If you're looking for an HDTV Tuner PCI card, here's some background information on the top HDTV Tuner PCI cards available on the market today. Jump to the bottom of this page for details on specific models.

Let's take a look at the common features of an HDTV Tuner PCI card you'll want to know about before making your purchase now.

• ATSC Tuner

The ATSC Tuner is the technical term for the piece of hardware that can receive and display HDTV broadcasts on the HDTV Tuner PCI card. While an older NTSC - or analog - Tuner might be nice to have, you simply don't need it to receive HDTV.

This combined with an antenna is all you will need to receive free, over-the-air HDTV.

• QAM Tuner

If you plan to subscribe to a digital cable service, you'll want an HDTV Tuner PCI card with a QAM Tuner. A QAM Tuner is able to receive unencrypted digital cable signals. Otherwise, you won't need a QAM Tuner on your HDTV Tuner PCI card.

• FM Radio/HD Radio Receivers
  

While the addition of an FM Radio and/or an HD Radio is a common feature of HDTV Tuner PCI cards, it is not necessary at all for HDTV Reception.

Also, it is worth noting the "HD Radio" label does not mean "High Definition Radio". "HD Radio" was a marketing term coined by someone wanting to make money from the hardware required to receive HD Radio.

As a matter of fact, HD Radio is actually lower quality audio then plain FM Radio.

But, I digress. Back to the topic of your new HDTV Tuner PCI card.

• Remote Control

Do you need a remote control for your HDTV Tuner PCI card? If you're using the system as part of an HTPC, a remote control comes in quite handy.

However, not everyone needs a remote, especially if you'll be sitting at your computer keyboard most of the time while the HDTV Tuner PCI card is in use.

• HDTV Resolution

You'll want to make sure your new HDTV Tuner PCI card is capable of displaying the HDTV Standard Resolution of 1920x1080i (HDTV). Otherwise, you won't be experiencing true HDTV.

• Personal Video Recorder (PVR)

One of the greatest features of the HDTV Tuner PCI card is the ability to automatically schedule records to watch later at HDTV quality. Note also that many HDTV Tuner PCI cards allow you to configure the quality of the record, if desired, such as DivX, MPEG2, AVI, etc.

You'll also want to make sure you can burn your recorded videos to CD/DVD for later viewing.

And don't forget about those extra PVR features of your new HDTV Tuner PCI card:

1. Time Shifting: Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward live HDTV
2. PVR: Schedule recordings by time, title, channel, and more
   
3. Still Image Capture: Take a snap shot of your HDTV program live

• PVR Software

Check the features of the PVR Software that comes with your HDTV Tuner PCI card. Some of the PVR software out there is garbage; if the features you need aren't included with the software that comes with your HDTV Tuner PCI card, you'll end up having to buy additional software to do what you want it to do.

And that's no fun!

HDTV Tuner PCI Card Summary

Before you invest in your new HDTV Tuner PCI card, review the following features:

• ATSC Tuner
• HDTV Resolution
• PVR-Capable
• Software features and limitations

Optionally, determine if you need a QAM Tuner or an FM Radio/HD Radio Receivers.

Here are some of the top HDTV Tuner PCI Cards on Amazon: