For still image captures using an analog VGA connection, image quality with the DVI2USB was superb, even better than the VGA2USB. This comes as no surprise since Epiphan designs their hardware for commercial, military, and medical imaging use – meaning that image quality is exceptional. The DVI2USB samples at a full 24-bit color instead of the 16-bit color of the VGA2USB. Obviously, when it comes to DVI frame grabbing, the DVI2USB provides a perfect capture.
Original 1600x1200 Image
VGA2USB
DVI2USB using VGA connection
DVI2USB using DVI connection
Buffered Capture
The real strength of the DVI2USB is the ability to buffer its capture. While the framerates are lower with higher resolutions, the individual frames are perfectly clear. This makes the DVI2USB a very useful tool for screenshots from NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards as well as from consoles such as the Xbox 360. Videos can say a lot more than words, so please take a look at these videos from the Lost Planet E3 demo for the Xbox 360:
The DVI2USB again provides a monopoly on the niche market of low-cost, high-quality DVI frame grabbing technology. While the $1000 price tag means it's too expensive for enthusiasts, it's a relative bargain for anyone needing precision DVI frame capture. For example, with this instrument, we'll now be able to get even better shots comparing the picture quality of NVIDIA vs. ATI video processing, clearer Xbox 360 and PS3 screenshots, and so on. If Epiphan can truly reach 30 fps capture rates at 1280x720, it could be a interesting alternative to HD-SDI capture tools (provided you had an HD-SDI to DVI convertor).
While the DVI2USB has a maximum supported resolution of 1600x1200 (it didn't sync properly at 1920x1200 for us), the VGA2USB can sync to a 2048x1536 display. That is, while we toyed with the idea of using the $200 VGA2USB as a debugging/diagonstic tool, we cannot say the same thing for the $1000 DVI2USB. It's more expensive, and doesn't support the same range of resolutions.
In the end, Epiphan has developed two very interesting niche products, the VGA2USB and DVI2USB. Both provide exceptional performance with superb value. Bottom line? If you need low-cost, USB 2.0 based DVI frame grabber, there's really nothing available that's better than the DVI2USB. Most of you don't need a DVI frame grabber… but rest assured that this product will help us improve the quality of our future reviews.
Elemental: Fallen Enchantress Preview Elemental: Fallen Enchantress is a standalone expansion pack and follow-up to developer Stardock's previous game in the series, subtitled War of Magic. That 4X strategy game was highly-anticipated and slated to compete with games such as Sid Meier's Civilization V for your turn-based strategy play-time, but was released in an incredibly broken and unfinished state that it never fully recovered from. Lead designer Brad Wardell apologized profusely to fans and set out with his team to go back to the drawing board and try again.
Almost two years later, the result of that proverbial mulligan is currently undergoing closed beta testing. In today's article, Will reports his thoughts on how Fallen Enchantress is shaping up, and will tell you whether or not you should be keeping an eye on it as it nears release later this year.
The Elder Scrolls Online Details Leak - Should Fans Be Excited? The Elder Scrolls Online, long rumored to be in development, was officially announced yesterday. Still in development at Zenimax Online Studios, this MMO aims to combine traditional genre mechanics with the spirit and sensibilities, not to mention setting and lore, of the immensely popular series of single-player RPGs. Though the game is set for a full unveiling in the next issue of Game Informer magazine, what appears to be the entire cover story article has been leaked to the interwebs already. In today's article, you'll find summary and analysis of all the alleged details, as well as feast your eyes on the very first screenshots and concept art from the game. Of course, the burning question now is, should you be excited?
ANNO 2070 Review
The year is 2070. The majority of life on Earth was devastated when global sea levels surged after the melting of the polar ice caps. Swaths of previously habitable land are now deep underwater, and sovereign nations are a relic of the past. But there is still hope...
This city-building RTS/simulation game from Ubisoft tasks you with re-colonizing what little land areas are left on the planet following a global warming apocalypse. Does it have what it takes to be worthy of your time and money, or should it be cast out to sea with the rest of civilization? Find out in today's review!
