Choosing Hardware to build a system

[russelljsmith]

Hello,

I've recently stumbled across the idea of building a PVR from my old desktop computer, it's a pretty decent AMD XP 2400 box with 512MB memory and a big 160GB SATA HDD. Currently all I have is a GeForce 4 128mb gfx card with Video-In / Video-Out.

When all is done I want to be able to record widescreen broadcasts from an NTL digital cable box (in the UK) via Scart / S-Video. Playback video recorded with GB-PVR and other video eg. DIVx on my Sony 100hz CRT via RGB-Scart.

I've seen one Example System that can do this.

I've downloaded GB-PVR and had a play about, but, I have a few questions I was hoping you guys could help me with before I splurge on hardware...

Capture Card

-- As I won't be using the built in tuner ever. Do I really need a card like a PVR 350 that comes with a built in tuner? Are there any simpler(/better) cards out there that just encode/decode?

-- Is hardware encoding the only way to go, is it even possible to encode in software, say using the Video-In on my current graphics card?

-- What capture card would people recommend in my circumstance?

TV-Out

-- Is the Video-Out on my current GFX card usable at all?

-- Is it at all possible to get my computer desktop to display on my TV via TV-Out? (This would be useful for occasional system maintainance)

-- Is it possible to play back DIVx at all via a PVR250/350 even though it wouldn't be hardware decoded or do I need an X-Card or similar for this sort of job?

-- What playback card would people recommend in my circumstance?

Remotes

-- I'll need a remote, but don't really care which one I end up with, am I right in thinking I'll be able to get almost any remote working to control GB-PVR with a bit of effort? (ie. I can worry about this later)

-- What remote would people recommend in my circumstance?


I hope they wern't such stupid questions, thanks in advance

Russ.

[sub]

Quote[/b] ]-- As I won't be using the built in tuner ever. Do I really need a card like a PVR 350 that comes with a built in tuner? Are there any simpler(/better) cards out there that just encode/decode?

The only device I know of on the "supported list" that does not have a tuner, is the Plextor PX-M402U.

Quote[/b] ]-- Is hardware encoding the only way to go, is it even possible to encode in software, say using the Video-In on my current graphics card?

GB-PVR is designed to work with hardware encoder cards, and will not work with software encoder cards.

Quote[/b] ]-- What capture card would people recommend in my circumstance?

Hauppauge PVR250 is probably a safe bet.

Quote[/b] ]-- Is the Video-Out on my current GFX card usable at all?

-- Is it at all possible to get my computer desktop to display on my TV via TV-Out? (This would be useful for occasional system maintainance)

I dont have this card, so card vouch for its performance. Yes, you can see your desktop on the tv out of a regular video card.

Quote[/b] ]-- Is it possible to play back DIVx at all via a PVR250/350 even though it wouldn't be hardware decoded or do I need an X-Card or similar for this sort of job?

The PVR250 doesnt have a tv out, so this question isn't relevent for the 250. The PVR350 tv out will only play MPEG1 or MPEG2 video. XCard can also play these + DVDs and DivX.

Quote[/b] ]-- What playback card would people recommend in my circumstance?

It really depends what you want to do. PVR350 and XCard are both very specialist TV out devices, that produce a great picture, but wont let you see other applications or the desktop. A regular video card is more flexible, but the picture isn't as good.

GB-PVR is desigened for usage with the Hauppauge PVR250 remote.