I need all your opinions on drivers/codecs/hardware etc.

[Torque]

Here's the deal, my current PVR is aging and doesn't work so well anymore so I'm upgrading. Please post what codecs, drivers, flaws in my logic, etc on the following config:

1) Windows XP SP2

2) DX9C (should I replace the quartz.dll like I have in my current system or is this not an issue with faster hardware?)

3) .Net 2.0 (anything special here?)

4) new MSI K8NGLM-FID (nVidia 6150 chipset... people on AVS forums seem to think it's a hot item when on latest BIOS -- my HTPC case dictates an mATX. I actually bought this board before they went out of stock, so it's waiting for a home. I built a machine with the same board at work and it's been extremely stable and problem free, but I'm willing to get something else if it won't work well as a PVR. Via, Uli, Ati chipset? needs to be s939 and mATX)

5) new 1GB (2x 512MB) Corsair memory

6) existing Athlon64 3700+ (s939)

7) Latest nForce chipset drivers (ok?)

8) new WD 250GB SATA HDD (any lingering issues with SATA causing stutters? I have an existing 250GB WD IDE drive I could substitute)

9) existing two Haup PVR 150s (one has FM tuner, the other doesn't -- Not currently on the latest drivers because of fears of the timesync issue... thoughts on this?)

10) Will be using integrated sound and video since onboard has SPDIF, component, and DVI outputs. I probably won't use the system for playing DVDs, so sound quality isn't all as important as video quality for standard TV viewing.

11) USB-UIRT -- ugg... Sub seems to think this is the source of my problems with the current setup (see sig). I'm currently on the latest driver and still having intermittant issues. Is there a better driver to use? No i can't not use it unless Dish Networks has a receiver I could buy that connects via serial or USB...

12) Codecs -- I've been using Intervideo, but have recently been told it's garabage even tho video and sound quality has been fine for me. Should I shell out some $$$ for the Purevideo? I read the review of the Ati vs nVidia on Tom's HW... still fuzzy on whether the onboard video would benefit or ultimately be hurt by it. Any other codec recommendations from someone that's used Intervideo and switched?

If you're not using something, please don't recommend it. I don't want "it should work" responses. I want tried and true recommendations.

[sixgun]

I have that motherboard in my HTPC with a sempron64 3000+, it plays back hi-def stuff 1080i just fine with the onboard video. I have had to make sure it's using dual-channel RAM otherwise it stutters a bit. Also, i am using the nvidia 84.25 drivers and purevideo (bronze, as i just pass the audio through to my amp). I found the newer nvidia drivers weren't quite fast enough for smooth hi-def video playback.

Does this board actually have 2x PCI slots? I thought it had 1 PCIe x16, 2 x1 and one PCI. I may be mistaken. There is a dual tuner PCIe x1 DVB-T card going for around £40, don't know if that's much use to you.

I bought the purevideo bronze as i didn't need dts/dd decoding, as my amp does that via the co-ax spdif output. I had to make my own cable from a few bits i got from the US. If you're interested i can dig out the details for you.

I use DVI out into a hi-def panel and the picture quality is fantastic. You certainly won't need a seperate video card.

Can't really say much more than that really.

If you want to know anything more about the MSI board, then give me a shout.

Regards.

[Torque]

This is great info Sixgun.

I have that motherboard in my HTPC with a sempron64 3000+, it plays back hi-def stuff 1080i just fine with the onboard video. I have had to make sure it's using dual-channel RAM otherwise it stutters a bit. Also, i am using the nvidia 84.25 drivers and purevideo (bronze, as i just pass the audio through to my amp). I found the newer nvidia drivers weren't quite fast enough for smooth hi-def video playback.

Did you have to drop in the older quartz.dll from DX9b or did only your experimentation with drivers and memory take care of it?

What about nForce chipset drivers, do you happen to know what version those are?

Does this board actually have 2x PCI slots? I thought it had 1 PCIe x16, 2 x1 and one PCI. I may be mistaken. There is a dual tuner PCIe x1 DVB-T card going for around £40, don't know if that's much use to you.

Went and double checked, yes, it has two regular PCI, one PCIe 1x, and one PCIe 16x. (pic) I may replace one of the PVR150s with either a DVB-S or try HD again with a Fusion5 Lite PCI card.

