The Best HDTV Tuner for Your PC

Revised 2/3/2010

What is the best HDTV tuner? Well that's like saying what the best automobile. It really depends on your situation. So, I’ve organized the “best” by category. For more information, just click on the tuner name.

Best All Around Tuner - the HP USB Tuner or the AVerTV Volar Max It is a USB tuner with QAM (digital cable) capability and has excellent features and support.

Best Laptop/USB Tuner - the AVerTV Volar Max

Best Dual Digital Tuner - the PCI-e based Hauppauge PVR-2250 if you have only one type of input (cable or over-the air) or the ethernet connected SiliconDust HDHR3 if you have both cable and over-the-air digital input.

Best PCI based tuner Card - the Hauppauge HVR-1600

Best (and only) Combined HD graphics and HD tuner card - the PCI-e based ATI All-in-Wonder HD card

Best (and only) Premium channel HD recorder - the USB connected Hauppauge HD-PVR

Best Microsoft Media Center (XP 2005, Vista or Windows 7) Tuner - the HP USB Tuner which comes with a Media Center remote

Best Tuner for multi-path and/or for weak over the air broadcast signals - the HVR-950Q for USB, the Hauppauge HVR-1600 for PCI and the AverTv Combo for PCI-e

Best QAM/Digital Cable Tuner - the SiliconDust HDHR3 which works with MCE 2005, Vista and Windows 7 with clearQAM (digital cable).

Best Bang for Your Buck Tuner - the AverTV HD Duet PCI-e Card which has two QAM capable digital tuners for under $70, and the HP USB Tuner which includes a Microsoft Media Center compatible remote with IR blasters, antenna and works with clearQAM on Windows 7 Media Center.