Transcoding - how much memory do I need?

[zehd]

Scheme of network:
Computer (OS+Transcoding SW:no tuner) <---GigaLan--->Computer (Main: Analogue tuner/GBPVR -full system) --->WWW:Fast ethernet (100mps)

With this set up I would need to get a second network card, but the question is if it is worth to buy a PCI Fast ethernet (which is cheap) or it would be better to get a PCI express x1 (GigaLAN) (which cost more)? PCI express should offer less problem with IRQ and provide full bandwidth compared to PCI based cards, but I am not sure if it is correct in real world usage.

Have to say it's a little confusing with the different things you want. Let's go to the basics.

You have a decent computer.
I would not worry about RAM, 1Gb is fine.
I would use a swap file, use Windows controlled swap file (default) as settings.
Defrag often though...

Headless. The guys have covered it well. I use TightVNC. But Windows Remote Desktop works well. The hack that allows multiple logons is a good idea... It's possible though that your computer won't boot properly without a keyboard and or mouse plugged in. You might have to have them plugged in and tucked around back of your system...


Apartment offered internet... Get a router, connect all your devices wirelessly or wired to the router. Do not be fooled by the speeds you think you have. You do not have 100Mb internet. That's the speed your card is set at, not the speed of your internet...

a 100MB network should be fine for what you want. (use Tipsters network tweaks). But when you do straight file transfer you'll notice the 1G lan to be very fast.

Just remember that a file will only transfer as fast as the slowest device. In this case it's the Drive speed. That's why I think 100mb network is fine...

What were you planning to use as your transcoding software?

[gEd]

Just remember that a file will only transfer as fast as the slowest device. In this case it's the Drive speed. That's why I think 100mb network is fine...

not quite...

networks are generally measured in megaBITS not megaBYTES. A 100MegaBIT (Mb) network will give you about 12.5MBytes/Sec. A good hard disk will give you about 80MBytes/sec. Gigabit network gives 125MBytes/sec.

Max bandwidth for SATA-I is 150MBytes/sec.

blizard: If you are planning to copy all your recordings across the network, gigabit would be fantastic but 100MB works well also.

[HtV]

[B]Headless. The guys have covered it well. I use TightVNC. But Windows Remote Desktop works well. The hack that allows multiple logons is a good idea... It's possible though that your computer won't boot properly without a keyboard and or mouse plugged in. You might have to have them plugged in and tucked around back of your system...

If it won't boot without a keyboard you might be able to solve that by changing a setting in bios. Something like: "halt on all errors" or whatever.[/B]

[zehd]

not quite...

networks are generally measured in megaBITS not megaBYTES. A 100MegaBIT (Mb) network will give you about 12.5MBytes/Sec. A good hard disk will give you about 80MBytes/sec. Gigabit network gives 125MBytes/sec.

Max bandwidth for SATA-I is 150MBytes/sec.

blizard: If you are planning to copy all your recordings across the network, gigabit would be fantastic but 100MB works well also.

Picky picky.... right you are!!!

[blizard]

not quite...

networks are generally measured in megaBITS not megaBYTES. A 100MegaBIT (Mb) network will give you about 12.5MBytes/Sec. A good hard disk will give you about 80MBytes/sec. Gigabit network gives 125MBytes/sec.

Max bandwidth for SATA-I is 150MBytes/sec.

blizard: If you are planning to copy all your recordings across the network, gigabit would be fantastic but 100MB works well also.

Ok...so a giga network will have some value when I transfer large files, that is good to know. To the rest of you guys that answered this thread I will say thank you for your suggestion.

[-=TJ=-Stefan]

If you want to use the native MS tools for remote desktop but do not want to start a new remote session here is the command for taking over the screen.

%systemroot%\system32\mstsc.exe /console

I use it to control my Windows 2003 server which has no screen, keyboard or mouse and has GBPVR running. Ofcours there are many nice remote control programs but this is native MS. It is a choice.....

[gEd]

^^^ what a great tip - thanks!