With MVP, what server specs are important?

[fldavem]

When using an MVP, what server computer specs are important? For example:

• Video out (video card probably doesn't matter, does it?)
  
• Video decoder (again, if only watching on the server, why would this matter?)
  
• Audio specs of the motherboard or audio card (same issue - only watching on MVP client)
  
• RAM
  

And do any of these change if live tv is desired (I imagine RAM is then more important)?

Would any other specs matter? What about with more and more MVP clients, would RAM become increasingly important?

Thanks!
Dave

[sub]

With the MVP, the faster the CPU in the server the more responsive it is going to be. There is a lot of extra processing required each time a screen is remotely generated for the MVP, and this is really helped by a faster CPU.

[zehd]

When using an MVP, what server computer specs are important? For example:

• Video out (video card probably doesn't matter, does it?)
  
• Video decoder (again, if only watching on the server, why would this matter?)
  
• Audio specs of the motherboard or audio card (same issue - only watching on MVP client)
  
• RAM
  

And do any of these change if live tv is desired (I imagine RAM is then more important)?

Would any other specs matter? What about with more and more MVP clients, would RAM become increasingly important?

Thanks!
Dave

If you're planning on watching Divx AVI's on the MVP, they need to be re-encoded to mpg on the fly. That too requires a lot of horse power.

With a P4 1.8Ghz, 512MB RAM, I was able to transcode to a resolution of 352x240 (NTSC) quite reliably. But with my new Celly 3.2 GHz with 1GB RAM, I'm able to transcode with an output size of 640x480.... That means that my image was actually sharper; less out of focus...

[caspelr]

I use a Pentium III 850 with 512MB of memory as a server with a PVR150 and a PVR 500. I can record 3 programs and watch a prerecorded show at the same time. (mpg only)
The performance of the MVP is acceptable.
The server is also used as a web and mailserver for my home network.
I have a spare P4 but I continue to use the P3. The P3 only uses 50 watt the P4 90 watt.