Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Video card for WinXP

This is topic Video card for WinXP in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 09-30-2006, 03:58 PM:

There are some incredible brains on this site. Right now, I am not one of them. [Big Grin]

I am wanting to buy a video card for this Dell GX-110 with WINXP installed. The child at Best Buy had no clue as to what I am doing.

I want a composite NTSC video, and L and R audio inputs. Need to start copying some old family video to DVD to preserve them. I have a DVD burner installed, and have downloaded most of what I need to run it properly.

Anybody got a unit I can get, or, can anybody recommend something that I can use that won't rip me a new orifice? (in other words, inexpensive / cheap)

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 09-30-2006, 05:43 PM:

Maybe something like this?

Seems like an easy option for basic video capture, but maybe someone else has a better idea.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 09-30-2006, 06:35 PM:

I am a little confused as to what you looking for. Do you want a video card (output to your monitor) or do you want a video capture card to convert your videos? If you want or need BOTH, then possibly an ATI ALL-IN-WONDER card which gives you a decent video and also video/audio capture ability. If you just want to capture your audio/video, then Pinnacle offers some nice cards. It sounds like an external USB 2 version would do you best. Pinnacle makes one of the better, less expensive capture cards. A card in the $100-$150 range would do nicely. It also comes with pretty decent software to edit and author your videos. Avoid the $39.99 Dazzle crap. Pinnacle is carried by Best Buy.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-30-2006, 06:38 PM:

Do a search on Newegg.com for USB video devices - like this device It's a device that simply plugs into the USB port and the other ends, being RCA, taps into the L/R and audio outputs of your source machine. I think that these units don't even hit 50 bucks...but by the one review, the resolution size could be a hinderance,

These ADS Tech devices like this device might be more than one wants to spend, but will do larger screen resolutions and is more reliable.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 09-30-2006, 06:54 PM:

The link to that first usb device, junk...avoid it. The 2nd item monte linked to may be ok. For the same price however, I'd still go with a Pinnacle. You can buy it locally and try it out to see if it works for you..if you buy it via the internet, its a long process to get a retun/exchange done.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 09-30-2006, 07:04 PM:

Why not just buy a VHS to DVD standalone unit? You wont get the deluxe menu options as you would with doing it the other way, but at least this way, you just put the tape in, set the quality recording, and hit the record button. I'd be wary of those other options unless your computer was top notch, having to deal with dropped frames and all that. The standalone unit I bought at costco cost me $175 or so and works great.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 09-30-2006, 07:07 PM:

I have about 20 hours of OLD 16mm, 8mm silent film transfers (with music added by ME in 1984) to transfer to DVD's from VHS Hi-Fi. I'm not worried about the computer monitor, so I think I need the capture card system. I don't have much loot these days, but I am getting by. $150 is a bit out of my range right now. Yeah, I know, thats not much to spend on a computer.

I need 6 copies of each disc. One for each section of the family.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 09-30-2006, 07:21 PM:

The cheapest you might get by with is about $100. If you have to goto the $39.99 USB unit...I wouldnt bother. You wont be happy with the quality at all.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 09-30-2006, 10:57 PM:

I agree with Frank. Go with the Pinnacle. When I worked at Best Buy (in the Geek Squad), Pinnacle was the product that I always recommonded to my customers when they had a similar issue.

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 10-01-2006, 08:42 AM:

quote: Michael Gonzalez
When I worked at Best Buy (in the Geek Squad)

You are no longer considered a human. Please proceed to the nearest extermination chamber, where you will be de-loused, and possibly sent back to your home planet.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 10-01-2006, 01:05 PM:

Hey at least I went to college toward getting a degree in Computer Science and was well on my way to getting A+ certification before I got back into the theater business. That is more than what could be said for a lot of the other Geek Squad employees that I met. I could tell many horror stories.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 10-01-2006, 01:52 PM:

Tell, tell.... [Big Grin]

(probably better to start a new thread though).

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 10-02-2006, 09:14 AM:

Well, as I said before, I met one idiot at Best Buy. Thanks for all the information. I'm going to make my relatives help me PAY for this stuff. They all want copies, but they are almost as cheap (tight) as I am.

My VHS copies are just as old as what the relatives all have, but mine are not worn out. What am I doing different?

I could say I use FilmGuard on them, but you'd know I was a total liar.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 10-02-2006, 07:22 PM:

Actually I have a better suggestion. I bought a DVD burner from Sam's Club for about $100.00 and I just hook up my old VCR to it (front AV jacks) and burn some of old tapes (mostly sporting events) on to disks. A couple of bucks more than the other options but the burner is something that you may be able use more often.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 10-02-2006, 07:24 PM:

I think that's what I suggested, or are you talking about a dvd drive with rca inputs?

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 10-03-2006, 06:06 PM:

Nope you were right Mike, I just missed your post.

Just a quick Geek Squad story: A customer broght in his old Dell computer (Windows ME) which had spyware issues and was running pretty slow. Instead of charging the customer about $100 for a diagnostic and spyware and virus removal. He got away with charging the customer over $600 for a copy of XP, more memory, a second hard drive, a PCI video card, Norton System Works and of course the services charges for installing everything. Basically a $300.00 Emachine computer would have had the same plus a better processor and new motherboard to boot.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 10-03-2006, 06:34 PM:

Bruce, if you have a Costco membership or know someone who does, you can buy the unit there and take it back when you're done with your project, they have the easiest return policy.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 10-03-2006, 10:49 PM:

Mike,

Hee hee hee... Too bad there are no Costco stores around here.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-04-2006, 12:25 AM:

Yea..that is one of the sneakiest things that people will do with Costco items - is use the item then return it with no questions.

..you could sneak off and buy a DVD recorder that would fit your budget and do the video copying that way.

Only small prob with DVD recorders is that they know if the tape has the encoding within the broadcast and will refuse the copy process..but there are blocker attachments that can be had to defeat this...

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 10-04-2006, 07:54 PM:

quote: Monte L Fullmer
Only small prob with DVD recorders is that they know if the tape has the encoding within the broadcast and will refuse the copy process..but there are blocker attachments that can be had to defeat this...

I had wondered about this. So far I havent had any problems but I have been mainly transferring over old sporting events that I had recorded myself such as boxing matches, Piston Games (1989 and 90 NBA finals), and UofM Football games (1997 National Champion season). Now I am a bit of a Pro Wrestling fan and I have made a few copies of different matches from different tapes that I had bought and either they dont have copy protection or the DVD burner ignores it.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 10-13-2006, 09:03 AM:

Thanks for all the replies on this topic.

After getting in touch with my relatives, I have decided to put this project on hold. NOBODY wants to cough up some loot to get copies made of anything.

I am already taking care of the actual films themselves.

The family just wants to see the films from time to time. I say NO to that, as some of them have bad sprocket damage. Oh well, relatives [Mad]