Build my own TIVO?

[agg123456789]

I like the idea of a TIVO, cept i dont particularly want to pay the monthly fee . So, i was thinking.... A Radeon 8500 DV AIW would do the trick. add one of those nice 120 GB Western Digitals with the 8megs of Cache, i would have it made. The only issue is with a case....i cant seem to find a really small motherboard/case/barebones type system that has an AGP port....so does anyone know of a good Destop ATX case? something that i could paint black to make it look like a DVD player or something?

Does anyone have any experence with this?


Thanks


agg123456789

 

[rival]

buy an old dvd player and rip the guts out, or you can always build a case yourself...

 

[Keego]

<< buy an old dvd player and rip the guts out, or you can always build a case yourself... >>



power supply size would be a problem... (among other things)

you could get a mini cube PC and just put in a pci video in/out card in it

 

[agg123456789]

my mechanical skills are way way way below par! lol... hmm.. interesting about the DVD player. I would prefer to find a desktop case for simplicity's sake.... can one buy just the power switches etc that are usually included on a case?

Isent there a mATX spec for PSUs? might they be shorter?

agg123456789

 

[Keego]

yep

 

[agg123456789]

is there a PCI card that has the features of the Radeon 8500 DV AIW? the time shifting stuff and the TV guide on the AIW are supposed to be superb.....



agg123456789

 

[Keego]

ohhh the AIW has a tv guide thing? weird! I didn't know that... in that case, ignore my posts

 

[punkrawket]

if you have like an entertainment cabnet you could just stuff the computer (mid tower) away in one of the doored areas.....

 

[MournSanity]

Hmmm...I might also build my own Tivo

There are these really tiny cases, but I forgot where to buy them...Or I can build my own. This is a really good idea, but how will it work? Will it be hooked up to the TV and run Windows and stuff?

How do you plan on doing this?

 

[agg123456789]

its all good.... this is what intreagued me: Anand's review



agg123456789

 

[agg123456789]

i would run 2000 probably. hook the cable into the 8500, and then the 8500 to the TV with its TV out functionality. it dosent seem like it would be too difficult......


but if anyone sees any issues with this... post away!!! LOL



agg123456789

 

[agg123456789]

<< if you have like an entertainment cabnet you could just stuff the computer (mid tower) away in one of the doored areas..... >>



I dont really have space to keep it anywhere but on top of the TV itself. its one of those 36" Wega deals, so there is plenty of space up there for a DVD player size box.....but as i said before... i would rather find a case than try to build it myself.....


agg123456789

 

[agg123456789]

ok i have done a bit of looking at DVD players.... there wouldent be much room for airflow.... and i would need a really really short HSF.... are there HSF for socket A designed for a 1U case?


thanks


agg123456789

 

[HOWITIS]

comparing tivo to the radeon card is like comparing using a video camra to record things, or taking pictures and then flipping through them to provide movement.


also you can by a lifetime sup and it = no monthly. realplay makes you pay no monthly, but they just make you pay the lifetime sub upfront.

 

[Croton]

get a wintv pvr card

 

[Codewiz]

<< comparing tivo to the radeon card is like comparing using a video camra to record things, or taking pictures and then flipping through them to provide movement.


also you can by a lifetime sup and it = no monthly. realplay makes you pay no monthly, but they just make you pay the lifetime sub upfront. >>



Unless things have changed. The Tivo lifetime sub will only apply to one unit. So if your unit dies then your subscription goes with it.

Jim

 

[Gunbuster]

The point of a Tivo or Replaytv is ease of use, you tell it to record buffy it records it. It also self updates, can delete old shows as it runs out of space, is quiet, has a remote, interfaces with the cable box or DSS, ..........

AFAIK a PC based solution is not even close to what a PVR gives you

 

[agg123456789]

the subscription is per unit.... so if i want to upgrade, my subsription goes away. besides, i want to have a computer attached to the sound system....and i like the challange.... no word on the hsf?



thanks


agg123456789

 

[Vernor]

PVR solutions aren't yet up to the standard set by TIVO.


As for good-looking cases, check out:

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Cases/FD860.htm

 

[Spikesoldier]

Why not a AIW Radeon 7500? The AIW Radeon 8500DV is overkill for my needs.

There is the AIW Radeon (Original) PCI Availible, and you can use that in the supersmall shuttle barebones system.
Sound might be a problem, as you are forced to use onboard sound.

I would shoot for MicroATX and a full Processor (P3, P4, Athlon (You dont want to drop frames)) and probably 256MB Ram. Probably a high end sound card, such as the TB/SC or Acoustic Edge; the AIW Radeon 7500, and the 120GB HD's and a wireless Keyboard/Mouse combo.

 

[HOWITIS]

your tivo never has to die!!!! all you gotta do is save the tivo OS to your computer, and then when a hard drive fails (if it ever does) just stick another in. i've already upgraded both of my tivos ,m its really easy.

 

[Bobomatic]

wtf is wrong with you guys? The replay has no mothly charge and the service is free. You dont have to pay upfront, or at any time. Theres a $100 rebate with it and they are like $200 w/o the rebate. So your looking at $100 for a Replay, upgrade with a better harddrive and your set. The TIVO is better though, because it records the shows that are the same as the ones already recorded.

 

[agg123456789]

<< Why not a AIW Radeon 7500? The AIW Radeon 8500DV is overkill for my needs.

There is the AIW Radeon (Original) PCI Availible, and you can use that in the supersmall shuttle barebones system.
Sound might be a problem, as you are forced to use onboard sound.

I would shoot for MicroATX and a full Processor (P3, P4, Athlon (You dont want to drop frames)) and probably 256MB Ram. Probably a high end sound card, such as the TB/SC or Acoustic Edge; the AIW Radeon 7500, and the 120GB HD's and a wireless Keyboard/Mouse combo. >>



I was thinking along those lines, but I dident know about the AIW 7500.. that actually looks like it would fit my needs quite well...


thanks again

agg123456789

 

[agg123456789]

ok, so i have yet to find a nice mATX desktop case... Anyone know of a good brand?


Thanks

Agg123456789

 

[hoihtah]

don't you think that 120gb 8mb is a overkill?
why do you need that fast ide drive?
(hehe... fast ide... )

anyhow... i think for tivo's purpose... any 5400 rpm drive will do.
i think all tivos come with 5400rpm drives.