Matrox Marvel G400TV

Conclusion

If you aren't a huge gamer and simply want the hardware MJPEG video capture features of the Marvel then you may want to look around for the older Marvel G200 as long as you're willing to give up the DualHead features. With the release of the Marvel G400 at $299, it would make sense for the price of the Marvel G200 to drop, and if all you're looking for is a cheap introduction into video editing without worrying about having too fast of a system then the original Marvel G200 should be able to cut it.

If you're a huge DVD fan and want basic video capture support then you may want to take a look at ATI's older All-in-Wonder 128 since it does boast hardware DVD support. The hardware DVD of the AIW128 does look considerably superior to that of the software DVD output and provided that you aren't really looking for a video editing system for your PC, the AIW128 should be sufficient for DVD buffs looking to use their PC for little more than surfing the net.

For the hard core gamer interested in good TV output, your standard TNT2 with TV-output should do just fine, but if you are also interested in video capture support explore the possibilities of either the ASUS V3800 Deluxe or the Voodoo3 3500TV but be warned, both of those cards will set you back above $200.

So when should you buy the Marvel G400? If you aren't low on disk space (or are willing to go out and buy another hard drive for your videos) and want to produce high quality home videos and, at the same time, you want to use that system for gaming and can find a use or two for the DualHead feature then the Marvel G400 starts to make sense.

It is a difficult sell at $299, since the software bundle could be strengthened considerably and the video editing capabilities are relatively unchanged since the Marvel G200 but that still doesn't keep the Marvel G400 from being the best overall solution of its kind, at least until some competition pops up.

As a cost effective solution that brings desktop video editing to you in an easy to use package, Matrox succeeds where the rest have failed. The $300 pricetag still brings you, as a home PC user or a video enthusiast, video editing at a reasonable price without compromising features. The support for hardware MJPEG just makes the Marvel G400 a little more unique than the competition, in a very good way.