HVR900H USB Terestrial Hybrid Stick

[Koas]

I have an hvr900h usb tuner stick.

I'm trying to run this on an Intel Pentium4, 2.8GHz, 4GB Ram on WinXP Pro with standard onboard graphics.

Due to the type of machine (Super Small Form Factor) there is no way i can put any cards in to help with the graphics performance (GPU etc).

What i want to know is:

1, is this machine just plain and simple, not good enough to do the job and i am fighting a loosing battle? (even though they do say P4 2.4Ghz to play and 2.8Ghz to record is ok)

2, this machine would perform ok, provided i had a decent graphics card?

or

3, is there a way to configure it in such a way using specific codecs etc etc that it will allow it to perform and do it's job with the correct kind of setup applied etc? (i have a lack of understanding here)


I have tried a few different programs (MediaPortal, PowerCinema, WinTV 7, GB-PVR) and i have found WinTV 7 performs the best/fastest. However, it does struggle to keep up and run smoothly still. Misses frames often and CPU clocks at 100%, fans spinning hard and meanwhile the 4GB RAM hardly gets touched.

I do want to use GB-PVR if i can get this to run nicely.

Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks

[sub]

To be honest, I dont think that machine and graphics card are powerful enough for our H.264 channels, particularly for TV3.

If it had PCI Express slots and you can add a decent video card like nvidia 8500/8600, then it might be passable.

[Koas]

Thanks Sub,
Yeah thats what i have been thinking also.
and regarding TV3, i noticed that channel was much more sluggish than the rest... What's up with that. Must broadcast higher quality.

[johnsonx42]

not even a low-profile PCI card will fit? there are quite a few pci 8400gs/9400gt/9500gt cards available... might be worth a try, particularly if you could return the card if it doesn't work out.

[sub]

and regarding TV3, i noticed that channel was much more sluggish than the rest... What's up with that. Must broadcast higher quality.

That channel is 1080i, which is harder on PCs for playback than the other channels (which are 720p).

[Koas]

The machine unfortunately has no expansion slots at all. It's a super small form factor. (DELL Optiplex SX280) Thanks Sub, i didnt know that...