Review of the ASUS My Cinema-PHC3-150 PCI Tuner Card

Reviewed Fall, 2009


PROS

  • Runs with included software, Microsoft Media Center, and other 3rd party applications
  • Tunes HDTV/Digital and Analog (both over-the-air and cable)
  • Digital tuner works with clearQAM (digital cable) under Windows 7 Media Center
  • Works as the only tuner in MCE 2005 (1 analog, 1 digital)
  • Record/view one analog and one digital program at the same time
  • Good at tuning weak and multi-path over the air signals
  • Microsoft Media Center remote included
  • MPEG-2 encoder on analog tuner (less CPU usage and better picture)
  • Tunes FM radio stations

CONS
  • Included application program (TotalMedia) is poor so plan to use Microsoft Media Center or other third party software
  • Poor documentation

COST Around $100



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COMMENTS:
  • This PCI based combo (1 analog, 1 digital) tuner is perfect for a Windows 7 Media Center setup using cable. You will be able to view/record both your analog channels and the clearQAM (unencrypted digital) channels with one tuner card. You will need a cable splitter though as the two tuners have separate RF inputs. To see step by step instruction on Windows 7 Media Center setup for clearQAM, go HERE.

    The included remote controls any version of Microsoft Media Center however it will take awhile to figure out the buttons since there is no word labels on it.

    If you are using over-the-air, a better choice would be a dual digital tuner since analog channels no longer exist for the most part.

    This card also supports FM radio. So you can set-up the FM tuner through Media Center too. There is a separate RF input for FM.

    The biggest downside to this product is the included tuner software, but if you are using Microsoft Media Center, it won't be needed.



    System Requirements

    • CPU: Intel® Pentium® IV 2.8GHz, (Hyper-Threading) or Equivalent AMD Processor or Higher
    • Intel Centrino Mobile 1.6GHz
    • Operating System: Windows® XP / XP MCE 2005 / Windows Vista (x86 or x64 bit) / Windows 7 (x86 or x64 bit)
    • Interface: One Free PCI-Express x1 slot
    • Sound Card & Speakers
    • VGA Card Supporting DirectX 9.0c or Above
    • Certified MCE 2005 DVD Decoder


    For Dual Tuner Recording

    • Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz (Hyber-Threading) or Equivalent AMD Processor


    Package Contents