DVR PC Setup (2 Viewers)

[cgheilman]

I'm trying to figure out a way to get a low-cost DVR for the house, and I thought I'd use a computer I'm not using for anything. I want to put in a TV Tuner Card, hook it up to our cable, and use it to schedule to record certain shows whenever they come on TV.

My specs for the computer are below (a little underwhelming, I know, but I'm on a budget). I want to know if this setup would work decently with the tuner card I'll be getting.

IBM NetVista 6825
Pentium 4 1.6Ghz
384MB RAM
40GB Hard Drive (Will use 80GB external to record programs to)

Here's what I'm thinking about getting...


Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 (/w included remote)

Will this work with MediaPortal? I know many Hauppauge tuners work, but can anyone say for certain/almost certain? Also, will the included remote work at all? I won't be watching or recording HD content, just regular SD programming from cable.​

Visiontek Radeon 7000 Video Card

I can't find an exact answer if it supports DirectX 9 or not. I'm told that the tuner only uses Direct X 9 if I use the PAL format, but I'm not sure. Should I get a step up and choose a different card instead of this one?​

Thank you for all your help; I'd really like to get this project off of the ground and into my living room! Any help is greatly appreciated!

Christian

 

[fadius]

I am using a Haupage 150 and it works. My video card is a Radeon 7000 and it works as well, however, I am still tweaking the settings as the output is a little off color.

 

[Gixxer]

this post is interesting to me, i will try to do the same with an AMD 1600+.

also i have a radeon 7200 or something like that, very similar to that one but with fan and no cable. but it does have 2vga and a svideo.

i dont know yet if it will work. fadius, what tweaking is necesary?

 

[cgheilman]

Thanks for looking into this. I decided to go with an upgraded card and get a GeForce 6200 since that supposedly natively supports DirectX 9. I ordered the TV Tuner from Happauge and I'll let you know if it works.

Is there anything special I would need to do for remote setup, or should the included drivers work?

 

[Spragleknas]

7000 does not support DX9. Only ATi 9500/9600-series and above/newer does (not 9000/9100/9200/9250).
For nVidia: FX5200 and above/newer (including all 6x00 models).

IOW: You are good to go...

 

[Gixxer]

7000 does not support DX9. Only ATi 9500/9600-series and above/newer does (not 9000/9100/9200/9250).
For nVidia: FX5200 and above/newer (including all 6x00 models).

IOW: You are good to go...

yes thats what i was thinking.

can you recommend me any cheap agp card ? i want to spend the least money to get it to work. cause probably in a couple of months ill finally end up with dedicated pc

in one of the shops i have this available...

ATI AGP
Ref. PRODUCTO PRECIO

1426 SVGA 128MB ATI RADEON 9250 DDR AGP___________27,75 EUROS
14151 SVGA 256MB ATI SAPPHIRE 9550 AGP______________37,38 EUROS
14255 SVGA 512MB ATI SAPPHIRE X1650 PRO AGP DDR2____92,85 EUROS
14290 SVGA 512MB ATI SAPPHIRE2600PRO AGP DDR2_______85,92 EUROS


NVIDIA AGP
Ref. PRODUCTO PRECIO

14145 SVGA 256MB POINTOFVIEW 7300GT AGP____66,14 EUROS
14226 SVGA 256MB POINTOFVIEW 7600GS AGP____87,68 EUROS
14227 SVGA 256MB POINTOFVIEW 7600GT AGP____86,71 EUROS
14295 SVGA 512MB POINTOFVIEW 7300GT AGP____73,32 EUROS

here for more info. http://www.pcbox.com/catalogo/catalogo/default.asp?lan=es&cnt=es&familia=14

 

[Spragleknas]

My comments:

1426 SVGA 128MB ATI RADEON 9250 DDR AGP___________27,75 EUROS <- Not DX9!!! OLD!!!
14151 SVGA 256MB ATI SAPPHIRE 9550 AGP______________37,38 EUROS <- Hot? OLD!!
14255 SVGA 512MB ATI SAPPHIRE X1650 PRO AGP DDR2____92,85 EUROS <- Hotter? OLD!
14290 SVGA 512MB ATI SAPPHIRE2600PRO AGP DDR2_______85,92 EUROS <- Best available

Hot = Uses a lot of power ( = noise)


NVIDIA AGP
Ref. PRODUCTO PRECIO

14145 SVGA 256MB POINTOFVIEW 7300GT AGP____66,14 EUROS <- OK. No need for 512MB*!!!! B
14226 SVGA 256MB POINTOFVIEW 7600GS AGP____87,68 EUROS <- Good.
14227 SVGA 256MB POINTOFVIEW 7600GT AGP____86,71 EUROS <- faster than above - but more heat?
14295 SVGA 512MB POINTOFVIEW 7300GT AGP____73,32 EUROS <- *

Can't remember, but I take a look at nVidia's pages for PureVideo support. Latest nVidia is 8x00-series, so....

If you can find a AGP HD2400, you certainly get best value/performance.

For models, see: http://prisguide.hardware.no/fritekst_sok.php?pricefind=2400+agp&search=S%F8k

 

[Gixxer]

thank you very much for that information Spragleknas !!

the problem is that if i am going to spend around 90 euros in just the graphics card for a computer that has its days counted. i dont know if its worth it.

the thing is that if i have to spend 90 euros i preffer putting them into something that has a future. but that means motherboard, pcu, psu, ram all new

this is difficult !! hahaha

 

[Marcusb]

your best choice is to try the 7200 and see how it goes.
You may be lucky and it may be ok. Otherwise, then you can buy a card.
Also, new AGP cards will cost more as they are old tech. you'll probably find dirt cheap second hand stuff on eBay that is better value.
My advice is to get an nVidia 5200 or above. It'll do you well, unless you want HD, but you have probably already worked out that the PC you plan hasn't got enough grunt for HDTV.

 

[Gixxer]

HD is far away from my expectations, i just want to be able to play movies, mp3, series and thats it. after a couple of months if everything goes good then start thinking of buying a dedicated pc, but i dont want to start all this by putting so much money into it. i need to play around with it first and see what i need .

thanks for the replay.