I bought the purevideo bronze as i didn't need dts/dd decoding, as my amp does that via the co-ax spdif output. I had to make my own cable from a few bits i got from the US. If you're interested i can dig out the details for you.

I looked in the box for the COAX SPDIF out cable and thought maybe I had misplaced it... but it says optional in the manual. I sure would like your details on building one if I'm not able to find it online. Also, do you happen to know if the SPDIF out can be used simultaneously with line-out?

[Torque]

Tipstir, what driver version are you using with your PVR150s and how long have you been using it? Thanks.

[pens18aj]

my drivers are listed below and work good.

[zed]

For one item, I would ditch Windows XP Pro SP2 and get MCE 2005 SP2 Pro or VISTA? MCE 2005 is more suited for what we all do here as you know. ...

How is that? MCE is just XP with Microsoft's PVR package. If you don't actually use MCE you may as well have just plain old XP.

I'd ditch MCE and go with XP...matter of fact, I did...

[K.S.]

8) new WD 250GB SATA HDD (any lingering issues with SATA causing stutters? I have an existing 250GB WD IDE drive I could substitute)

if your want to spend money on new HD, i would recommend you samsung, either IDE or SATA, have one of each (both 160GB) in my rig, no stutters here with a Gigabyte GA-7N400 board (nForce2 Ultra 400 chipset).

why do i recommend you samsung? they are among the most silent HDD's (if you care about noise ) and opposed to WD never had an issue with them or heard of any. 1 friend of mine & 1 acquaintance had both the pleasure of sudden death with an WD HDD, all data lost with no signs of failure previously...

[Slice]

Hi there you can see my system below when I bought this but I should have done what you just have by asking the questions. I had to get the latest nvidia chipset drivers and the latest bios for my MB as I had, first my maxtor SATA not being detected from time to time and secondly random lockups in XP! All sorted now thankfuly. My 2 cents anyway..

XP SP2 (not mce or vista)
Buy the purevideo codec (great quality) I have the bronze too as I have an amp.
The maxtor drive is a good one but I like what was posted earlier about the samsung being the most silent!
I have the latest PVR-150 drivers without problems and the 1GB corsair dual RAM works very well for me

[sixgun]

Did you have to drop in the older quartz.dll from DX9b or did only your experimentation with drivers and memory take care of it?

I vaguely remember trying this and it screwed up, so i put it back as it was.

What about nForce chipset drivers, do you happen to know what version those are?

I think i just put the latest on, but that was a while ago. I don't know the exact version number. I can have a look next time i power it up if you really need to know.

Went and double checked, yes, it has two regular PCI, one PCIe 1x, and one PCIe 16x. (pic) I may replace one of the PVR150s with either a DVB-S or try HD again with a Fusion5 Lite PCI card.

I checked my manual after i posted that, and it does have 2xPCI. Anyway, you could get 6 DVB-T tuners in there! Not bad for a microATX board.

I looked in the box for the COAX SPDIF out cable and thought maybe I had misplaced it... but it says optional in the manual. I sure would like your details on building one if I'm not able to find it online. Also, do you happen to know if the SPDIF out can be used simultaneously with line-out?

I got the bits for making up the cable from here. When i ordered they were doing free worldwide delivery, so it was pretty cheap. I got the internal RCA VIDEO / SPDIF connector (link), and some spare motherboard header pins (link) and a spare 1x3 motherboard header connector (link). I didn't really need the last 2, as i was able to used a small screwdriver to get the pins out of the existing socket that came with the SPDIF connector. I then re-arranged them so they matched the motherboard pin-out specification (Page En-7). If you don't have the manual i'm sure you can download it, or i could scan in the relevant page for you!

Easy really!

I then installed AC3 filter, so everything gets turned into DD5.1, unless it's already that or DTS. Plugged it into my amp, and the TV's audio output into the same input (stereo pair). And i don't even need a remote for my amp anymore as it's always on the DVD input, either via COAX or analog stereo.

[Torque]

Awesome! I just ordered the RCA VIDEO/SPDIF connector and one of these to put on the front of my wife's PC so she can easily plug in her USB thumbdrive. LOL
They still have free shipping too.

Thanks alot for the help and the website.

I saw Sub's post about that new Hauppauge 1800 that is supposed to be PCIe (1x or 2x, don't recall). Maybe I'll pick up one of those when they start shipping to fill that third slot.