I need a media center pc.

[Smartazz]

I have an old Dell upstairs from back in 2000 with the following specs:
Pentium 3 933MHZ
512MB PC133 RAM
60GB Hard Drive
305 Watt stock power supply
Windows XP Home

I just want this PC to be able to record television, it's not in Hi Def so I think that the processor should do justice. I can't use the computer right now because the video card in it(ATI 9200 SE) broke a year ago. Since I need a new video card, is there a video card I can buy for cheap that can be used to record television? I won't be gaming on it at all anymore so I don't need a decent video card in it. I also need it to export video back into the TV somehow. Thanks in advance.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i think you're going to need more oomph than that dinosaur

 

[Cogman]

I think you could get it going, however, you will need a tv in that does MPEG2 encoding as your CPU will not be able to handle it by itself. Hardware MPEG2 encoders run around $60-80 last I checked (needs verification).

You may be better off getting a cheap CPU/MoBo combo from newegg and a cheap TV in card as the cheapest cpus will out preform what you have in there, no contest. (on the other hand you would have to buy new ram, which will hurt.)

 

[Blain]

Those specs are probably a little thin for "no fuss no muss" TV recording.
I know people used less, back in the day. But smooth is nice.

 

[ric1287]

maybe some more ram, and a bigger HDD if you want to record more than a few hours

 

[Blain]

Unless he's running a MB with a VIA chipset, he's limited to 512MB.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: Blain
Unless he's running a MB with a VIA chipset, he's limited to 512MB.

Yeah, I'm limited to 512MB.

 

[dfuze]

I've got a 30gb laptop drive in mine and it does fine as long as you don't record at the highest setting. I do a step down from the best and 1 hr is about 800mb I think.

You will need a tv card though. I am using an old ATI TV Wonder VE that I picked up a few years ago for $25. The software it comes with is utter crap, but I use BeyondTV 4 and it makes a world of difference.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: dph1077
I've got a 30gb laptop drive in mine and it does fine as long as you don't record at the highest setting. I do a step down from the best and 1 hr is about 800mb I think.

You will need a tv card though. I am using an old ATI TV Wonder VE that I picked up a few years ago for $25. The software it comes with is utter crap, but I use BeyondTV 4 and it makes a world of difference.

Is the TV wonder a video card too? Will I need Media Center Edition to use a tv tuner?

 

[Smartazz]

Alright, I'm going to build another computer for this. I have a PCI-E 7800GT that I can use for the video card and one 60GB IDE HDD. I know next to nothing on this lowend stuff, but I want to try to keep this as cheap as possible. I don't know if it's safe running a 7800GT on a cheap 300 watt PSU, so I guess I have to buy another power supply. So far all I could put together is:
AMD Sempron Processor 3000+ Socket AM2 (62W) Retail $58
Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 400 $58
eVGA 7800GT CO N/A

So I need a cheap case and a stable motherboard that's PCI-e compatible. I guess this computer can also double as a light gaming PC if needed, but I need help on the rest of the parts, thanks in advance.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

you definately don't want a cheesey power supply. 350W would be a good fit. problem is, most htpc cases that include a power supply stink. not only are they junk, but proprietary junk that can't be replaced when it (often) croaks. a nice case and separate PS will cut into the budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141437

the lowest prices newegg has favor AMD 939 and DDR1. for $20 more than your picks, that's a chunk more computer.

power supply $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
you definately don't want a cheesey power supply. 350W would be a good fit. problem is, most htpc cases that include a power supply stink. not only are they junk, but proprietary junk that can't be replaced when it (often) croaks. a nice case and separate PS will cut into the budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141437

the lowest prices newegg has favor AMD 939 and DDR1. for $20 more than your picks, that's a chunk more computer.

power supply $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

Nice config, thanks. I'd prefer AM2 over S939 though, but this will do since the price is a steal. That CPU is a really great price, would you recommend me getting one for my brother's gaming rig with an 8800GTS then overclock it? He needs a CPU badly right now.
As for the HTPC, I don't know anything about cases or motherboards for AMD so any help would be appreciated thanks.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

an 8800 series vid card should be paired up with a decent chip. the least expensive dual core 939 is still Opt 165.

 

[InFeXiOn]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
an 8800 series vid card should be paired up with a decent chip. the least expensive dual core 939 is still Opt 165.

What are you talking about? He's using a 7800, not the 8800 in his signature.

 

[Shawn]

Get one of the WinTV cards. They have hardware decoding which will need if you want to use a slower processor. My PVR-350 card only takes up about 1-2% of my P4 3.06GHz processor when recording. If you want dual tuners go for the PVR-500. Otherwise get the 250.