New ATI Tuner Card.

[e.lectronick]

I was just looking at the HIS Excalibur AIW X800XT (which many hope will sport the Theater 550 Pro chip. On the page here:

http://www.hisdigital.com/html/product_ov.php?id=143

Under Chipset Features, it says: "All new MULTIMEDIA CENTER"

I know it's a long shot, but assuming this card will indeed have the 550 Pro chip, and assuming it will in fact come with a new version of Multimedia Center software, I wonder if this means that same new MMC will work with the 550 Pro on the Theatrix or TV Wonder Elite card?

Again, I'm really stretching, here.

-Erik.

[rpertusio]

e.lectronick, I think the AIW X800XT will actually use the older Theatre 200 chipset, unfortunately. (But maybe they'll still release MMC 9.04 with it anyway)

As a sidenote, I emailed both Sapphire and ATI about MMC 9.04. They both say it isn't available anywhere, but *possibly* could be availible when the March Catalyst drivers are released. (Of course they could have just been saying that to keep me quiet )

- rp

[e.lectronick]

Ah, well...
Too bad they don't want to use their best available technology in the latest AIW cards.

We are still hoping the MMC 9.0.4 will be compatible with 550 Pro

-E

[rpertusio]

The ATI rep I emailed said that he wasn't sure if the Theatre 550 was supported with MMC 9.04, but he did say that it's unlikely Sapphire would have made a mistake in their manual. (The Sapphire guy didn't say either way, he just said to wait for 9.04 when ATI releases it)

[e.lectronick]

Well, I suspect you're right about that. ATI's own press releases stated that

"THEATER 550 PRO also supports ATI's own award winning MULTIMEDIA CENTER(tm), Cyberlink's PowerCinema and Intervideo's WinDVRTM and Home Theater. ATI will continue to support other third party applications based on customer requirements."

But, so far that hasn't proven true for the Theatrix users out there. I suppose it's possible that MMC 9.0.3 was already out and not optimized to support the 550 Pro when it was released.

-Erik

[rpertusio]

Well, I understand that. But ATI has since changed their product page for the Theater 550. It no longer mentions MMC support as it did originally:
Theater 550 Pro - Features

[Furton]

Is this card actually for sale anywhere in the UK yet? Can't find it on any of the big sites.

[e.lectronick]

Rpertusio,

Yeah, I noticed the omission from their webpage, too.
It seems kind of unlikely that ATI would develop a chip that would *never* work with their proprietary software. Especially considering the early press releases. I have to believe that the delay of the newest version is because they're working out some last minute compatibility issues with the 550 pro chip.

It's just a mystery because they don't like to comment on future product releases. I guess I can understand; they don't want to promise vaporware.

-Erik

[satnav4]

If you watch the promo video for the chip, you will see the MMC control center "Egg". They have not yet finished covering their tracks on MMC 9.04.

S.

[SHSPVR]

That very good point satnav4 they are show MMC control center "Egg".
And don't for about this PDF file
And did any one see Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 250MCE on Page 3
On page 34 It show Logo for the falling apps
ATI Multimedia Center
Cyberlink
Intervideo
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
http://www.ati.com/products/theater5...nchenglish.pdf

[exAndrzej]

Hi All,

Just to be clear on this point about supported software...

- Taking a cue from the current market research where 'simpler is better', ATI chose a software partner's offering to enable an easier TV-on-the-PC watching experience

- Cyberlink's PowerCinema - ATI Edition will be offered with TV WONDER ELITE and will be offered to add-in-board partners who make similarly powered solutions

- The decision of which application will be bundled with ATI's multimedia products is made on a per product basis

- ATI's MULTIMEDIA CENTER offers a depth of variables and user configurations that may appear overwhelming to the average computer user

- The version of MULTIMEDIA CENTER that is available for download from ATI.com is intended to update users with products that included MULTIMEDIA CENTER only

...these comments are 'direct from the source' and - hopefully - will reduce any misunderstanding

[satnav4]

Hi All,

- ATI's MULTIMEDIA CENTER offers a depth of variables and user configurations that may appear overwhelming to the average computer user

- The version of MULTIMEDIA CENTER that is available for download from ATI.com is intended to update users with products that included MULTIMEDIA CENTER only

...these comments are 'direct from the source' and - hopefully - will reduce any misunderstanding

I am not overwhelmed by MMC 9.03. I understood MMC 9.04 would be released to work with Sapphire's Theater 550. I sure hope I am reading this wrong, and that ATI will release MMC 9.04 to work with it. I have an AIW 9800 Pro which works just fine with MMC 9.03.

If we are to be denied the promised 9.04, are there plans to add feature to the current software, such as for more precise bitrate control? There is a big dfference in some cases between 4,000 and 4,500. It can mean the difference between transcoding (losing quality) or not.

Thanks for your input.

S.

[exAndrzej]

...hope I am reading this wrong...

No - you are not reading that wrong

Only products that are shipped with MMC will have an MMC download available

Theatre 550 Pro cards are not shipping with MMC

I will ask about additional featrues for the existing software

[SHSPVR]

Well then Andrzej if ATI can't do any thing then this card going get a LOT THUMB down with card which I most is very SAD.
If ask me I think ATI make one H@ll of Big Mistake here by not doing some thing.
Andrzej one thing you could try doing is see about getting thoses other 3rdpraty PVR Applications a Card and SDK you know like SageTV, BeyondTV, GB-PVR, ChrisTV, etc.
I like see more along the line of 1/4 bitrate like 250, 500, 750

[evensteven]

The only thin I want to now right now is when it will be available in Europe (Belgium)

[exAndrzej]

...thumbs down...

Hope not !

Our guys did a lot of research - and we believe that there will be massive growth in MCE this year - so that is why we have targeted the product to that environment

...available in Belgium...

Forgive me - but does Belgium use PAL or SECAM ?

PAL will be here very soon - SECAM later