Making some sort of HTPC

[KK]

I would like to make some sort of TV watching PC, but I would still like to browse the web from a regular LCD. Basically in the room right now I got my current slow PC with LCD, and a TV with TIVO. The wife has given me permission to build a new PC to replace the slow one. I would like a PC that would function as a TIVO for the TV, while browsing the web on the LCD. I'd like to keep the box pretty small but doesn't have to be a SFF size. Also, I'd like to go with a E6300 or 6400 processor, will probably try to OC whatever I can do easily as I don't want to play around tweaking every little setting to achieve premuim speed. Tuner wise, I would like something that would allow an rf input that would allow me to record something and watch something else, also would like an input for the satellite using either Svideo, or composite. No digital or fancy HD recording necessary, just standard definition. Software wise, I have no idea what to go with.

So in short, I want the TV part outputing to the TV, and the regular PC desktop on the LCD. How would I do that.

 

[KK]

anybody?:brokenheart:

 

[Spydermag68]

At CompUSA, has the ATI 200 cards for $40. It is a basic card...I don't know if you can put two cards in the same machine to record one and watch the other.

 

[imported_stev]

I use Nvidia's DualTV. It's an MPEG2 hardware encoding analog dual tuner card with exceptional picture quality. It'll allow you to record one channel while watching/recording another. It has one input for coax (signal is split internally) and two for S-video. However, you can only view two channels from coax or two inputs from S-video at a time, you can't have one of each.

For software, I use Beyond TV. You could use that or Windows MCE.

You can use your video card's S-video out to output to the TV. I use Nvidia's "clone" mode on my video card to display the same display on my monitor and my TV. I set it so video clips display in full screen on the TV whether or not it is full screen on the monitor so I can surf the web while the TV shows a show. However, I think you lose control of the tuner with the remote (included free with the software) until you select Beyond TV as the active window again. You could also stretch the display over your monitor and your TV and maybe that will work better (not for me, with my dinky 19" TV!). Take a look at the SnapStream forums. There are some people there who have put together some pretty nice setups.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: Spydermag68
At CompUSA, has the ATI 200 cards for $40. It is a basic card...I don't know if you can put two cards in the same machine to record one and watch the other.

From what I've heard, you can. There are some crazy people at the SnapSteam Forums who claim they can record 5-6 shows at once with multiple single and/or dual tuners in one machine!

 

[merk]

i wouldnt bother over-clocking...whats the point? It wont let you watch tv any faster I'd go with a nice cool running cpu so you wont have to listen to the cpu fan blowing all the time.

Pick up a hauppauge wintv pvr500. It'll let you record 2 channels at the same time. And if you wanted to be able to watch tv AND record tv at the same time going through the pc, you'll need a dual tuner like that (or two single tuners) to do that. If you want to record premium channels, you'll have to hook the cable box into the tuner card. I dont bother with that...thats what netflix is for Its too clunky to me to have to set up the pc to control the cable box...plus if you want to watch tv and its recording one of those channels, you can because you cant use the cable box.

I dont remember what inputs that has though. I know it has coax because thats what i use, and i think it has svideo but not sure.

Find a video card that does TV out. You can find mother boards with built in video that also have tv out, which is what i did. If you are just going to be using this pc for tv and web surfing, you dont need anything fast or powerful.

As for software, i use snapstream. Great company and no problems with the software and it has some nice extra features - like being able to log into a website from anywhere and schedule a recording for your tv. You can even do it over your cell phone if it supports WAP. Comes in handy if you are out and forgot to set something to record.

 

[Modular]

You best bet is to go with a Hauppauge card IMO. I'm using the PVR-150 and I love it, it has great image quality.

The Hauppauge PVR-500 (Media Center Edition) has dual RF inputs as well as S-video and composite.

If you aren't running XP Media center Edition then you can use GB-PVR which is a free recording software distribution. It works really well and has a support forum and everything.

Keep doing your homework to find a good tuner card. The one I linked to is a great card, but that "White Box edition" on Newegg doesn't come with a remote...the Hauppauge remote is key and you will use it alot, especially with GBPVR. Good luck.

 

[merk]

Yeah a remote is nice - i actually dont have one... i use a wireless keyboard, which works, but its clunky. Oh and even though the PVR-500 says windows media center edition, it will work in XP ... at least it does with snapstream anyhow. You can ask the guys at hauppauge if it will work with whatever software you decide to use.

You can also pick up an IR remote...prices range from anywhere from $20 to $250 (logitech makes some really nice high end all-in-one remotes)

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Modular
You best bet is to go with a Hauppauge card IMO. I'm using the PVR-150 and I love it, it has great image quality.

The Hauppauge PVR-500 (Media Center Edition) has dual RF inputs as well as S-video and composite.

If you aren't running XP Media center Edition then you can use GB-PVR which is a free recording software distribution. It works really well and has a support forum and everything.

Keep doing your homework to find a good tuner card. The one I linked to is a great card, but that "White Box edition" on Newegg doesn't come with a remote...the Hauppauge remote is key and you will use it alot, especially with GBPVR. Good luck.

one thing I have been reading is that on the hauppauge 500 is that they recently went with different tuners on their cards, they used to have philips tuners but now have samsung or something like that. Lots of complaints with the new tuners having snow pictures. The Nvidia dual tuner card looks like a very good card without the headache. I haven't been able to locate that card for sell at any retailer besides page and nvidia themselves.

Software wise, what does xp media center edition have that would make it worthwhile.
and would mce be better than something like beyondtv?

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: merk
i wouldnt bother over-clocking...whats the point? It wont let you watch tv any faster I'd go with a nice cool running cpu so you wont have to listen to the cpu fan blowing all the time.

Pick up a hauppauge wintv pvr500. It'll let you record 2 channels at the same time. And if you wanted to be able to watch tv AND record tv at the same time going through the pc, you'll need a dual tuner like that (or two single tuners) to do that. If you want to record premium channels, you'll have to hook the cable box into the tuner card. I dont bother with that...thats what netflix is for Its too clunky to me to have to set up the pc to control the cable box...plus if you want to watch tv and its recording one of those channels, you can because you cant use the cable box.

I dont remember what inputs that has though. I know it has coax because thats what i use, and i think it has svideo but not sure.

Find a video card that does TV out. You can find mother boards with built in video that also have tv out, which is what i did. If you are just going to be using this pc for tv and web surfing, you dont need anything fast or powerful.

As for software, i use snapstream. Great company and no problems with the software and it has some nice extra features - like being able to log into a website from anywhere and schedule a recording for your tv. You can even do it over your cell phone if it supports WAP. Comes in handy if you are out and forgot to set something to record.

Overclocking it would not be necessary, but if it could be done slightly without hardly any trouble, may as well. My current computer takes over 7 minutes to unrar 4.7GB, I'd like to shorten that alittle.

Do any of those dual tuner cards allow PIP? I just have standard analog TV, no tuner box from the cable co, and Direct TV. I'd like to be able to switch between the two pretty easily.

What would be a decent dual output video card?

 

[merk]

I'm betting the time to unrar is your hard drive. Are you unraring to the same hard drive that the file is on? If you have 2 hard drives, always unrar to a different drive and you'll see faster speeds.

I'm not sure what inputs the hauppauge card takes besides coax. You can probably check on their website.

And as for them changing the chips on the cards... i dont know anything about that. I bought mine a few months ago and havent had any complaints with image quality.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Another resource for you

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26