USB freeview that works on a centrino laptop?

AmmoWaster · 23 May 2006 at 19:59

I've currently got a cheapy USB freeview box but it won't work on my laptop it doesn't play smoothly at all.

Are there any usb freeveiw cards that will work on a centrino laptop?

leezer3 · 23 May 2006 at 22:50

First question, have you tried updating the drivers?
Even a cheapy Centrino laptop should be able to handle a freeview stick with no problems- I was running a Cardbus tuner on a Centrino 1.4ghz, 512mb RAM.

-Leezer-

Koncordski · 23 May 2006 at 22:56

I have a freecom USB Freeview stick that works brilliantly on my HP nx8220 laptop (with centrino). I thought it would be pap but considering it's the size of a memory key it gives flawless picture quality and a solid picture. I live in london so the signal is strong but for less than £50 its brilliant.

AmmoWaster · 23 May 2006 at 22:59

yeah all latest drivers, I think it's a problem with the usb one I have, I guess I could use a pcma one if need be, just usb I can transfer between main pc and laptop.

I can't rember the make of mine, it's a silver box that I got for £50 from a high street computer chain, i'm away on business so not got it with me

tim_enchanter · 23 May 2006 at 23:04

I've been hunting for a screenie that I have that doesn't really give you an answer, but it does show the difference in requirements between units.

I have an old haupphauge pci freeview card and a new usb version.
I had the pci card working fine in my silent pc (1.6gig Duron) and decided to try the usb one on there.
The system can't handle the usb version, I did wonder if it was trying to run at usb1 but I'm fairly sure it was cpu restricted. Taskman showed something around a 30% difference in cpu usage between the two.

tim_enchanter · 23 May 2006 at 23:19

Ok the point about a good signal is relevant, is your picture breaking up randomly (bad signal ) or is it a regular pattern ( system problem )

I found the screenie was looking on the wrong pc

The first part of the graph shows the time while I had the usb stick running and the latter half when it settled at 21% was with the old pci card running

Link

Can't get it to come up as a darn thumbnail

AmmoWaster · 23 May 2006 at 23:24

signal is fine, I can run it on my main pc and it works a treat, on the laptop it jumps, not a signal issue more it can't cope, laptops a 1.3 with 512mb ram and a 9200 graphics card