HDMI Capture Card PCI-E (Trident 7160 HD/ Timeleak HD72A)

So, this review was a planned one from a night of eBay browsing and even one trip into Plymouth and then finding out there are HDMI capture cards that are under £100 and are not USB based. Then it came to finding a company named Timeleak which has made some entry level Capture cards.

Named the HD72A (there is a /B version but that includes a HDMI out to a tv as well as a HDMI in), it can be able to show HDCP content as well as have confirmed compatibility with OBS.

OBS is also known as Open Broadcaster Software and its one of the best FREEWARE screen recorders I've ever used and perfect for getting started on twitch.

***UPDATE***

Now, after searching, it turns out Timeleak sell them Directly via their website. Which that is around £42 and then another £15 to £20 with postage via DHL. They do sell the card through eBay. its confusing to use the website since the totals were different and it even thought i had ordered it (but didn't pay even with a paypal option, well i don't need it haha)


***REVIEW CONTINUES BELOW***

Enjoy the video review below, which covers most of the content here, but this post goes into more geeky details.

The Packaging and contents

So, its a small but colourful packaging with blue, black and red on the front and back and Black and white on the sides. 

The Top of the Card. Note it says HDCP ready and also a picture of optimus prime, well an autobot anyway

This was the left side of the box

The rear end of the box

The right hand side of the box

The bottom of the box, with what it can support, a fake alienware pc, the card and a screen with bumblebee on it

Now as we get inside the box, it have not much in terms of documentation other than a folder A4 piece of paper with what the thing can do, a vauge translation of how to install drivers and also a mention on what Intel C-State is and why turning it off is a good thing (makes the computer go faster by not limiting voltages neither overclocking the CPU), there is mention of how turn C States off with a AMD CPU too. 

The only paperwork with the item

Then there is a Driver CD in the usual tiny cd format. It looks like there is no bundles software with the thing, which is sort of good since its either pirated or rubbish, ULEAD with the EasyCap was an example from some forum posts. From looking on the CD there was something called HD PVR but i will go into this later

The tiny driver CD thats is with it. 

Then you have the item, in a anti static bag, it did come with a low profile bracket as well, this might be a useful card for making a small PVR for either Youview or any other HDMI device for a home theater. 

The HDMI Capture card itself, with the LP bracket above it

The installation and setting it up.

Just as a note here, i'll list my PC spec below, this might not be vital to a perfect setup but i'm a budget but not on jobseekers kind of guy. 

• Intel Core2Quad Q8300
• Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2
• Gigabyte G31m-ES2L Rev 2.4
• Corsair XMS2 2 x 2GB DDR2 800MHz
• ASUS Radeon HD 6570 1GB DDR3
• Basic Case
• 500W CoolerMaster Non Modular PSU
• Asus P7131 TV Tuner
• 2x Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 500GB (one for 8.1 x86, the other for Yosemite 10.10)

So it was a simple install since i only had a free PCI-E x1 slot left. This wasn't as tricky as i thought it would be, well maybe having big hands doesn't help. Since the G31m has a PCI-E x1 above the main PCI-E x16 (Graphics Card Slot), i had to take the GPU out (the video shows more trouble than what it was meant to be). But the card didn't feel firmly in at first, after i realised the metal contacts were in the slot, i was fine, its a bugger to see them in there.

The Card inside my PC, yes my wires are a tied up mess and there is a fan failing to stick with blu-tack but i am thing on a new case and even a new pc soon anyway. 

*upside down* the hdmi card as well as my hd 6570 GPU next to it

Now once i had it installed and booted up to Windows (since i was facing really annoying issues with Yosemite recently after upgrading then formatting then apple HDA being a pain), it picked up the card but didn't appear with "installing device software" at start up, which had me worried, since i thought i didn't plug it in, but low and behold, it was there but no driver installed. Since i was unsure on if the driver with the disc would work (it happens with the EasyCap drivers a fair bit). I posted the Driver info below.

The card but with no device driver

The compatible Hardware IDs

The Actual Hardware IDs

The events, best used to check what happens, 

 Now once i put the CD in it was very mimimal in terms of contents, with no autoplay and only 2 folders and 2 files on the root, it was going to be a sort of simple installation for anyone that knows how to install drivers without using installers. Now if you want a copy or have lost the disc, you are in luck (well except if you want to use the DVR25HDR since i didn't attach a key for obvious reasons and obs is much better).

The root of the CD drive. 

The 32bit drivers

The 64 Bit drivers

 Once i followed the simple way of using device manager to install the drivers, as shown in the video review, it was installed and all setup, no having to worry about sound drivers etc. However a point i need to make is that the drivers ARE NOT SIGNED. This will annoy people with 7 x64 and 8.x 64 since of turning driver signing enforcement off. It turns out its also named a "Trident HD 7160". A odd name and no sign of the HD72A the product was even advertised as. But at least there was no driver software to go with it, like Roxio and Happauge usually snowball in.

The driver once installed

The info on the driver and also the fact it is not signed

More info on the details

The history of when drivers were installed

Technically that was all set-up and OBS was the last part. Basically you needed to open it as a "video capture device" Then select it and the setting were the usual and OBS picked up the audio without having to configure it manually.

