Faster processor or faster graphics card?

[djshawnee]

Hey everyone.... I am currently building a new system and am on a tight budget. On this budget, I have to make tradeoffs, and I can either choose to get an 8x AGP slot, or a faster processor.

System 1:
AMD Duron 1.8 GHz, 266MHz FSB, 192KB Cache
8x AGP slot

System 2:
AMD Sempron 2800+ (2.0 GHz), 333MHz FSB, 256KB Cache
4x AGP slot

Everything else in the system will be the same: FX5200 graphics card, 512MB DDR, Hauppauge PVR150.

Which setup would be better suited for running GB-PVR? Will the 8x AGP slot help at all in GBPVR?

I can even go with a system that is an Duron 1.8 with a 4x AGP slot and this saves me even more money. Will this be sufficient?

Thanks for the help!
Shawn

[smeghead]

For a PVR the AGP can easily be 4x. You only need faster AGP if you plan to play games like Doom 3, but to play games you would need a faster card than an FX5200.

The processor isn't that significant for a PVR, mostly memory hungry, although I would say that AMD Duron 1.8 is the lowest I would go for.

Therefore system 2.

[djshawnee]

So system 2 would be sufficient, even with the FX5200? Would an upgrade to the FX5500 help? I already have the 5200, but I could exchange it.

[RizSilverthorn]

My sig says it all - I'm running a really low end system and GBPVR is running better than anything else I've tried (and I've tried em all!). GBPVR is snappy, I have no problems recording shows and it plays files like a dream. DVD to MPEG takes ages but I have only done 2 so that isn't a problem for me.

[djshawnee]

How does the on screen display work for you? I tried running it on my 866MHz, and the only problem was that the OSD made TV viewing very choppy and it was very sluggish.

I wouldn't consider your system that low end though. You do have a 256MB graphics card (which is the nicest part of your system), and everything else is mediocre. The minimum for GBPVR is supposedly 1GHz.

[capone]

I may actually swap out the 5500 128 I am using w/ the 4200 64 I use on my system (which still played Half-Life 2 like a f*'ing champ). If it's a PVR-only box, you're not going to have a single 3D demand, or even a graphics one beyond the OSD.

[herbs]

I have a duron 1.6ghz @ 2ghz running with 3 tv cards without too much problem the 4x apg vs 8x agp is a not an issue you will not notice any difference. The only slow down is the OSD which is only for a second or two.

[capone]

I may be mistaken, but AGP speed only helps 3D graphics. Why would that speed up the OSD?

[herbs]

If you are using vmr 7 or 9 the graphics card is used to help speed up of the drawing of the OSD such as blending etc read more http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/defaul...rgraph.asp

[capone]

Ok, but if it's graphing tech and not 3D mapping, isn't that still 2D and not 3D? I can see where clock speeds will have much to do w/ drawing the OSD, but it's a 2D object.

I just didn't see AGP mentioned as a requirement at all. But, unless sub disagrees, I'll take your word for it. I have switched my card from 8x to 4x (and 2x I think...trying cutting down demand on card to cut heat) and saw no difference in performance.