Ongoing Help to build a HTPC (1 Viewer)

[Dj_Moren]

Hi all. First of all, i'm not english speaker, so i will try to explain as better as i can.

I'm very interested in HTPC's world and in Mediaportal. I am going to build a HTPC, and the features i want for it are:
1. To be able to watch and record TV (simultaneously).
2. To be able to view 1080p videos without problem.
3. To be very silence.
4. To be controled by a remote controller.
5. To have DVD drive.

I have configured a HTPC with the following elements:
- Mother Board: Gigabyte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H Socket AM3
- CPU: AMD Athlon II 240 X2 Dual Core 2.8Ghz AM3
- Cooler: Scythe Ninja Mini Rev.B Low Profile
- RAM: Mushkin Performance HP3-12800 DDR3 1600 4GB 2x2GB i5 Edition
- Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green GP 1TB 7200 SATA
- Case: Thermaltake DH-101 MediaLab
- Power supply: Mushkin EP-400AP 400W Modular
- DVD Drive: LG GH22NS40 DVD 22x SATA

I'm in doubt about which double DVB-T tuner would be a good one to work with mediaportal (and with a good image quiality).

Do you think that this HTPC config would satisfy the 5 features i have listed before?

If you could help me with those 2 questions i would be very pleased.

Thank you for your help.

 

[winterescape]

Your hardware selection looks very good to me. You did not list the Part # on the WD drive but I do not think the green drives are 7200 RPM. Regardless, It is the drive I would choose also. I can’t comment on the tuner card but I like all the other hardware choices.

The good WD green drives have EADS in the part #

 

[kiwijunglist]

is that CPU HT2 or HT3?
If it is HT2 then your onboard gfx will run slower.
If it is HT2 then you may struggle with 1080i video.

Given you've gone for very fast RAM, you don't want to use an HT2 CPU for that mobo.

 

[Dj_Moren]

It seems that it is HT3 as you can see here: AMD Athlon? II Processor Model Numbers and Comparisons

If it is HT3 the config would be ok?

And what about the double dvb-t tunner? Anyone?

thank you!

 

[kiwijunglist]

I use HVR2200 (i think USA version is HVR2250?) it is dual tuner PCI-E works fine.
I couldn't tell from that page whether it is HT3, but on a review it states HT freq = 2000Mhz which i'm sure is faster than HT2 (1000Mhz)
Just make sure you have the ability to add a gfx card in the future if needed
I would go for 1.5TB HDD (similar price / gb to 1TB drives)
You probably don't need such hardcore ram

 

[Owlsroost]

And what about the double dvb-t tunner? Anyone?

thank you!

Do you need PCI, PCIe or USB ?

Basically, the picture quality of DVB-T tuners is determined by the software MPEG decoder used by MP, not by the hardware. All a digital tuner does is receive the signal and extract (demodulate) the digital data stream - everything else is done by software. What does vary between tuners is how well they handle DVB reception errors and resuming from sleep.

I use a Kworld 399U dual tuner USB dongle (AF9015 chipset), which works well in my system (MP 1.0.2 + Vista32)

Tony

 

[Dj_Moren]

What does vary between tuners is how well they handle DVB reception errors and resuming from sleep.

Tony

Yes, i was talking about this. The resuming from S3 sleep must be perfect.

I prefer to use PCI or PCIe, because the mother board and the box are compatible with them.

Thank you for your help.

 

[pilehave]

For DVB-T and MediaPortal I have had a good experience with this card:
Pinnacle PCTV Dual DVB-T Pro PCI review - IT Reviews

It is not a "real" PCI-card, as it is actually just a bus-coupling to USB. The card will yield same results as if it was USB. I receive 576i and 720p problems with fine results

You might also wanna check out this Terratec card, which I owned before my current Pinnacle:
TerraTec - Products - TV - Aerial (DVB-T) - TerraTec Cinergy 2400i DT

 

[Dj_Moren]

Yes! i was thinking about TerraTec Cinergy 2400i DT, i have readed that it works fine with mediaportal.

I think that i have more or less the final config decided.

Thank for your help!