ADDEDUM. 

Now, after a trial and error experiment. I checked if the Timeleak HD72A drivers (Which is actually the HD75A drivers v1.06) would work, and low and behold they did and told me something new. 

The capture card is actually a HD75A

The details and notice its SIGNED. 

Notice the same device ID

 I installed it, after rebooting the PC, i saw no difference, Maybe less lines when testing OBS was exactly the same config as below.

The settings for the Card. There is support for Custom resolutions but there was no need to set that up, also you might need to raise the volume, i thought it was too loud if i used it, it was actually the opposite

Showing the Vita TV and the sound working while the mic was working (through a USB adapter and Poundland quality headset) 

 The Digital Manual

Now although there was a small a4 sheet with some details, there was a slightly easier to understand manual in a word document, i'll be honest and just show you below, i can't say much in terms of what it mention, since it is quite clear.

Page 1,2,3 

Page 4,5,6

Page 7

I also hid out the key in the screenshot in the manual, just in case but it was a simple guide and there was an installer on how to use the software, but to be honest, there is no need to use it. Other programs like OBS, Nero, Cyberlink can use it. 

The Testing

Now, you might of seen on the video i mentioned tearing, which isn't too bad its more thin lines flashing which i'm not sure but it wasn't too distorting,  But there is no delay on mine at the least. Maybe it helped due to the "ultrafast" setting with x264 on OBS which is the least CPU heavy profile for recording videos.

Recoding at 60fps at 10mbits on OBS, that was the quality from the capture card and it was nice, i've not tested it on a PS3 or even my laptop yet, but that is for another time. 

The Conclusion. 

The card is a good entry level start into getting good quality for game streaming or even making let's plays with HDMI. Now since this is a hard to find item, some places might be not as nice than others and some come from china with the customs might be hassling. So i might suggest being careful. Now if you don't have a deidicated PCI-E x1 slot, don't worry as other sized PCI-E slots work fine but you might need to have a spare slot for a GPU or any other dedicated card that needs a bigger slot. 

But the value is amazing for what i've seen so far. With HDCP ready it makes it more compatible and no splitters required, which even some of the usb capture cards have some hassle with that. Then if it works like any other capture card and even webcams work, getting it working with software should be reasonably good. Which with OBS, i saw no hassle at all. 

With this in mind

omracer's Rating: 6/10

The Good points

• Good Value.
• A modern-ish slot for most PCs. If your board doesn't have PCI-express x1 or x16 then consider a new motherboard. 
• Works with most video capture software and doesn't need its own to do so.
• HDCP ready for most consoles and even other devices. 
• Easy to install with the HD75A/HD72A Drivers

The Bad Points

• The drivers are NOT Digitally signed, this might make installation more complex for 7 and 8.1 x64 users. Scrap that. using the Timeleak drivers fix that.
• The Audio is not a separate driver for some older software. But can be solved by using OBS.
• Not easy to get the card (except from ebay/chinese suppliers)

I hope this review helps a bit more in terms of what it can do and if you are having driver issues, you might be able to solve it using this post as a guidelines. 

Hopefully i'll try to review some more Chinavasion products, maybe some Xmas stuff too. But for now, i need to enjoy a meal out with Glass tonight :D

omracer

Google Glass Explorer Edition

Well, i can't say much on the back story except i've wanted this for a long while, then i saw a chance to get it at a good price, then i bought it. £800. But with a speedy delivery and the product looking pristine, it was a time to give it a review. Enjoy a video review. The blogpost will go into some more detail than what might be shown.

The packaging and contents.

So this is quite a wide box as well as a very plain design, of course with googles design and font but very basic. Which might put people who didn't know what this was off, but with the explorer edition, it is a very niche product, so the packaging shouldn't be something to be focusing on. Yes, the contents isn't as much as you would expect but it all fits in nicely. You get with this: 

• Google Glass 
• A pouch which is hardened to give it extra protection 
• 1 small mono earphone for better communication with busy areas 
• some nose handles which are different sizes
• a pouch with a quick FAQ and also the above (it was always in the pouch)
• A unique style micro usb cable (thats all, no mains charger with the item)

XE - eXplorer Edition

A Blank side

Glass at the top of the box

The opposite side of the XE logo which has all the trademarks, EAN codes and serial numbers

Unrelated note, as i was reviewing this, my cat decided to play with a bag 

The bottom of the box

The inside of the top of the box, which explains how to set the thing up

Glass itself. With all the labels of what each button does

Underneath the space glass is, is the cable and the pouch which includes the FAQ and spare nose buds

A short guide on how to use the pouch

This is the guide of how to use the mono earpiece, with the top side of the earpiece

The bottom side of the earpiece, yes its also a micro usb connection

One side of the pouch, the top is where my thumb is 

The other side, there isn't any difference 

The spare nose pads with different sizes

Part one of the FAQ

Part two of the FAQ. 

Now this was quite a fair bit, with CLEAR instructions which is a bonus for anyone new to this type of this, (yes that is including me). But it was ina a amazing condition and well its nice to see how much effort google has put in for this product, even if it technically a beta (not fully finished).

