CPU for HTPC

[imported_nunya]

I am looking to build an HTPC with the 4000+ I have but I've also got an xp1800 sitting in my closet and was wondering if it would be ok pulling htpc duty. No hi-def, just outputting to my 32" sdtv. My question is if it would do ok with recording on my hauppauge 150. Thanks.

 

[Varun]

I have a 2500+, 1GB RAM, and two ATI 550 tuners and have zero issues. If you are not playing back encoded media through software or HD TV then I don't think you need much processor. All of the encoding and playback will be done through hardware. I think a 4000+ is a bit extreme for what you want to do.

 

[Texun]

The PVR-150 is a hardware card, right? I think it is. I have the 250 which is the older brother to the 150 and I used an XP1800 with no problems at all. I ditched it since I also wanted to burn DVDs. The 1800 worked fine there as well, but wasn't very speedy at crunching video. I would give it a shot if you already have a working system or at least a board but I personally wouldn't invest any money to keep it

 

[amdskip]

I'm running beyondtv and I'm upgrading my xp 2500 htpc to a 3400+ $99 combo deal from newegg. The 2500 is ok but thats about it.

 

[imported_nunya]

I think a 4000+ is a bit extreme for what you want to do.

That's what I was thinking but since I have one along with a dfi nf4 collecting dust I was just going to use them, but if I could get by with the 1800 I'm sure I could find a better use for them later.

 

[Varun]

Yes the 150 is a hardware TV tuner.

If you are JUST wanting to use it for SDTV the 1800+ would likely be fine. If you want your HTPC to be able to convert recorded TV to wmv or something then you would want more power.

If you have it collecting dust then you may as well use the 4000+ since it gives you a lot more headroom to do more things with your HTPC.

 

[imported_nunya]

Well all of the media will be stored on a file server so if I did need to do any encoding I'd get it done there.

 

[Operandi]

As long as you don't need to do any real-time encoding or h.264 decoding I would think the 1800+ would do fine.