SFF Box and Card Questions - NewB:)

[fishslayeryo]

Hello all!

NewB here and planning on buying a box to dedicate as a PVR, torrent downloader(also to playback movies downloaded) and to surf and download using a 32" LCD for display.

Currently looking at a used "small form factor" dell, a Optiplex 745. From reading around I think I need a Tuner/PVR card and a Video card to set this up. This box has 2 slots:
1 Low-Profile PCI
1 Low-Profile PCI Express x16

My first question is, will I be able to get a good tuner and video card for these L.P. slots that will provide me the best picture quality on a HD LCD?

Also, any particular tuner and video card I should look at? Any specs I should look for the best picture quality. I read something that said look for cards that did interdelacing?

Would like to get this setup right the first time around. If you guys think I'm screwing myself by getting a Small Form Factor with the Low Profile PCI slots, please let me know. Would prefer to not have a full size PC.

Thanks in advance!
John

[ricklous]

i dont know about low profile video cards but there are certainly low profile tv tuner pci cards knocking around, for specifically the reason you say ie people dont want a full sized pc in their living rooms. They are sometimes harder to find than their full-size brothers but they are out there.

to be more specific than that, youd need to tell us weather you're going digital or analog etc. there is a long list on the wiki of the known compatible cards too, which could be a good starting point for you.

[stefan]

You could also look for USB capture cards.

[fishslayeryo]

Thanks for the responses...

ricklous - For now it would be plugged straight into the wall with coax, but down the road I plan on getting a HD cable box for it.

stefan - I saw those, but would like to keep everyting internal, if possible.

If anyone could tell me the specifics or specifications I need for a video card for best picture quality on a LCD tv, I would greatly appreciate it. Found the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR150MCE-LP, is this sufficient enough for a tuner card for best picture quality?

Thanks again!
John

[stefan]

If anyone could tell me the specifics or specifications I need for a video card for best picture quality on a LCD tv, I would greatly appreciate it. Found the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR150MCE-LP, is this sufficient enough for a tuner card for best picture quality?

The pvr-150 is generally considered to be one of the best ones around. I doubt the 150 is less good.

Regarding video cards, have a look around the forum here for posts made by csy, he has written quite a lot on the topic.

[fishslayeryo]

Great, thanks for the reply Stefan.

[stefan]

The pvr-150 is generally considered to be one of the best ones around. I doubt the 150 is less good.

*doh*
I meant to write "I doubt the low profile version" is less good

[fishslayeryo]

I figgured so stefan Thanx again.

[SickBoy]

I have a Optiplex GX260 low-pro PC that I received gratis from work. I gave it to my girlfriend to use, and was going to put a low-pro PVR150 in it so she could record her own TV shows. I never added it, as she decided against paying for cable tv/internet, but it definitely piqued my interest for turning an old office PC into a cheap PVR box.

Let us know how it turns out... with pix, preferably...

[fishslayeryo]

Hey SB, will definately do that. Doing more research right now on the hardware I need to get, I see plenty of low profile video cards and tuner cards(internal & external) both analog and digital. Seems like once you have the right hardware, theres a good bit depending on configuration and decoders used. Almost overwhelming...lol. Just reading around trying to figgure out the best hardware to get rt now. If anyone has some suggestions on specifications I should look for , would love to hear, especially with the video card.

Thanks!
Yo Han