TerraTec Cinergy HTC USB XS HD (2 Viewers)

[gurabli]

Re: AW: TerraTec Cinergy HTC USB XS HD

i use the terratec H5. it works

pcie is faster in data transfer than usb. but for tv signal, usb should be enough. which one is the best? hard to say... you have to test. the rest of your htpc is interacting with the tuner and therefore it depends on which tuner works best in your htpc.

Thank you!

If USB is enough for HDTV (1080i) than USB is fine for me.

Reading all your comments, I think I will go with the H5, it works fine with MediaPortal without any problems, and you say that you are all satisfied with this stick.

My HTPC is being built right now, I just can not decide should I go for ION or and AMD rig with an Asus HTPC (HD4200) version. But I think both hardwares should be good for the tuner?

 

[reeven]

Ati is better for HDTV.
H5 is 120e in my country, and Cinergy HTC is 80e....
Is differences between H5 and Cinergy is less then 10 euro, go for H5, if not, go for HTC.
It's identically.
Terratec has even an website with all chipset description.

Cinergy HTC USB XS

Empia em2884
Micronas DRX-K
NXP TDA18271 008E


and

TerraTec H5

Empia em2884
Micronas DRX-K
NXP TDA 18271

from here:

TerraTec Linux Site,

H5 has another remote model then Cinergy, is black and too simple, but look like good quality.
Cinergy has an remote full of buttons, but a lot of them is small.... is good for girl fingers...( i always use an MCE remote, like HP or something)
Mediaportal work ok with Terratec drivers.
Support at Terratec is good, BUT is has an GERMAN FORUM, NOT ENGLISH. You need to use google translate to read threads or post problems.
On email they respond quickly.

On DVB-C quality is perfect, on DVB-T default antenna is crap like all usb tuners, you need to buy an large one.
On analog quality is worst then an tuner with hardware encoder, but ok after 2 weeks, you get use to it.
dvbviewer, dvbdream, etc, use only digital part of tuner, mediaportal and terratec home cinema use digital+ analog part.
Remote work in mediaportal or in any app with the help of thier default remote app, or intelliremote, evenghost, girder, etc, because it's an HID REMOTE.
Default codecs is Cyberlink Terratec( this is the name) quite old, from v8.xx, work ok on analog and SD.

 

[gurabli]

Once again, thank you for all your help!

I have been left with two options now, H5 - that I can get for 100EUR, and Cinergy C PCI HD for around 70EUR.
I don't know much about the PCI version, I remember reading here at the forum that it works very nice with MP. The advantage of the PCI version is that it would be in the case (Antec Mini Remote 350), BUT the bracket for the PCI card is not low-profile, however, I think the card is low-profile. I would have to find a LP bracket for the card (I have one for my Leadtek PVR3000 Deluxe, but I am afraid that it has the wholes for antenna at different place). Any idead about this?

What would you recommend?


My specs for the HTPC will be:

AMD X2 240 (undervolted)
Asus M4A785D-M Pro
2 GB DDR2
1,5TB WD Green
Antec MicroFusion Remote

+ tuner DVB-C ?

Thank you for your help!

 

[Wadu]

AW: TerraTec Cinergy HTC USB XS HD

Hi,

month ago i built a HTPC for my daughter with:

Antec Fusion Remote Black
ASUS M4A785G HTPC + XP Sp3
and
1 Cinergy C PCI HD
1 Cinergy HTC USB XS HD

both tuner working well on the same HTPC.

If you can find a low profile bracket take the PCI card if not then take the USB version.
The benefit from the PCI card is you have a in and an out plug!

ciao
wadu

 

[gurabli]

Re: AW: TerraTec Cinergy HTC USB XS HD

Thank you Wadu for your reply!

I would very much like to take the PCI card, but until now, no luck with finding a LP bracket. Any idead maybe? I did find two manufactures on web that are specialized in brackets, but looks a little funny to order one piece, and the cost would be around 70USD, that doesn't make sense

BTW, comparing the PCI with USB, are there any other differences in terms of quality of picture, channel change time, recording, stability? Or both solutions are completly identical?

 

[reeven]

Pci is old, buy USB model...maybe in 2 years PCi dissapear, what would you do with pci version then?

Just like AGP for video, it dissapear, overcame by PCIe.

 

[gurabli]

Pci is old, buy USB model...maybe in 2 years PCi dissapear, what would you do with pci version then?

Just like AGP for video, it dissapear, overcame by PCIe.

Yes, I'm aware of PCI being old and replaced by PCIe, but in case of DVB-C, there is no need for a PCIe card, and I intend to use this HTPC for a quite a long time without changing anything.

I don't think that DVB-C standard would change for a long time (so the PCI card would be still usable), and the MB+CPU I chose is also more than enough for the upcoming years - assuming that h264 standard remains the same.

But yes, you are right, we should use the new one when possible. Actually, the only thing I would prefer the PCI version over the USB is that PCI has an out for antenna, and I have everything packed into the case, while the USB stick would be plugged in at the back of the HTPC (not that this would matter a lot...).

 

[reeven]

But what if in 2011 pci dissapear from mainboard and your mainboard dies?...think about it.
Support for PCI products will be disscountinued...i tell you...

 

[gurabli]

In this case, you are completely right! Even now the newer boards tend to leave out PCI slots.

Think I am going with the USB version, but with H5 since this is only what I am able to get here in Hungary.

 

[reeven]

well, i'm romanian. Came to Transilvania at your brothers and buy it from here, at 80 euros.