Freeview card that is dual monitor / games friendly

[caff]

I need a new digital terrestrial freeview card, that covers the following spec:

1. Works in Vista's Media Centre
2. Works in dual screen mode, and works with Vista's Media Centre seamlessly alongside games (i.e. CS: Source on main monitor, full screen TV on second monitor)
3. Comes with a remote control that works fully in media centre
4. Excellent picture quality
5. Dual tuners if possible

It's very important it works in a dual screen setup - hopefully someone here has a freeview card and plays games at the same time. I have an E6600, 2GB ram, Nvidia 7800GTO if that makes any difference.

 

[Andre]

Your problem is you are trying to use the MC built into Vista. This really does not allow dual-screen use if it is full screen.

There are many MC-type apps available that are happy to run full screen on a single monitor whilst not hogging the mouse and keyboard

I run two Terratec DT2400i through GB-PVR (gives me four separate tuners) and that works fine and dandy - I just don't play games so you will have to wait for someone else's comments on that

 

[caff]

Yep I've noticed that full screen issue with Media Center, it's quite annoying and apparently you can't get around it.

Can you suggest some software alternatives?

I'd prefer something fairly lightweight, i.e. just a basic TV viewing / recording / timeshifting application. Having owned a couple of TV cards in the past, I've found it's better to get the software you like first, then find the TV card to use it with.

 

[Andre]

Can you suggest some software alternatives?

GB-PVR is superb, free, not too heavyweight and supports virtually every TV card under the sun (my favoured choice having been through about a dozen different TV cards over the years)
Terratec's own Home cinema software is quite funky, and as long as you get their brand of TV cards will support as many as you like
MediaPortal is another popular one that should work with most TV cards

And, obviously I recommend the Terratec cards - give superb reception with less break-up than my TV
HTH,

André

 

[InvaderGIR]

The stuff that comes with/can be downloaded with WinFast cards is nice, WinFast PVR2.
I don't know what it supports, other than WinFast cards obviously, and I haven't tested it's dual screen capabilities...due to only having the one screen at the moment.

It's quick and runs nicely, aswell as looking nice, uses remotes etc. if you have one...but again, that may just be for WinFast ones and not every card.

After reading the previous poster's line up of programs, I may well have to change, as GB-PVR looks a lot better than WinFast's one really.

I seem to remember that my TV card/PVR does run dualies with games on another one (used to have dualies years ago but upgraded the system and went for 1 tft instead of 2 old crts). I can't remember how well it worked though.

My card is infact not available any more, but there are newer and better replacements. Mine does run with Vista though thanks to new drivers for it.

The card I have is a WinFast TV2000 XP Expert.

-=EDIT=-
Mine isn't freeview, but I'd guess that their newer cards are, and they'll still run the same app.


InvG