TV Tuner for the computer

[Big-Al]

I am looking for a tuner card for my older Sony Vaio computer. It has Gigapocket software and an analog tuner which no longer functions as it should. This isn't just because it is analog, there seems to be a conflict somewhere and Sony support hasn't been too helpful. I checked at BB a few months back and the price would have been around $100 for a digital tuner. I have a line on a AVERMEDIA M780 TV TUNER and am wondering if anyone can give me advice on whether this will work for me.

[spearchucker]

Depending on how old it is, it might not have PCI Express (PCI-E) slots. Older PCs only had PCI slots.

[Big-Al]

Thanks spearchucker, how can I tell if I have the PCI-E slots?

[spearchucker]

Thanks spearchucker, how can I tell if I have the PCI-E slots?

How old is it? I think they started using PCI-E around 2005.

I guess the easiest would be to Google your model number. You can also look inside your case and examine the connectors. Google PCI vs PCI-E and look at some of the images. I was going to attach a link to the pictures but I always get in trouble by mods for including links.

[Big-Al]

I think it is a 2004. I looked up the specs and it appears that it is PCI not PCI-E. Thanks, you have saved me time and money probably.

[Dbl]

You can look at the USB connected TV tuners that Hauppauge make. There are a few models in the $50 range. Look for the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-850 HDTV at around $55, that may fit your bill.

[spearchucker]

You can look at the USB connected TV tuners that Hauppauge make. There are a few models in the $50 range. Look for the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-850 HDTV at around $55, that may fit your bill.

Just make sure that the machine has USB 2.0 or it won't work right. 2004 probably had it, but it was around the time when they started USB 2.0.

[delcecchi]

If the machine doesn't have USB2 and you have a vacant PCI slot, a USB card is plenty cheap.

[spearchucker]

If the machine doesn't have USB2 and you have a vacant PCI slot, a USB card is plenty cheap.

That would work or you could just get a PCI tuner card.