noob questions ( 2 Views )

1. Looking at starting a HTPC/Media Server build. For various reasons I've gotta start small and add-on later. I'm basically considering this my proof of concept build and once that's done can invest in more parts. I'm also mainly building out of spare parts right now to keep costs down. It's more or less just a homebrew DVR to replace my ailing VCR for now. Later it will take on more responsibilities.
   
   Onto the questions.
   For now I will only be pushing content to a SD TV so no reason for fancy High Def suff, etc. So, can I get by with just making use of my onboard video via S-video out to my TV and then when I finally upgrade to a HD TV snag a video card to drive that?
   
   Also, anyone know of a decent over the air digital tuner card? I'd prefer something with onboard MPEG encoding so keep CPU processing down. It would also be nice if it had multiple tuners. Most of the ones i'm finding with dual tuners have 1 digital and 1 analog.
   
   
   (aylin, Antigua and Barbuda)


2. depending on cpu speed, ram, etc.. you should be able to get away with your onboard stuff.. give it a good amount of video memory through your bios.
   
   i use a P3 craptop with a mobile ati 9000 or something to that effect with my TV via svideo, and it seems to work ok.
   
   once in a great while it will skip here or there, but not enough to warrant a costly upgrade.
   
   
   (mustafa, French Southern Territories)


3. Quote:

   Originally Posted by pcbird (Post 1031751875) Onto the questions. For now I will only be pushing content to a SD TV so no reason for fancy High Def suff, etc. So, can I get by with just making use of my onboard video via S-video out to my TV and then when I finally upgrade to a HD TV snag a video card to drive that?

   Yes. Preferably, its DX9 compliant, but you can probably get away without that too.
   
   

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by pcbird (Post 1031751875) Also, anyone know of a decent over the air digital tuner card? I'd prefer something with onboard MPEG encoding so keep CPU processing down. It would also be nice if it had multiple tuners. Most of the ones i'm finding with dual tuners have 1 digital and 1 analog.

   "over the air digital tuner card" generally means HD. SD over the air is analog. Digital signals are typically already compressed, so there's no encoding thats needed to be done.
   
   For SD only, that does cable/analog OTA, the PVR-150 is a decent card. If you want a combo with that plus OTA digital, the PVR-1600 may be the way to go. Both of which can be found under 100 quid.
   
   
   (merve, French Guiana)


4. For pushing stuff out to a SDTV, any video card with s-video out will be plenty (I've used a Riva TNT2 successfully in the past). And you don't need much CPU horsepower either, unless you're doing lots of post-processing, which is kinda pointless on a SDTV anyway.
   
   You might want to keep in mind that in just over a year, all OTA channels will become digital only (Feb. 17th, 2009). So I'd suggest you get a tuner card with both the HD and analog capture capability.
   
   If you can pick up a cheap P3-class system to tide you over for now, you can save a bundle of money, and only pay for a HD-capable PVR in a year and a quarter, when you'll 1) be more in a position to pay for the faster hardware, and 2) said hardware will be much, much cheaper.
   
   
   (asil, United States)


5. Thanks all, I thought I was on the right track.
   
   Don't remember who said it but the Feb 17, 2009 deadline is my whole reason for going ahead and throwing a digital card in this thing now. I've got an analog tuner laying around, may wind up throwing it in to start if the CPU can handle it. The wife and I are cheap (and don't watch much TV anyway) so we don't pay for cable or satellite. If it doesn't come in over the air we don't watch it. Anyway, thanks all.
   
   
   (aylin, Antigua and Barbuda)


6. Quote:

   Originally Posted by pcbird (Post 1031753592) Thanks all, I thought I was on the right track. Don't remember who said it but the Feb 17, 2009 deadline is my whole reason for going ahead and throwing a digital card in this thing now. I've got an analog tuner laying around, may wind up throwing it in to start if the CPU can handle it. The wife and I are cheap (and don't watch much TV anyway) so we don't pay for cable or satellite. If it doesn't come in over the air we don't watch it. Anyway, thanks all.

   If you've already got an analog tuner, don't bother spending the extra cash on a digital tuner for now, especially if you just watch OTA channels anyway. Just use what you have and save up for later.
   
   
   (sündüz, Sweden)

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