Do I need a TV Tuner card....

[Codaeus]

I'm looking into getting my first home computer, and researching hardware. Do
I need a TV Tuner? I'm wanting the computer to send internet-TV & movies into my TV/DVD set-up. I've no interest in over-the-air/cable/satellite channels, nor in watching TV/movies on the computer monitor. On the other hand, 'frame-grabber', screen capture, and maybe NTSC/PAL/SECAM decoding
would be wanted (but I hear video cards do all that). Also, I'll want to avoid (if possible) or strip (if necessary) HDCP, DRM, etc. So do I really need a TV Tuner or not?

 

[Binkstir]

I think the only reason you would need a tuner card would be to take a cable signal and make it viewable and it sounds like you aren't interested in that. I would proceed without it. You could always get it later if need be.
You don't need a tuner card to display anything you've downloaded or put in your optical drive.

 

[Codaeus]

I think the only reason you would need a tuner card would be to take a cable signal and make it viewable and it sounds like you aren't interested in that. I would proceed without it. You could always get it later if need be.
You don't need a tuner card to display anything you've downloaded or put in your optical drive.

Thanks for the advice. So I assume the video card is enough to take Internet-TV shows & movies and send them into my TV/DVD recorder set-up?
How about 'frame-grabber', 'screen-capture', & NTSC/PAL/SECAM decoding...I've heard video cards do all that too. True? Actually, I'm making a huge effort to try and avoid any sort of upgrades, so I'd definitely rather not
"get it later". DIY is not an option (I'm a techno dummy) and house calls by techs around here ain't cheap!

 

[Binkstir]

How about 'frame-grabber', 'screen-capture', & NTSC/PAL/SECAM decoding...I've heard video cards do all that too. True?

Actually, I'm not sure about this stuff. I just know that your video card will be sufficient to play movies on your tv. But trust me, if you can drop a slice of toast into a toaster, you can install a tuner card. The motion is pretty much the same, you just have to take the cover off before you do it.

Binkstir