absolute newbie question about hard and software (1 Viewer)

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have a amd 2.6 Barton with 512 ram which I used as a backup machine.
Now I do not need it anymore (streaming my stuff).

I want to use it as a Multi Media Station and I found this program which looks extremly good.

The point is, that I can start to build the machine from scratch, as there are no cards except a slow graphik card build in.

Which TV Card (Cable) would you advice to buy?
I have a sony 5.1 system which I would like to connect, so which sound card would you say is the best?

Last point might sound extremely stupid, but do I need a seperate monitor for the pc`? Or is the TV screen used as a monitor?

Please let me know what you guys advice.

In case I posted in the wrong forum or did not find an existing answer to my question I would like to ask for forgiveness, wasnt my intention to bother anyone.

Cheers

Hungarian

 

[FlipGer]

Hi Hungarian,

i think this is the right forum.

Do you have digital cable or analog?

For analog Hauppauge PVR! (the one and only)
- PVR 500, if you want two tuners (watching and recording) and radio
- PVR 350, if you want one tuner and radio
- PVR 150 / 250 if you only want TV

For digital:
???

What graphics card do you have? I would recommend a DX9 compatible card, since MP uses DirectX like a game.

Soundcard, hmm i have the Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS and i am very pleased (THX certified) you may look out for Audigy 4. (But soundcard question is somewhat religious )

Your TV screen might be the best choice as monitor. (I have connected my HTPC only to TV). Depends on a good TV out on the graphics card.

Everything just my 2 cents. There may be other (better) recommendations.

Flip.

 

[Anonymous]

Hallo Flip

..geht auch auf Deutscsch, aber wegen der anderen..mal lieber auf Englisch

Ok, well I have pretty much a very simple 64mb TV out Card...never connected it to a TV so far...thats why I asked if I need a seperate monitor.....
I have anloge Cable (at least some German channels here) but I am thinking about to get myself a digital sat system, just because of my old homeland programs...too much RTL II makes ppl sick after a while...insider joke....

Well, I just want to connect the machine to my 5.1 system so I need a soundcard with a coax digital out...nothing serious...just good.
I will have an eye on that haupauge card...remote is included?
Do you guys have a mouse and everything in your living-rooms?
My dear wife is always getting on my back because of the huge bunch of remotes on the table...if there will be a mouse and a keyboard I might have to move in my boys room.....´which I realy would not like....
I also see the possibilty to put soime extra money for a new graphics card in if I have too, I never even tried the card on the tv....

You know what, now I am going to look what card I have...brb....
ATI Radeon 5500 128 mb ram and tv out....more decent then a thought...
It looks like I have to much money...a card like that in a backup machine...

Any´experience with that card?

Thank you for the time...
Cheers

H

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

jup, besser in Englisch, dann profitieren auch andere davon. Gutes deutsches Forum http://www.mp-forum.de (aber natürlich nicht so stark besucht ).

Sure about the Radeon 5500? I only know 7500, 8500 or 9500. I have the 8500, this card works well with MP. I use a special VGA to Scart cable to connect to TV (Powerstrip needed), what gives me a great picture, far better than any TV out. (Search tips and tricks for more infos)

The PVRs are bundled with a good remote, which is very good implemented in MP. mPod made a great plugin for it.

But i still have wireless mouse / keyboard in my living room, because i am playing from time to time with my HTPC. If you use a WLAN you can control the HTPC remotly, this is also a good solution via VNC.

Do not know enough about good digital out for audio. Has to answer someone else.

Flip.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi again,

I hardly ever play....no time for this...

How did you connact your soundcard to your amplifier?

Well, maybe I read that card wrong, crack the machine open tomorow and I will have a look...
So you say the small Hauppauge (150) would do?
I have a radio receiver in my sony system, two near each other makes not to much sense....I will take a look into that cable you mentioned...
I am building the wlan system now. The only trouble is that I have a whole house, so I am not sure if I will have reception everywhere....
Can you explain the remote HTPC solution...or should I google a round with "VNC"`

Cheers mate

H

 

[FlipGer]

Hi again,

my amplifier is just via analog chinch connected to the soundcard. Currently i consider to buy a THX speaker system. The Audigy has 7.1 output, and Teufel has nice (and expensive ) speaker sets which can be connected directly to the soundcard.

Sure the PVR 150 would do, nice card.

For VNC look on http://ultravnc.sf.net
VNC is OpenSource. You will have a small server and a client to connect, works very well, even over internet for TV programming from work . VNC works on Windows and Linux.

RDP (remote desktop from MS) seems to have problems with MP.

Flip.