MVP vs. GB-PVR Client vs. Dedicated HTPC

[Filip]

I recently found GB-PVR and installed it in my desktop PC with the PVR-150 which is located in my office. Right now I'm forced to use OTA but satellite is around the corner. I've been reading (lurking) on these forums but I think I'm getting a fragmented picture. Hopefully some of you can chime in with your experiences and help me decide a direction before I spend too much money using "guess and check". My question:

How would you rate the quality / experience of the MVP vs. a dedicated client or dedicated server solution?

Obviously a dedicated hardware solution next to the TV will produce the best experience. However, that would mean I need to buy all new hardware ($450 or so) except for the PVR-150 and some hard drives. Everything I own is antique (PIII 750 or below) except for my desktop which is a PIV 3.2 ghz.

This means I have tons of hardware around to setup a free client for viewing and scheduling or for file servers. I haven't seen many people use the client option much. Is there a reason?

Lastly, I have read about the MVP and it seems like most people like (accept?) the quality but I haven't been able to see what the experience/UI is like. It seems like there is a lot of tweaking but that's understandable with all of these options I think.

Goals: My goal is to use as much of the GB-PVR functionality as possible from the couch, including scheduling recordings and recording live tv, watching videos, etc. Most bang for the buck. I'm no audio/videophile but why do this if the quality isn't better than a VCR?

So back to my options:

1. wMVP, $150 - I'd use the wired nic but the SPDIF seems nice.
2. Client (if possible?), $0 - I have a spare fanless board ( forget the brand, but slower than a VIA M8000 and graphics card w/ DVI out, etc
3. Server, $450 - New mobo, processor, case, ram, psu.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience, especially with #1 or #2.

UPDATE:
I've posted an update based on this thread and others in case anyone wants a quick rundown. Of course many of these pro's (+) and cons (-) will depend on hardware choice.

Media MVP
GB-PVR pushes MPEG2 to MVP which decodes to TV.
+ Greatest bang for the buck
+ Fastest / easiest setup
+ Better solution than extending A/V cables and adding a remote or using most other wireless A/V extenders
+ Good GB-PVR Functionality except:
- Sluggish menu response
- More involved DVD playback (using transcoding)

GB-PVR Client:
Client Hardware: > 1.0-1.2 Ghz. My PIII 750mhz still lags at the menus. Good video card for decoding.
GB-PVR Client pulls video files from GB-PVR Server, and then needs to perform post processing (video resizing, etc).
+ Improved menu response
- Larger investment in hardware needed
- Larger investment in time for tweaking needed

Dedicated GB-PVR Server next to TV
+ Best quality and response (if using good hardware!)
- Largest Investment

Additional Reading
MVP Capabilities
http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=12072
MVP Wiki
http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Hardware/MediaMVP
MVP Network Tweaks (Tipster)
http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=11083&page=2

[sub]

This means I have tons of hardware around to setup a free client for viewing and scheduling or for file servers. I haven't seen many people use the client option much. Is there a reason?

Its still pretty new, only introduced in the last release, so there isnt a lot of discussion about it compared to the MVP which has been supported and widely used for a couple of years now.

[folkboat]

Been pondering the same thing...

Just built a new GBPVR box, I still have the old box - think I'll try the client server configuration!! We now have 3 - MVP's connected to GBPVR. Work very well. OTOH a client server config might improve on:

- remote control response time!!

The following are assumptions on my part. GBPVR will be running on both client/server boxes connected via (hardwired) ethernet. Either box could record video and share a directory. Thus either box can view the recorded video. Additionally there would be a shared directory with music & pictures - also accessable from either GBPVR box. Both boxes would have equal access rights to that shared directory.

The only difference might be plug-ins and skins.

Regards

[psycik]

i would pick that you could create a gbpvr server with really basic video and enough cpu to run commvercial skipping and transcoding.

And then a client, with little hard disk storage, average cpu (depends on your upscaling requirements) and then the biggest/nastiest video card you can afford for pushing out the HD signal to your tv.

