731MHz P3 enough for a HTPC?

[MichaelD]

I'm in the intial planning phase for my HTPC.

At first, I am planning on just using it to play MP3s and surf the web. I know 731MHzCPU/512MB memory will be more than enough.

But down the road, I would like to watch video on it as well....specifically, to use the box as a PVR.

Will 731MHz be enough for this, assuming I have something like an ATI AIW 9500 type videocard?

I'm obviously trying to keep the cost down; I already have the P3 mobo/PC133 memory/P3-550 that will run all day at 5.5x133=731MHz.

Sh!T!!! I need a soundcard! The mobo HAS onboard sound...but trust me, you wouldn't want to hear it. An NF2 with digital out would rule....Hmm.

Anyway, what do you think about the CPU? Thanks.

 

[JackBurton]

The CPU is fine for playing DVDs, MP3, surfing the web, but you may have problems playing high quailty Divx of Xvid movies. I'd say it would play at LEAST 95% of those movies though. Just for get about playing HD movies.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for your input, JackBurton; I had my doubts about the raw speed of the CPU being able to keep up with video.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Playback of mpeg2 should be fine, but video encoding is probably gong to be a problem if you want more than VCR quality.

 

[AtTheGates]

Encoding will be a problem so don't get the AIW. Get something like a Hauppauge WinTV 250 with hardware encoding. A months back I was given someones old HP P3 800 with 256 megs RAM. I was shocked at how well it ran everything I tried. At 751 you should be fine for most HTPC needs.

While at Fry's a couple days ago I saw that they are now selling the Via Epia M10000. For $350 after rebates I could get 512 RAM, 1 Ghz cpu, onboard video & sound, SPDIF, a WinTV 250, and a dead silent machine (already have dvd and os, and I would make the case). Don't know if I trust the sound and video but I thought that might make a nice HTPC.

What software are you going to use? I really like Xlobby. No PVR functions right now but it is great for everything slse.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: AtTheGates
Encoding will be a problem so don't get the AIW. Get something like a Hauppauge WinTV 250 with hardware encoding. A months back I was given someones old HP P3 800 with 256 megs RAM. I was shocked at how well it ran everything I tried. At 751 you should be fine for most HTPC needs.

While at Fry's a couple days ago I saw that they are now selling the Via Epia M10000. For $350 after rebates I could get 512 RAM, 1 Ghz cpu, onboard video & sound, SPDIF, a WinTV 250, and a dead silent machine (already have dvd and os, and I would make the case). Don't know if I trust the sound and video but I thought that might make a nice HTPC.

What software are you going to use? I really like Xlobby. No PVR functions right now but it is great for everything slse.

Thanks for this very important tip. When you say "encoding will be a problem" do you mean that "using the box as PVR and b/c it has to encode the signal to a mpeg format" will be a problem?

I am just asking so I can clarify this in my own mind; I'm not really sure how the whole process works. Thanks.

 

[MichaelD]

the Via Epia M10000. For $350 after rebates I could get 512 RAM, 1 Ghz cpu, onboard video & sound, SPDIF, a WinTV 250,

BTW, that really sounds like a damn good deal. Got a link? I have never heard of this "Epia" thing.

Though I've already got the mobo/CPU/memory, it has crappy ass analog sound and no digital out, which is mandatory for me. I have a nice HT rig; the output is only as good as the source material you feed into it!

 

[imported_torgo]

I second getting a Hauppauge card. The hardware encoding makes a big difference especially on slower CPUs. Letting the card handle the recording will free your CPU to do other things and is the best way to go for PVR type stuff. The quality on hardware encoding is usually much better too.

 

[AtTheGates]

Epia review at X-bits labs
Product at Outpost.com
Can probably find it cheaper but I just checked Outpost because it is connected with Fry's. The board is only 17cm square and the review gives it an A in multimedia preformance. It is designed for low energy and heat. Never used one nor do I know a whole lot about it but it seem like it could make a great simple HTPC. And yes I was refering to hardware encoding of video when using the system as a PVR.

 

[snowdogg187]

you may have trouble with recorded tv. fast forwarding and such.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: AtTheGates
Epia review at X-bits labs
Product at Outpost.com
Can probably find it cheaper but I just checked Outpost because it is connected with Fry's. The board is only 17cm square and the review gives it an A in multimedia preformance. It is designed for low energy and heat. Never used one nor do I know a whole lot about it but it seem like it could make a great simple HTPC. And yes I was refering to hardware encoding of video when using the system as a PVR.

Thank you. You too, snowdogg107 and Torgo.

I'm definitely looking for bang for the buck here. Will check out those links.