Hear that? It's the sound of the largest computer chip manufacturer in the world churning out new processors to power your gaming rig. This week, Intel is launching their next generation of Core CPUs, code-named Ivy Bridge. Like last year's Sandy Bridge chips, they're low-power, quad-core powerhouses that also feature integrated graphics processors. Want to find out more? Maybe check out a whole bunch of performance benchmarks on both the CPU and graphics sides of things? Well you can, in today's review!
Intel Z77 Chipset & DZ77GA-70K Motherboard Overview
Looking forward to those new Ivy Bridge CPUs? In anticipation of their release later this month, Intel has already unveiled the new Series 7 chipsets designed especially to take advantage of what will be the 3rd-generation of Core processors. In today's article, we take a look at the architecture of the enthusiast variant, the Z77, and how it's used in the Intel Desktop Extreme DZ77GA-70K motherboard. Even if you're not particularly interested in the motherboard itself, you'll probably want to see some of the new features that come along with it, so read on!
Mass Effect 3 PC Review
This latest release from EA/BioWare is the final entry in their trilogy of sci-fi action RPGs, putting you in a dire situation: rally the troops to save Earth at all costs. There was a lot of hype surrounding the final act of what has been a vast and highly-customizable story-telling experience, and the reception among many hardcore fans has been less than stellar. Even people that haven't played the game have probably heard about all the nerd rage going on over Mass Effect 3's ending...
If you want to cut through all the crap and find out whether or not the rest of ME3 is worth playing, come check out Will's spoiler-free take on the first blockbuster game release of 2012.
Batman: Arkham City PC Review Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to 2009’s smash-hit action game Batman: Arkham Asylum. As the name suggests, you will be reprising your role as the Caped Crusader and going against an even larger 'prison' filled with Gotham's criminals and villains. A textbook example on how to do a proper sequel, Arkham City takes what worked in the original, excised or improved upon what didn’t, and elevated everything to an even greater scope. The PC version suffered from a few months of delay, but in that time, Rocksteady worked closely to NVIDIA to implement some familiar technologies from the last game, such as PhysX and 3D Vision, along with new DirectX 11 optimizations. But how well was the whole package executed? Read on to find out!
Saints Row: The Third PC Review Saints Row is one of most unique series of games to build upon the open-world action template forged by Grand Theft Auto, and has met with plenty of critical and commercial success since it began on consoles back in 2006. This latest iteration, titled Saints Row: The Third promises the most outlandish fun and freedom of customization of them all, and in a much more PC-friendly package than its predecessor. Does it live up to those expectations and, more importantly, is it worth the price of admission? Find out in Will's latest review!
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC Review The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is Bethesda Softworks’ latest offering in their series of epic fantasy RPGs, as well as one of the most highly-anticipated PC titles of 2011. As the Dovahkiin, or Dragonborn, prepare to take the fight to the mythical beasts that have returned to the realm after centuries of slumber, all the while exploring a huge and highly-detailed open world.
The PC version of the game promises enhanced graphical fidelity, standard RPG trimmings such as hotkeys and quick-save, as well as unbridled mod support, something we’ll all be thankful for once they release that SDK. Skyrim has already sold millions of copies and set records for play-time on Steam... Find out why in today's review, which happens to be one of the biggest and most in-depth articles on the subject out there!
L.A. Noire Complete Edition PC Review L.A. Noire, as the name clearly states, is a video game built on the tropes of one of the greatest periods of American cinema: film noir. Developed by the now defunct Australian developer Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games, this title has been out on consoles for a full six months before finally making its way to the PC. This “Complete Edition” of the game features improved graphics, keyboard/mouse controls, and every bit of previously-released DLC for free. But was it truly worth the wait? Read on and find out!
![Epiphan DVI2USB Review [ Original 1600x1200 Image @ 1600 x 1200 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/04-s.png)
![Epiphan DVI2USB Review [ VGA2USB @ 1600 x 1200 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/05-s.png)
![Epiphan DVI2USB Review [ DVI2USB using VGA connection @ 1600 x 1200 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/06-s.png)
![Epiphan DVI2USB Review [ DVI2USB using DVI connection @ 1600 x 1200 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/07-s.png)
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