Strong video/tuner card combo?

[spartacuskzm]

So my roommate needs to upgrade his video card. He's got a Gateway 2.4Ghz w/ 512 megs of Ram and a Nvidia MX-440. When he bought the comp about 2 years ago it was more than enough. Today he tried to run the Far Cry demo and it was pathetic - started but the graphics were wacked. I'm not 100% certain it was his video card, but pretty certain.

On top of this we recently ran our DirecTV to each room - so he has a box in his room but no TV. Thus he also needs a tuner card.

So, should he go w/ an ATI All-In-Wonder card combo OR go w/ a decent video card plus, like I have, a Happague (sp) PVR-250. He won't be going nutty or anything - just wants to be able to play the recent games AND watch TV.

I guess the benefit of going w/ two separate cards is when he needs to upgrade his video card again in a few years he can keep his tuner card.

So, in a nutshell, any recommendations on a good card and/or cards? I've got a 9700 pro in my rig which I'm very happy with, but haven't researched cards since I bought it (at $299 - so it was a while back).

Thanks all!

 

[Bucksnort]

my first concern would be what power supply he has. Being it is a gateway and came with a 440mx i would assume its 200w and propriatary. If it is a poultry ps he will need to do something with that first.

 

[spartacuskzm]

Hmmm...I wonder if Aida32 can tell what kind of PS a system has....anybody?

 

[rbV5]

On top of this we recently ran our DirecTV to each room - so he has a box in his room but no TV. Thus he also needs a tuner card.

None of the tuner cards will tune/decode a Sat Dish output, they will be no more than video input of a Satellite Dish receiver (won't be able to change the channels with the cards tuner)

 

[jim1976]

So, should he go w/ an ATI All-In-Wonder card combo OR go w/ a decent video card plus, like I have, a Happague (sp) PVR-250. He won't be going nutty or anything - just wants to be able to play the recent games AND watch TV.

I guess the benefit of going w/ two separate cards is when he needs to upgrade his video card again in a few years he can keep his tuner card.

I think you're answering yourself to your question. I never understood why ppl go with AIW combos. They are so mush expensive and if you want to upgrade then what?

So, in a nutshell, any recommendations on a good card and/or cards? I've got a 9700 pro in my rig which I'm very happy with, but haven't researched cards since I bought it (at $299 - so it was a while back).

If money's not an issue then he can go for the new dx9 cards from both Nvidia and ATI. (x800xt,x800pro,6800u,6800gt ...)
If it's a prob then he can take a 9800pro. THE SURE SOLUTION.

As for Far Cry, MX440 was the main issue there. Of course the game requires great cpu power, but his low end card was never considered really good especially in dx9. Imagine now that it's outdated too.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: rbV5

On top of this we recently ran our DirecTV to each room - so he has a box in his room but no TV. Thus he also needs a tuner card.

None of the tuner cards will tune/decode a Sat Dish output, they will be no more than video input of a Satellite Dish receiver (won't be able to change the channels with the cards tuner)

No but they can display the receiver's output, so he'll have to change channels on the DTV box. As for the PSU, crack the case open and look at the label on the PSU.

EDIT: Is this a P4 or a Celeron?

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: rbV5

On top of this we recently ran our DirecTV to each room - so he has a box in his room but no TV. Thus he also needs a tuner card.

None of the tuner cards will tune/decode a Sat Dish output, they will be no more than video input of a Satellite Dish receiver (won't be able to change the channels with the cards tuner)

No but they can display the receiver's output, so he'll have to change channels on the DTV box...

I thought thats what I said LOL, anyway just get a graphic card with VIVO, no tuner card needed.

 

[MDE]

Yeah, I skipped over the "no more than video input" part.

 

[spartacuskzm]

EDIT: Is this a P4 or a Celeron?

P4 - thankfully