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My setup is actually 9600 AIW>AP41>SCC>MMC
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ATI All In Wonder 9600 AGP
Hotronics AP41 TBC
Sima SCC for proc amp feature
Understood.
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I really don't have the room for two PC's but have thought about that.
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I would migrate all data to the new computer -- heck, clone the whole C:\ hard drive over to an "Old C Backup" folder on the new computer, just in case. The old computer only needs a C:\ OS drive, and a secondary drive large enough to hold your captures. Any other drives can be moved to a new computer, if there's room. Then re-format the old system, install Windows XP and the ATI All In Wonder drivers with ATI MMC,
VirtualDub, Womble MPEG-VCR (or Womble MPEG Video Wizard or VideoReDo), and other small video-related incidentals as needed. For me, that's usually
SoundForge, the XVID codec, VLC,
HuffYUV, Avisynth, etc.
Then keep both computers. You can simply use a KVM.
More on
Using KVMs to control multi computers at
http://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/show...trol-1615.html
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The problem is it makes the new build that much more expensive as I cannot salvage anything from the other unit and have to build from scratch. The AIW's were the bomb! I didn't realize it at the time but later on the value became 10 fold.
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You really cannot and/or should not anyway. Even the cases from a decade (or half decade) ago did not provide quality airflow needed for today's overheating rigs. For example, those 1TB-2TB hard drives really need fans that blow over them, otherwise they die in just a couple of years. Some of those new CPU's and video cards require heat sinks so large that you really should get a modern case made for that sort of mess.
Power supplies are different these days, too, and sometimes don't fit well in old cases. The layout of the fans and screws are off a bit. It's still ATX, but a far later version. Been there, done that.
If you're worried about size, buy a pre-built HP slimline computer for about $500, for all your non-capturing needs. These things are about the size of a 20th century kids school lunchbox. Lots of slims to choose from at
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957
Best of all, you can carry it to a TV, and connect via HDMI. It comes with a remote control that can operate the media center aspect of it, or you can get a cheap wireless mouse/keyboard set and operate from across the room. I do this from time to time. Mine is stocked with a Blu-ray drive, too.
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Plus the fan is starting to go on the AIW.
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It honestly does not need a fan. Get yourself a RAM chip heatsink, cut it in half with a hacksaw, sand it with metal sandpaper, wash it in water and dry it in paper towels, let it dry overnight, then attach it with the sticky pad it came with.
For example,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B003WGLSNW
Although these do not come with adhesive.
However, this is cheap, and comes with the right tape:
http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3235990...82E16835119015
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Pinnacle AV/AD
Pinnacle Movieboard HD
Hauppauge 2250
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None of the above.
If you really insist on a new PCI-E chipset motherboard for capturing, then you'll want to hunt down one of the rarer ATI All In Wonder cards that still used Theatre 200 + ATI MMC. For example, the ATI X1800. See it at
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000CC0NYO
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The KVM it a great idea actually
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If you get the one in my link, you'll love it!
This Airlink is awesome:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957
Even with four computers, everything fits on/under the desk! One mouse, on monitor, one keyboard, one set of speakers. And if your desk is using slimline/mini type computers, it's an itty-bitty footprint overall. If you have "big" desktop cases, and are equipped with Thermaltake silent 140mm fan power supplies -- and you go with 90mm+ sized adjustable-speed quiet fans -- you can have 4 computers on, and you'll barely hear anything at all. I do this.
The bueaty of a KVM is you can have one computer capturing, then switch to the other system to take care of other work. Want to transfer files fast between them? No problem. Gigabit ethernet cards ($10 each) and a gigabit switch ($20-30) is all you need. I highly suggest the DLink gear:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957
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I am a little confused as to why you think a large hard drive is a "problem"?
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Sounds like a local issue, not an issue of it simply be a large drive. As he replied...
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The problem appeared to be something at the driver level.
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There are quite a few crappy drivers out there for SATA/IDE, especially when it comes to VIA chipsets. One of my systems is on a VIA board, and the IDE/SATA drivers can be a nightmare when refreshing the system -- which I don't do very often, for this reason.
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My biggest concern is quality, clear captures(as good or better than an AIW) from an analog source i.e. NTSC TV, VHS. Without frame drops and sync problems due to the hardware
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Which is why most cards won't work for you.
The other options available, but for which I've intentionally shied away from, is the ATI 600 USB2 cards. In my eyes, that's a compromise compared to owning a full dedicated ATI AIW AGP system with ATI MMC and
VirtualDub.
There's been a number of threads about it. Search and read them all:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/search.htm -- that is, if you're determined to ditch the old system and create an entirely new one.
Another thing about new computers -- you probably want Vista x64, not XP. Maybe XP x64. Some of the latest hardware, such as 4K drives, just isn't going to work well on XP systems. Leave XP for non-new dedicated video systems, relegated to video tasks. Use the new computer for editing or encoding at most, and then everything else like Office, email, web browsing, etc. Keep the old system as a virgin. At most, install Chrome as the web browser on the old one.
If you want ATSC or QAM capture, then there are some Hauppauge cards, PCI or USB, that provide that function. And there's no harm in having a good ATI for NTSC, and a good Hauppage for ATSC/QAM at the same time. I do it.