But value for money would be the MVP

[soccerdad]

I am on the MVP side but that is because I don't have a good video card to support video out to the TV. I have 2 MVPs and really like them. You will find that many people that use the MVPs only use them for recorded shows, scheduling and the plugin side like music. This is because there is some lag in the remote control, not bad, but it is not instant for surfing live TV. All in all, I think the MVP video quality is quite good. I really can't tell the difference when I am on the MVP or TV tuner. I am using it on a 32" CRT TV. I am going to look at building another system with a small PC at the TV to play with but I really don't need it. I am just an addict and love to play with this stuff. My current system works so well I am getting bored:eek:

That is the truly great part of GBPVR. Lots of options. And most of them work great. Here is what I have learned over the last couple of years:
1) the MVP works fine and is very stable with a wired system. The drawback is in DVD playing and Live TV speed. You also have to tweek some settings to get the best picture. (although out of the box it is better than VHS)
2) a dedicated PC at the TV is great, but costs more, is larger, can be noisy, and needs a good video card. BUT is a little more flexible than the MVP
3) the client works well and has many of the same issues as #2. I really have not tested the live TV side of my client setup. I mainly use that box for music.
4) all of these are a TON better than VHS. (and you never have to rewind again)

[Filip]

Cool, thanks a lot for the feedback everyone. I misunderstood how the GB-PVR Client works. I thought I could use it as a MVP - the server would stream content to the client and then the client would simply act as a buffer / scaler and output to the tv (but with more control).

So without a PVR card is the client essentially a kiosk and able to only play recorded shows / music? Does it have the capability to send scheduling commands to the server? But even if it does, I guess it would be difficult without a PVR card to see what you want to schedule (like live tv).

Is the dedicated HTPC the only option that lets you watch live TV and record it (at your whim) without too many steps? For example, if any of you (who do not have a dedicated HTPC in the living room) see something interesting that is not on your scheduler, how easy is it for you to record it?

[psycik]

No the client send scheduling commands, and activates the server's pvr card.

Basically the only thing the client doesn't do and do the actual recording..It can do pretty much everything else.

[guy2545]

....
Is the dedicated HTPC the only option that lets you watch live TV and record it (at your whim) without too many steps? For example, if any of you (who do not have a dedicated HTPC in the living room) see something interesting that is not on your scheduler, how easy is it for you to record it?

It is actually extremely easy. I utilize GBPVR through a MVP and basically if I am flipping through the guide and I see a show that I would like to record all I have to do is highlight it in the guide and hit play. Then bam I'm watching the show and I have a time-shift functionality as well (pause/rewind/etc.) It really could not be any easier.

I do have a dedicated HTPC as of last week, but I have yet to get a remote that would allow me to control GBPVR without the MVP. I'm not running a high speed video card (radeon 7000), but the picture quality it great.

[stefan]

I misunderstood how the GB-PVR Client works. I thought I could use it as a MVP - the server would stream content to the client and then the client would simply act as a buffer / scaler and output to the tv (but with more control).
So without a PVR card is the client essentially a kiosk and able to only play recorded shows / music? Does it have the capability to send scheduling commands to the server? But even if it does, I guess it would be difficult without a PVR card to see what you want to schedule (like live tv).

Is the dedicated HTPC the only option that lets you watch live TV and record it (at your whim) without too many steps? For example, if any of you (who do not have a dedicated HTPC in the living room) see something interesting that is not on your scheduler, how easy is it for you to record it?

No, you were right from the beginning. You can use it as an MVP but with more control. And more power - depending on the horsepower of your computer. You can, for example, play DVD's from your client computer, which you cannot do from your MVP.

[stefan]

No the client send scheduling commands, and activates the server's pvr card.

Basically the only thing the client doesn't do and do the actual recording..It can do pretty much everything else.

And, as guy2545 says, you would need some additional hardware to get remote control capability. The MVP comes with a remote control already.