On another note, with a dual core X2 3800+ CPU, how much more important is
>>it for hardware compression/decompression encoding on a capture device vrs
>>software?
>
>
> It depends on how demanding your other simultaneous system
> uses will be.
>
> You could capture to software MPEG2 without ever noticing
> it, though a slight bit more sluggish hard drive response if
> you only had one hard drive in the system- though ideally
> you will have a second drive no matter which capture card if
> you have simultaneous use needs.
>
> If you can settle for always capturing to MPEG2, I'd go with
> the hardware encoding card(s). If you instead plan on
> another codec, perhaps lossless compression for editing
> later, or higher compression for best use of storage space,
> you may as well save a few bucks and get a software
> compressor type card. Some are known to support more codecs
> like Divx... The Winfast 2000XP Expert can do this while
> many cards can't... or at least couldn't in the past, I'd
> expect the various versions of MPEG4 beyond WMV to be better
> supported now and in the future than in the past.
>
> With MPEG4 variants encoding, expect to have one of your
> dual cores completely occupied (or at least enough to
> consider it occupied for practical purposes).
>
> As for choice of codec, consider what your set-top player
> can support, or where you'd store them. Given that a HTPC
> can play back most anything it can record, if you'll only
> need the HTPC for playback you have a lot more options.

I`m primarily interested in archiving specific PVR recorded Sat.video
eventually to DVD.
The resultant DVD would be playable on any standard DVD player.
I`m not necessarily capturing streaming video...if that would make any
difference?
So, this would mainly rely principally on MPEG2 ?

Its almost Christmas time and I`m trying to narrow down a hardware
replacement for my ancient "ATI All In Wonder". I probably am going with
video card AND capture device this time! I get somewhat overwhelmed by all
the devices and choices out there, hence my POST.

As I have mentioned previously, I use "neoDVD7" and even "DVD Shrink" which
I use for editing before (neoDVD) or compressing after (DVDShrink) the
actual capturing ("neoCapture") to HDD, and before the burn to DVD.
I`m NO great video producer, however I have tried my hand at editing home
movies
to DVD with limited (skill) success, so the simpler the better as far as any
new software.

Thanks again for ALL your replies
Matt