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Message: <blockquote data-quote="and-81" data-source="post: 151139" data-attributes="member: 11844">OK, I'll bite.Keep in mind that a big part of most peoples HTPC experience is just doing it and making it up as you go along.  That's what I did.  And after a lot of planning and a couple of hardware iterations I'm very happy with the result.  My PC is over 3 years old now, it cost me over $1000 Australian dollars when I built it and has never had a hardware failure of any kind.  I do run a UPS to protect it.So basically, my main advice is, plan as much as you can, seek advice, but then just give it a try ... and be willing to reinstall windows 5 times ...  That's how many times I've reinstalled windows <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />  But they were all in the early days, and I was mucking around with nLite ...If you look at my system specs you'll see that your HTPC will be much more powerful than mine.   However, I only run Standard Definition content at a Standard Definition resolution (PAL 720x576).  I believe my rig would support a higher level of output, maybe 1280x720, but not at anything like 1920x1080.Second piece of advice:  Be sure of what you expect from your HTPC, and then set out with those expectations in mind.  If you want HD output, or worse Blu-Ray/HD-DVD support, expect to pay for it.  If you're happy with SD (and I am) then you'll do it a lot easier and cheaper.I don't have any experience with Server 2003, but XP Pro SP2 will work fine, that's what I use.  Single Seat TV3 and as a Media Server for the house.  I've tweaked it a little bit (but not too much) just to remove some of the features and services I don't need on my HTPC.  You can find more info on this sort of thing throughout the forums.Again, no specific experience with that codec pack, but I strongly discourage the use of codec packs.  Find out exactly what you need and only install that.  ffdshow is a good place to start.  Install ffdshow on a clean XP install and see what you can and can't play.  Then install just the additional codecs you need.  What I'm describing is about avoiding "codec hell".  Which is where you have too many codecs installed and it becomes very difficult to get the right codec to play the right files.With 2gb of ram and that cpu, I believe you could run all that simultaneously.I don't think the RAM or the CPU will be the bottleneck if you run all those things, I expect the hard disk(s) may be a bottleneck depending on how much of that you will be using simultaneously.You should put together some scenarios and then test them.For example:TV Server is recording, 2 network clients are watching 2 separate recordings, the local client is watching live tv and Azureus is downloading.What is the total network bandwidth in use?Negligible.  An SD DVB-T stream in Australia is around 8 megabits, which is the same as an SD DVD.  On a 100mb network that's only 8% utilization per stream, obviously.  Add the bandwidth Azureus is using (relatively little compared to your LAN bandwidth I'm sure).  In this scenario your network will not be overloaded...  Unless you're running some slow form of wifi?Will the CPU keep up?Hmm, well mine keeps up in similar scenarios, so I think yours will too.  Though that will depend on whether the 7200LE is offloading on the CPU.  I don't know that particular card, but it might not be up to running a MediaPortal client without stressing the CPU.  Basically, when a video card doesn't support all the fancy things that the software is trying to do the driver will emulate those features in the CPU.  This is why MediaPortal needs a DirectX 9 compatible video card.Looking at the specs on that card I think you'll be fine.  But don't expect it to run HD content.  It might be able to do some of the almost-HD stuff, but full 1080 is beyond it.  It just doesn't have the memory bandwidth to pump that number of pixels out.Can the hard disks keep up?Spread the load.  Use separate IDE channels where possible/applicable, timeshift to one drive (not partition, not logical drive, but real actual separate hard disk) and record to another.  Have the OS, applications and swap file on another.  The more you can spread the common disk access loads onto physically separate hard disks the better you will be.  But again, you won't know until you try, so start off simple and only complicate things where necessary.Actually, that's a good piece of advice.  "Start simple, complicate only when required."The two gb of RAM should ease the load on the hard disks, but you won't know until you try.I'd advise against going RAID unless you absolutely have to.  Cross that bridge when you get to it.  I never had to, so I don't see why you would.  Keep in mind that hard disks can fail, and it can happen to you.  Will a simple RAID setup make that a nightmare, probably.Another way to ease the load on the CPU/RAM is to use a hardware encoding TV Card.  Software cards load up the host CPU & RAM by making the PC do all the work, so whatever you do, use hardware encoding tv cards.I use XBMC every single day.  Have done for years now.  I love it.  I wish it could watch live streams from TV Server, but this has yet to happen.  I use it to play back 99% of my recorded shows.  And I love it, did I mention that?To answer your question, it depends on how you want to use it.  Like I said above, XBMC at this stage does not play TV Server streams in real-time (unless I'm missing something ?).  But if that's ok for you and you just want to watch recordings and downloaded media, play music and look at photos then XBMC is a god-send.2GB will be fine.  Mine runs 512mb dual-channel DDR 400.  So yeah, 2GB will be fine <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />If you put in two gig and you run it and you find that the OS is sucking up all that ram and wanting more then you can always add that extra gig later.  But I doubt it will make any difference.As I mentioned above, network bandwidth won't be the bottleneck, especially if you're using Gigabit networking.  And everything I said above about hard disks should cover this question.MPEG2 even at what are considered high bitrates is still not going to tax your network, certainly not a gigabit LAN.All things considered ... With your video card keeping you in SD territory I feel your HTPC will serve you very well ...  Good luck.I'd be interested to hear if anyone reading my response has any differing views on the things I've said.  If you do, please, join in.Cheers,</blockquote>

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