new build - some advice (1 Viewer)

[mattjp88]

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Hello all.

first off, I am so glad I found MP. I was afraid I'd have to learn to use linux and figure out mythtv. And I am very impressed at this project so far.

Here is my issue. I have a P4 2.8 ghz, 1GB ram computer. I also have a 22 inch monitor, and am headed off to college soon. I figure being able to combine things bit, and also having the cool factor would be nice.

So here it goes. I have an older box, 2.4 ghz, celeron that I could use. But I would like to know how having the tv tuner(s) recording in the background while I am writing a paper, surfing the net, or possibly playing a game would affect the system. Would my best bet be using my primary computer as my MP system, or use that second box?

I have two wintv go-plus cards, which don't work. I also have another card from kworld that doesn't work with MP either. So I am on the search for a good card. I looked around, and the wintv pvr 500 looks good, mostly because it has two tuners built in. Is it a good card? Will it work out of the box without giving me too much trouble? What about a remote? Will the remote from the wintv go-plus card work with the 500? Is there a better card for less than $150?

Thanks for your help!

Matt

 

[mattjp88]

so I did some reading, and apparently the quality of the tuners on the 500 are about the same as the tuners on the 150. And buying two 150s is about the same price as buying one 500. Is one option better than the other?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[quiller]

Would my best bet be using my primary computer as my MP system, or use that second box?

What's the memory on the second box? I use my HTPC as a joint fileserver/terminal server as well as running MP 24/7. It has 2GB of RAM, though, so it can handle two or three user accounts logged on (thru Remote Desktop). But if you have two computers, why wouldn't you use both?

so I did some reading, and apparently the quality of the tuners on the 500 are about the same as the tuners on the 150. And buying two 150s is about the same price as buying one 500. Is one option better than the other?

Actually, they are the same tuners. The 500 is literally two 150 tuners, the advantage being (1) only one PCI card, which could help in a smaller case and (2) only one coax connection to your machine. In my HTPC, I have a 150 and a 500, both of which (read below) pump out the same quality picture, etc.

Now, before purchasing a PVR-500, make sure you're getting a "Type A" card. Hauppauge claims they are only shipping those, so it shouldn't matter at this point, but if you get a Type B and the picture is horrible, don't be surprised. Get the Type A. Okay, I think that covers the warning.

As for a remote: Microsoft's MCE remote is around $50, depending on where you get it. The button layout is convenient and it works out of the box (literally) with MP.

 

[mattjp88]

thank you very much for your reply. I just ordered the card from newegg. And I called hauppauge and they said they'd swap out any card that is defective free of changrge. So I figure there is no harm in getting it.

I am going to be using a second box for MP to run on, but the only issue to my display. I just bought an lcd 22 inch display, and want to use it for my tv and also on my primary computer. The only option I see is to use a kvm switch to switch between my mp box and my primary computer. Maybe I'll just hook it up to my tv and do it that way. Only time will tell.

Thanks again for your help.

-Matt

 

[quiller]

You can get a simple KVM switch, like you said. Although I bet your main machine, with enough memory, would work fine, you'd have to struggle with MediaPortal running in the background the whole time.