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Old 01-18-2008, 11:42 PM   #1
hoku123
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Default Questions regarding Video Cards and TV Tuner Cards for Laptops

I am looking into buying a laptop and have narrowed it down to either a Dell XPS or a HP dv9700t. They both are very similar, but have a few differences.

I have done the searching and could not find anything to answer my questions on the internet and when I went to places like Best Buy and Comp USA, all the sales reps were puzzled by my questions, which surprised me because they seemed simple enough for a sales rep to answer. Maybe I don't understand enough to ask the question properly which would explain their confusion, so bear with me if I don't use the correct jargon.

Video Card:

HP is offering a 512 MB GeForce 8600M GS, and Dell is offering a 256 MB Geforce 8600GT. I understand the difference in the memory, but not the difference between the GT and GS. I think it has something to do with the "clocking" which I sort of understand. GS is the lowest setting and GT is the middle setting. Will the "GT" be a better choice do to the "GT" classification because if we were simply comparing numbers the HP has got it hands down. All I am asking is which one is better?


TV Tuner Card:

HP is offering a TV tuner card with their Laptop for a cheaper price than what it would cost seperatly. I have been investigating the card and I am not sure if it is what I want. Here is a link of the card being sold seperatly:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...T&cm_keycode=4

I have a TV tuner card in my desktop right now but I think that it is totally different. It has a coaxial input for it so I can plug right into normal cable. This card appears to not have that coaxial input. From what I can understand, there is nothing that plugs into this card. It takes the transmitted TV signals from the air. Is that correct? If it does in fact do this, would these be analog or digital signals? I am curious as to whether or not this will work in a year. Also what sort of channels would I get if the card were receiving wireless TV signals? So ultimately this thing seems to boil down to an antenna to pick up TV and would not give me the full function of another TV tuner card with a coaxial input.

Also I would assume this card would stick out of the expresscard slot and not full fit into the actual laptop right?

Aside from another card to pick up my cell phone companies internet signal (which I don't need) is there anything else that I would potentially put into the express card slot that would turn into a hassle to change in and out with the tv tuner card?

Thank you for your patience and dealing with my stupidity.
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Old 01-19-2008, 12:50 AM   #2
Lethargic1
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http://www.notebookcheck.net/Compari...rds.130.0.htmlI'll give you my thoughts on the subject.

First,

Quote:
This card delivers over-the-air digital and standard-definition analog TV to your PC via antenna; as well as standard-definition analog TV via cable.
My best guess is that there is a portable antenna with a coaxial attachment that feeds the signal wirelessly to the computer.

Edit: And i'm right. It comes with an RF Cable Dongle with adapter.

As for the cards, check out the comparison here.

http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2984&p=2

I'm looking up the video cards now, but I'd willing to guess that the GT would probably be the better of the two.

This website has specs on both. It appears the GS has a faster clock speed, while the GT has more stream processors. I would go with the GT, but read the specs.
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Old 01-19-2008, 02:25 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lethargic1 View Post
I'm looking up the video cards now, but I'd willing to guess that the GT would probably be the better of the two.

This website has specs on both. It appears the GS has a faster clock speed, while the GT has more stream processors. I would go with the GT, but read the specs.
Eventhough the GS is 512MB and the GT is only 256Mb?

Thank you so much for you help. Anyone else with input feel free to share.
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Old 01-19-2008, 02:30 PM   #4
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To be honest with you, I remember reading up on cards about this time last year, and the one thing that I remember sticking out the most was that the amount of RAM did not have as much of an impact as you would think. What mattered was clock speed and other factors. Let others chime in and see what they say. It's not as if you can go terribly wrong here. They both seem like fine cards.
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Old 01-19-2008, 02:50 PM   #5
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Ok great thanks for the input. Do you have any thoughts on the express card slot question I posed?

So I have found a picture of the TV Tuner antenna and I see the cable hanging off of it but I cant see anywhere if it says its a coaxial cable inlet or something like an S-Video plug. Where did you find that? So the antenna is purely to transmit the TV signal wirelessly to the computer and not to pick up TV signals? Is is possible for the antenna to pick up signals? I thought I read in some review of the product that some guy stuck the antenna on the roof of his car and watched tv in the car and while camping? Now this is not my intent, but I am curious if it is possible or this guy was just dumb and had not actually done what he said he did.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...00000003142050
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Old 01-19-2008, 02:56 PM   #6
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I got it right from the HP website.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/n...M436AA%2523ABA
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Old 01-19-2008, 03:28 PM   #7
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Is composite Audio Video Dongle the same thing as saying coaxial? Also all I kept seeing was analog this and analog that, no digital, is this going to pose a problem in a year when the switch from analog to digital occurs?
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Old 01-19-2008, 03:51 PM   #8
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Ok, the way it works is like this. It has a built in antenna to pick up over-the-air digitial signals. What does this mean? It means that if you are close enough to a tower to pick up the signal then you will get it. I've tried using this on my ATi tuner and I can't get even one channel. So, what does that mean for the switch from analogue to digital? I don't know. The HP doesn't look like it accepts off-the-air digital signals.

As far as the dongle is concerned, yes this appears to be the way that you attach your coaxial cable to it. Reviews for it seem to be spotty, but that's like most tv tuners. Some say it's fantastic; others say it's horrible. It's going to depend on a lot things. You could wait a little bit longer and see if more reviews pop up on Amazon or other places.

Or, you can get a usb tuner that is both analogue and digital. I have the ATi HD 600 usb and it is both. As far as quality, it's pretty good. The video looks like a good (not great) Divx rip. Sound is ok as well. I got it for like $60 on sale. I think this sounds like it would suit your needs a little more, but it's up to you.
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Old 01-19-2008, 03:55 PM   #9
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There are several USB tuners, is this an option for you?
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Old 01-19-2008, 04:31 PM   #10
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Here are a few examples of some usb tuners:

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSit...cts/PCTV/PCTV/
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Old 01-19-2008, 05:09 PM   #11
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alot of the new usb tuners coming out from pinnacle and hapaugge support not only ATSC and NTSC, but Clear QAM also (which means unencrypted HDTV from your cable provider as well has digital cable)

personally id go with the Dell, but I can't stand HP with a passion
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Old 01-19-2008, 05:37 PM   #12
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Alright well thanks everyone you have been very helpful. I think I will pass on the HP card and go with a USB then. I was really liking the idea the wireless TV and being able to watch tv anywhere in the house without hooking up my laptop but oh well. Thanks again.
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Old 01-19-2008, 05:42 PM   #13
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I just got the hp 9700t w/ the tv tuner and love it. I also got the xb3000 docking station so I can get up and go as needed. I have my 26" Olevia hooked up to the base and set it up as extended desktop. Tv on the big screen and internet on the lappy. The tuner has an rf adapter for analog cable and a antenna for ota digital and analog tv. The antenna worked surprisingly well here in Fresno. My specs:

Intel c2d t7500
3gb of ram
512mb 8600m gs
320gb hd(2 x 160) 5400rpm
dvd/rw w/ lightscribe
webcam/mic/fingerprint reader
hp express card tv tuner

I can game with it no problems either.
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Old 01-19-2008, 09:57 PM   #14
hoku123
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CheezeWeezle View Post
I just got the hp 9700t w/ the tv tuner and love it. I also got the xb3000 docking station so I can get up and go as needed. I have my 26" Olevia hooked up to the base and set it up as extended desktop. Tv on the big screen and internet on the lappy. The tuner has an rf adapter for analog cable and a antenna for ota digital and analog tv. The antenna worked surprisingly well here in Fresno. My specs:

Intel c2d t7500
3gb of ram
512mb 8600m gs
320gb hd(2 x 160) 5400rpm
dvd/rw w/ lightscribe
webcam/mic/fingerprint reader
hp express card tv tuner

I can game with it no problems either.

WOW, that was the EXACT setup I was looking at getting. Hence the TV tuner and GeForce 8600GS questions. So you know from first hand experience, that the TV tuner has no coaxial plug into it then? What is an rf adapter?
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Old 01-19-2008, 10:20 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hoku123 View Post
WOW, that was the EXACT setup I was looking at getting. Hence the TV tuner and GeForce 8600GS questions. So you know from first hand experience, that the TV tuner has no coaxial plug into it then? What is an rf adapter?
probably a dongle
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Old 01-20-2008, 01:12 AM   #16
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I dont really understand what a dongle is. Ive tried looking it up but I don't get it.
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Old 01-20-2008, 01:13 AM   #17
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basically a cable that has an adapter on the end
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Old 01-20-2008, 01:23 AM   #18
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FYI, if you plan on using Windows Media Center to watch/record TV, you will not be able to do so with Clear QAM channels. If you use other software (MythTV, etc) it is not a problem.
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