Product ReviewsDIAMOND ATI TV Wonder HD 650 Combo Tuner TVW650PCIE without Remote
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42%
42%
17%
0%
0%
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With 12 User Reviews
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 Rating: Review Date: 12/28/09  |
Cons: Included software is very weakNo ir blasterPoor documentation both in manual and on website
Pros: Very good image quality on recorded TV |
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Rating: Review Date: 10/21/09 |
Cons: -Channel changing speed needs to improve.
Pros: -Very good HDTV quality.-Improve SD picture quality with 3D comb and filters.-PCI-E card.-Works with Vista. Comment:
This is a good combo tuner card for HTPC or PC. The channel change speed could be better that's why I have 4 of 5. Whatever signal input it improves it with 3D comb filter other filter which makes especially cable signal look better. Recommeneded. |
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Rating: Review Date: 06/08/09 |
Cons: Included software is very dated (2006?).
Pros: Great analog cable tuning. Great picture. Comment:
I got this card to replace a Hauppauge PVR-150, using WinXP (not MCE). Its a great upgrade. On standard Shaw cable, the PVR150 does not tune in several channels very well, resulting in a fuzzy picture, or ghosting, or interference patterns. This card tunes the same channels perfectly. Much better picture overall, with better color. Better sound level control than with the PVR150 too.I noticed that with this card I can't capture video at greater than 9000 kbit/s constant (using GB-PVR). After experimenting, I found that a 9000 kbit/s variable bitrate capture produces noticeably better video anyway. |
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Rating: Review Date: 05/17/09 |
Cons: Catalyst media software is great for TV tuning, but not for AVI or H264 playback.
Pros: Good TV tuner and software, easy to install and use. Good picture and it works well with Vista. Comment:
I'm pleased with this, as TV tuners are hit and miss with quality of picture , OS compatibility and can be hard to set the tuner. This unit is pretty much plug and play, a simple set up wizard helps set country settings and audio and Video settings. The quality of picture is good and I have to say I'm glad I bought this unit. |
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Rating: Review Date: 04/21/09 |
Cons: -Remote is not that great if your using with media centre,lacking media centre specific buttons
Pros: -Good Picture Quality-Works with Vista-OTA HD supported-dual tuner Comment:
Good picture quality for OTA HD content. SD content is so-so but to be expected, SD sucks. I dont think the SD looks any worse that my Shaw Digital box. Although the motorola box's aren't that great for SD.I've used this card for a few months now and have had no problems. I use this card with only VMC and I dont use any of the software that came with it except the drivers.The only problem I have had is getting the HD tuner working in Vista. This is not a problem with the card but an issues with MS vista. Apperently MS disables the HD tuner if you set your region to canada. There is a work around on the green buttton. Here is the link.http://thegreenbutton.com/blogs/pnear/archive/2006/11/22/202706.aspx |
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Rating: Review Date: 02/15/09 |
Cons: -pci-e card a bit long which might be a problem depending on chipset heatsink/fans
Pros: -great tuner to put into an htpc-comes with remote & IR sensor Comment:
I bought this to use in an HTPC and it works like a charm with Windows Vista and cable input - have yet to try out the OTA DTV with this card as well as a linux OS. will update as soon as I have the time to test.-Altogether good card so far / good video quality - worth the price |
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Rating: Review Date: 02/04/09 |
Cons: No HD capture from STB
Pros: Best analog picture quality on the market Comment:
Bought this to build a HTPC with Vista Media Center. Since there's no HD provider independent device available for StarChoice (except the Hauppauge HD-PVR which isn't compatible with Vista Media Center) and that the WAF if quite high with VMC I choosed to purchase the best analog capture card and plug it via SVIDEO to my receiver in 480i.Since the TV is not that big (32in), there's surprisingly not a high lost in quality versus HD. Sure it's not perfect, but it's quite good and the Wife Acceptance Factor is high. |
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Rating: Review Date: 01/30/09 |
Cons: -A bit pricey-Software is similar to media centre but not as polished
Pros: -Works well with HD signal-Comes with a remote-No drivers needed Comment:
Bought to for two of my buddies. Just in time to record the Superbowl. No drivers needed. Didn't even really need to install the drivers. It just worked. |
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Rating: Review Date: 11/16/08 |
Cons: Length of card
Pros: PCI version was good, PCI E X1= card to long Comment:
After trying the PCI version I thought it better to buy the PCI-E x1 version and save a PCI slot. After getting dinged the surcharge(15%) for restocking I take the PCI-E x1 home and find it is too long. Hits on a block coming from my motherboard(AsusM3A78-EMH-HDMI). Now I'm gonna have to pay again the 15% and carry on from there. I did try to get the demensions from staff at NCIX but opening the box to measure is not allowed. Also the PCI version had a much better composite to RCA cable, way better. Originally I had trouble with the PCI version, eventually getting it figured out myself. Getting help from Diamond!!! FORGET IT, REALLY FORGET IT. They have the worst customer support, it's been 3 weeks and I still have not heard back from them.Other than the acknowledging e-mail of your assistance request. |
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Rating: Review Date: 10/19/08 |
Cons: VERY LONG* (*-read summary)
Pros: Well designed. Great looking dark PCB and sparkling gold brackets and tuner-chip covers (yet, with everyone knowing gold plated connections being better, that IS why the connections to the motherboard are gold :P, it's odd seeing this with the standard silver Coaxial connectors). Comment:
I ultimately will have to return this product because it would just not fit onto my motherboard due to the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe's heat-pipe cooling between the North/South Bridge chips. This card is very nice looking at it's sleek, slender length, and if it were not for the high demand for cards to fit into those Mini PC's 'half hight' boxes, than they would have probably continued to spread the design out onto a more stubby design that would have easily fit into this (awesome and popular) motherboard. If the heat-pipe wasn't a problem, than again this card would look very pretty along side the gorgeous A8N32-SLI Deluxe. |
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Rating: Review Date: 10/04/08 |
Cons: -issues with driver verson 7.4
Pros: -small-one of the few that uses PCI-E 1X-everything is included (remote and receiver)-above-average video quality Comment:
It offers above-average video quality compared to other tuners and it plugs into one of your rarely used PCI Express (PCIe) x1 slot. It is also smaller than most of the other tuner cards out there at the moment, so it is perfect for HTPC cases. It even comes with its own remote and receiver |
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Rating: Review Date: 08/20/08 |
Cons: None found yet, but as this is my first foray into TV tuners i have nothing to compare it to.
Pros: Plugged it in, installed the drivers. Vista Home Premium 64 media center found it flawlessly. Zero install difficulty.I didn't install the catalyst software, just using Media Center, which works just fine.Analog picture quality is better than I expected. Have not tried digital yet. Comment:
Box includes remote (batteries included), IR receiver, a dipole antennae, an S-video cable, and an adapter from s-video to RCA as well as the install CD |
My feelings are mixed on this card. In the area of arguably the most important consideration, image quality, this card is very good and exceeded my expectations. SD recordings look as good if not better as live TV. In a couple of other areas I have been less impressed. The included software is terrible. Not only is it extremely simplistic and limited it also seems buggy and has locked me up several times. Also, there is no ir blaster included, nor is there a port on the back of the card to add one. Consequently WMC will not recognize the TV signal from this card if using the S-Video connector with a satellite receiver. This review was modfied by poster r 12-28-09 05:13 PM This review was modfied by poster @ 12-28-09 05:14 PM