Is Dual Core absolutely essential for TV? (1 Viewer)

[Alderian]

MediaPortal Version: 1.02
MediaPortal Skin:
Windows Version: WinXP SP3
CPU Type: Athlon 64 3200+ Sckt 754
HDD: 40GB (500GB available to install)
Memory: 1GB
Motherboard: ASROCK (can't remember model right now)
Video Card: Zotac 9800GT
Video Card Driver: Latest nVidia
Sound Card: Onboard HD Audio Realtek
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: Latest Realtek
1. TV Card: None yet, considering a DVB-T, DVB-S, or DVB-T2 when they come out
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: MPC, can use PureVideo
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPC
h.264 Video Codec: MPC, can use CoreAVC with CUDA
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Sky
HTPC Case: Some A+ thingy
Cooling: Standard, nothing special
Power Supply:
Remote: Cyberlink
TV: Hannspree XV37
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI-HDMI cable


Simple question. I'm considering getting a DVB-? card and installing the TV Server, but as seen above I only have a single core processor and a motherboard that's only single core capable (and DDR memory, not DDR2 in case that factors). What I do have is a 9800GT offloading the 264 decoding.

an anyone advise me on whether it's worth getting a DVB card for this machine, or whether it's a complete non-starter without the extra core?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Yes its worth it, see if you can get a Peak Dual dvb-t pci card (cheap £20-30), these work well with xp\vista and should also work with Win7

.

 

[Alderian]

I'm not sure if I have understood your response exactly. I was talking about single or dual core processors, and your response seems to be about dual tuner DVB cards?

 

[jameson_uk]

can anyone advise me on whether it's worth getting a DVB card for this machine, or whether it's a complete non-starter without the extra core?

For SD material then a single core processor is more than sufficient (all the video decoding should be passed off the to the GPU so a single core slow Atom is sufficient for this)

HD is slightly different but your GPU should be up to decoding H264 material so BBC and ITV HD should be no problem on Freesat. Freeview HD is still a little new and it will be interesting to see how well DVB-T2 tuners work once they appear

 

[Alderian]

My main concern is whether a single core can cope with MePo usage and the TV Server at the same time, taking into account I have GPU offload with the 9800GT (was also thinking of buying a nVidia 210 or 220 instead, to get audio through HDMI and maintain GPU offload + get nice gaming card for my main PC).

 

[jameson_uk]

My main concern is whether a single core can cope with MePo usage and the TV Server at the same time, taking into account I have GPU offload with the 9800GT (was also thinking of buying a nVidia 210 or 220 instead, to get audio through HDMI and maintain GPU offload + get nice gaming card for my main PC).

I am sure the 2xx cards do not do audio over HDMI (I think there are a few where you can add the SPDIF out from your soundcard and the GPU will add add this into the HDMI stream). Also the 210/220 are not good cards for gaming (in fact they are worse than the 9800 you have)

MP runs reasonably happily on a single core Atom processor with TV so you will be fine with your processor

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

I am sure the 2xx cards do not do audio over HDMI

The 210-220 both do audio over hdmi via the pci-e bus, believe some of the high end cards need audio connection, never really checked.

Just download one of the many h.264 1080i\p video files if they play smoothly, then go down the HD option of Freesat, sorry thought you wanted recommendations for tv cards.

 

[Alderian]

Thanks, just what I was trying to establish. My current spec should be able to handle a DVB card of some spec and even should deal with HD with the aid of my 9800 GT.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[RobNorthcott]

My MP machine has an Athlon 64 3200+ and copes with HD from freesat perfectly well. It's a later board than yours, with socket AM2 and DDR2, but I doubt that makes that much difference. I'm thinking about putting a dual-core processor in (hopefully I can find a 5050e somewhere...) but only in the hope of curing occasional jerkiness when recordings kick in while watching something else - nothing to do with HD, it happens with SD as well. It's really not that bad, just the odd stutter as the background recording starts.

I'm running a single-seat setup with MP and TV server on the same machine (XP), using MySQL.

Rob