Glass itself and setting up

So. Glass looks nice, but did it feel right, well i can say. Sort of, it wasn't a too loose fitting but it was so tight that it blocked my nose, which is a good thing but in high action situations, it could prove dangerous. to both me and glass. Also GLASS IS NOT WATERPROOF. So just be careful of when it rains. There was actually something in the FAQ saying about scuba diving, which made it clear its not waterproof.

A look at glass from the top left

#GoogleGlass #selfie

So with it fitting and all, setting it up was not too bad. Sure i had to make the battery charge, but you need to have it turned on before you can (No offline charging). Which while i left it off during lunch, it was not charging. 

After a tutorial on how to use the touchpad and also using MyGlass to pair it up. It was done via bluetooth, it did look like it was going to fail, then it worked and connected to my main gmail. No problems there. Then when i took a photo, the app on my phone let me know there were photos taken. 

The app on my phone (yup the zp810) it was quite clean looking. 

Also the lockscreen is simple to use and you can control the interface with either voice or with the touchpad. You can just say "ok glass" then it lists you some of the options to say what to do. Searching google, call someone, check the battery (with an app in glassware), take a photo, record a video and much more. Oh and you can get twitter and facebook for this, i've not tried it yet but i might do soon. But i'll list what apps i DO have on there below:

The apps i've got installed on there. 

The photos and videos.

Now this is one of the cruical things i wanted google glass for, which will help my vlogs look better. and from what i've done on glass currently....they do.  The pictures are not 16:9 which is a slight pity but i can't do much from there without a launcher and a 3rd part camera, which i'm not ready to do just yet. But the video is a nice 720p, the audio is ok but i do here some distortion, but nothing to be shocked about. I'll show you details of the quality and the images below:

The first image with google glass, this was done while recording the review

This is the info of the above file

Another indoor pic

The details of the above pic

A pic of the garden

Details of the above pic.

Now the video quality is pretty good as well. 720p at 4mbits (DVD quality some people would call it). Now here is a instagrammed clip and the details of the original file before uploading. 

Oh and at this point, if you copy the orginal file from google glass to an android phone then upload to instagram. it directly accepts it and uploads it. So NO conversion required. Sadly since its too good of a quality for snapchat sharing, you have to convert it.

Info for the orginal clip before it was instagrammed 

With that in mind, it makes importing to video programs like iMovie and Movie Studio easy to use with less hassle. Again, you might hear some distortion in the audio, which is a very minor flaw, also there is no light on the front, so there isn't a torch function to use.

The Potential.

With this you can do alot more than what people think it can do. The Glassware store has plenty of unique apps which either are games (including a Zombie running game) to fitness apps to even the news, the actual news of NYT or even the Guardian. Since this is running a variation of Android 4.0.3 (If you notice the guide on setting up sideloading, it mentions 4.0.3 ). There is a fair whack of apps that can load that even though are not supported, they might run. There are alot of test but i will check on what it could run soon. Since there is a touchpad, navigation isn't too much of a problem with apps from the normal playstore (to a degree). But there are some apps that need to be added. Such as an app for Airplane mode. Now this isn't for that exact reason (going on an airplane) but it does give it the best battery life if i want to get decent vlogs on this.

Installing adb wasn't too bad, Following this Guide was simple. But when it came to getting the drivers for glass installed, that turned out to be simple too, but adb just wasn't recognising it, uninstall wiping the drivers and reinstalling from windows update worked. But then it was the trouble of being unathorized. Which then finding THIS had made it work. Also i found a good screen monitor for Android in General. ASM its called.

Sadly after various attempts, i was unable to get airplane mode to work. Maybe since XE21.x is out, it might be too new for the Airplane mode app and even Launchy doesn't work properly, it won't let you change apps via the touchpad at least, voice it might be but i was quite quiet. But its things like this that give it alot more potential.  

The Part conclusion. 

So with the device working, the design looking neat, the features slightly packed and the quality of content is pretty high, it is sort of a vloggers ideal, with easy record features, as well as a personal assistant right within eyesight. But the cost is the most putting off factor, which if i didn't save up enough, i would of avoided it altogether. With that being a major gripe, it sometimes makes you regret forking out for it, but it will change my mind when its put to good use. 

The Pros: 

• Slick design.
• Easy to use.
• 720p recording.
• Pairs with your phone so you can call and text people if need be via bluetooth or wifi. I noticed my texts appeared without me realising.
• Quite nice fitting on the nose to keep it stable.

The Cons:

• Relies on a network connection thats reliable, with tethering to phones or wifi. 
• No GPS, so you can't have tracking software without the above.
• no 16:9 picture option.
• \THE PRICE OF IT, MORE THAN A CAR. 
• You might get evil or weird looks or even kicked out of some places (not confirmed)

With all this in mind. I'm considering giving it a 6/10. But this will give for some amazing FP (First person footage). Firework displays will be easier to capture the moments and it could also be like having your friends always there for you. 

Lets see what the future with glass has in store for me. 

omracer