TV Cards for PCs... is this true?

[Plonking]

Hey all,

I was talking to a friend the other day, and he told me that you could buy TV cards for PCs that you could plug games consoles into, and then play them through your monitor. Is this true, or was my proverbial chain being proverbially yanked?

cheers,

P

[Scrubbs]

Originally Posted by Plonking

Hey all,

I was talking to a friend the other day, and he told me that you could buy TV cards for PCs that you could plug games consoles into, and then play them through your monitor. Is this true, or was my proverbial chain being proverbially yanked?

cheers,

P

I thought games consoles plugged into a monitor anyway or am I missing something?

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by Plonking

Hey all,

I was talking to a friend the other day, and he told me that you could buy TV cards for PCs that you could plug games consoles into, and then play them through your monitor. Is this true, or was my proverbial chain being proverbially yanked?

cheers,

P

I have on occasion plugged various consoles into my TV card on my fileserver yes.

it depends what you mean by 'games console', Plonking - but, in theory, any VIVO enabled graphics card can display what is intended for a tv, on a pc monitor

[Plonking]

cheers guys, it sounds really cool...

so, for example, say i have a super nintendo ready to be played on. would i need any special adapters or wires to connect it to the tv card, or does the tv card have an aerial plug just like in the back of a tv?

P

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by Plonking

cheers guys, it sounds really cool...

so, for example, say i have a super nintendo ready to be played on. would i need any special adapters or wires to connect it to the tv card, or does the tv card have an aerial plug just like in the back of a tv?

P

My tv card has an ariel socket - and an s-vhs socket - and came with an s-vhs to composite adaptor (and a line in > mini jack cable)..

So you could indeed just tune a console in if you want to connect it like that - I used to have my play station plugged in via the standard yello/red/white cables

[Plonking]

brill!

i never knew that before, i wish i had known sooner, 'cos i would have bought myself a tv card straight away is there any particular make you can recommend, or advise me to avoid?

P

[dilli-theclaw]

I can't say about any other TV card - mine is a Hauppage WinTV-PCI-FM model 647

I'm sure there are much better models now - like those with built in freeview (you would need to check connections on them tho)

I'd wait and see what other people recommend.

I never had a problem connecting my Sega Megadrive, don't see why it shouldn't work for a Super Nintendo

Originally Posted by Plonking

brill!

i never knew that before, i wish i had known sooner, 'cos i would have bought myself a tv card straight away is there any particular make you can recommend, or advise me to avoid?

P

'recommend' is heavy, I run an ATI 9800se AIW, nice

[dilli-theclaw]

I must ask tho - is there some reason WHY you'd rather use a monitor? lack of space or something?

You could get a cheaper portable TV than some of these cards you know.

Just wondering.

[nffc]

I have a Pinnacle PCTV rave, was about 30 squid about 15mths ago, it's OK- proving really that even the cheap cards are functional.

I may offload it for a combined DTT/DAB one if they come down though. (but not for a while in case you were getting ideas)

[Plonking]

sounds cool

the main reason i wanted to plug a console into the pc here is because we had a tv in here with the pcs, which was meant to be used for gaming (but my family nicked it), and i have a tv in my room that i often plug consoles into, but there is an issue of space in this room - there ain't much of it!

having to fit a tv with a stand makes it even more cramped in here than ever, so a tv card would be quite useful there seem to be some decent ones for about £50, but i'll have to research more before i decide what to go on finally

P