Legacy computer hardware woes
Why, oh why is it so hard to find an old PCI hardware MPEG-2 decoder card? Or at least the right one. I want a Sigma Designs Netstream of some description, a 2000, a 2000TV, or a 4000 are my preferences in that order. A Netstream II/2/2TV is too old, and the Hollywood Plus is flaky enough I don't want it. An Xcard looks like it may work, but I don't have enough information about them.
My biggest difficulty is finding the model numbers that correspond to the actual cards. Is a 53-000519 a Hollywood Plus like this auction shows (image of the manual) or is it a Netstream 2000 like this one claims (image of the driver CD)? Which card uses the EM8300 chipset like this one does (I'm fairly certain it's a H+, but I'm not absolutely certain)? Arg. A nice list would be wonderful, but there's not one to be found.
Sigma doesn't manufacture cards any more, preferring to just focus on their chipsets, so they're not really any help. I guess I should start looking at other manufacturers, too. Maybe one of the HTPC solutions out there will have a good hardware decoder. :/
My biggest difficulty is finding the model numbers that correspond to the actual cards. Is a 53-000519 a Hollywood Plus like this auction shows (image of the manual) or is it a Netstream 2000 like this one claims (image of the driver CD)? Which card uses the EM8300 chipset like this one does (I'm fairly certain it's a H+, but I'm not absolutely certain)? Arg. A nice list would be wonderful, but there's not one to be found.
Sigma doesn't manufacture cards any more, preferring to just focus on their chipsets, so they're not really any help. I guess I should start looking at other manufacturers, too. Maybe one of the HTPC solutions out there will have a good hardware decoder. :/