What do I need for Media Portal? (1 Viewer)

[cheetah05]

Hi there,

I am looking to setup a small media center on a spare monitor I have.

I want it to have all the functionality that Media Portal has apart from the tv recording.

I want to set it up as cheaply as possible and was wondering what I need to change out of this spec to get it to work fluidly.

Spec:

(Windows XP Pro SP2)
P4 2Ghz
512MB RAM <-- need more ram?
ATI 7000 AGP Graphics Card (64MB) <---- Change?
HDD <--- Standard, not bothered.
DVD

Extras:
Compro DVB-T200 or Hauppage Nova-T



Have I missed anything?

Thanks.

 

[zombiepig]

i'm running mp on a very similar setup - p4 2.0 ghz, 512mb ram, compro dvb-t200a tv card. Not sure about that video card though!

 

[Spragleknas]

You should get a DX card.

Since you have an AGP-port, I'd recommend:

nVidia 6200 (cheap) or 6600
ATi 9550/9600

Ppl. seem to enjoy using the PureVideo codec, so then then natural choice would be nVidia

 

[cheetah05]

i'm running mp on a very similar setup - p4 2.0 ghz, 512mb ram, compro dvb-t200a tv card. Not sure about that video card though!

Does Media Portal run smoothly? What video card and res do you use it at?

 

[onkl]

You should get a DX card.

Since you have an AGP-port, I'd recommend:

nVidia 6200 (cheap) or 6600
ATi 9550/9600

Ppl. seem to enjoy using the PureVideo codec, so then then natural choice would be nVidia

I'd have to agree here. Mediaportal will not work/work very slowly without a DirectX 9 compliant card.
Extra tip: The cards mentioned here are already old/very old by the definition of gamers, so can be easily obtained in the second hand world (ebay, specialized fora). Eg.: a Radeon 9600Pro would amount to EUR 50 (with some searching). I'm using this card and am quite happy with it.
Otherwise, your setup looks quite decent.

 

[ohdarklord]

I would not recomend the Compro DVB-T200

Alot of people (including me) have problems with the card losing signal when changeing channel.

 

[cheetah05]

what about the Hauppage Nova-T?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

what about the Hauppage Nova-T?

With a remote that will also control MP.

 

[cheetah05]

what about the Hauppage Nova-T?

With a remote that will also control MP.

sorry, I don't quite understand.

So the Hauppage cards are ok? and so is the remote for MP?

 

[Marcusb]

I have two Compros and think they are great cards. They are also one of the cheapest around too.

I think the issue depends on where you live. In Australia they work well, but it seems the people with the problems live in the UK.
This is the difference with the A on the end of the card name. 200A or 300A are the Australian models.

Where do you live?