Need some build advice

[biblefreak]

Note: Edited Dedicated Parts List

Hello all, new here and just getting started. I am quite handy with computers, networking etc, but thought I would get some advice from here before I jump in. I have two routes I could likely go, use a dedicated box for my DVR, or use my main box to serve an MVP. BTW, I have standard analog cable channels 2-78. My goal is to be able to watch live TV with the ability to pause live TV/skip commercials while recording another show or two in the background while hopefully cutting out commercials there as well. Don't want much, do I!

Dedicated- CHANGED PART LIST! Intel MoBo with 865 chipset, P4 2.8Ghz, currently have 768MB DDR Ram but I know the more the better, with an AGP 32MB Nvidia GeForce2 with S Video out. I have one 40GB IDE drive I took from the old Dell, and two 120GB Ide drives for storage. No case yet, so I am going to look for a decent case that can sit in the living room without offending the wife!

Question 1: Is a 32MB Video card worth bothering with, or do I step up and get something better?

Question 2: I do not have an S Video input on my surround sound system or my TV, only the three RCA jacks that I believe are referenced as composite video? What would it take to convert the S Video output from the computer to composite video into my surround sound, and what will the quality be like on my standard analog old school TV?

Sharing Main Box: This is a homebrew, Gigabyte MoBo, 256MB GeForce 8500GT with S Video out, 2 GB DDR2 RAM and an AMD 4400 Dual Core 2.3Ghz CPU. I have 2 PCI slots open and 1 PCIe X1 slot open and an unused IDE 120GB drive I can slap in there. If SATA2 would be significantly better I can pick up a 500GB drive locally for around $125. This machine is in a different room than the TV, so I guess that I would need the MVP. I can run any CAT5e or COAX cables between the computer and the TV if this can prevent the use of the MVP, my only concern is what do I use for a remote control if the computer and TV are in different rooms? Is the MVP the best solution?

Question 1: The biggie here is how will runng GB PVR effect game performance of say Call of Duty 4 or other graphics intensive games?

Question 2: Can this computer still be used for other purposes while recording?

Sorry for the long post, but I am sure you folks have the answers! Thanks in advance!

Justin

[martint123]

I took the second option of sharing my main box and running TV's off MVP's.
Works a treat and when I went for a new system, I made the old one a dedicated pvr server along with online storage for all the other pcs and laptops in the household.

Can't help with the sharing with intensive gameplay, but for normal PC use, I never had a problem, other than you have to be a bit careful with microsoft updates and them wanting to reboot the machine - you have to be sure no one else is using it.

Martin

[Deusxmachina]

Random stuff quick:

For s-video to composite you'll just need a small adapter. Most video cards will come with that, otherwise should be able to get one off the net or even Radio Shack for under ten bucks. Composite quality is comparable to s-video. You won't miss a whole lot using composite.

Analog TV quality from an analog signal is what it is. There can be a good difference if taking an HD signal and watching it on an analog TV because the source (HD) is so much better. Analog looks good if you have a good signal. Most people who badmouth analog seem to always have either a lousy cable company or a lousy antenna.

If you can put up an antenna to at least get OTA HD signals, though, man, do that. And I would certainly consider doing that before spending $60+ on a new analog tuner card, unless it can accept both types of signals, of course. I thought they'd be practically giving analog tuner cards away by now.

A Dell PCI card for $120? I don't know what kind of card that is, but a new 8800GS is as low as $130.

GBPVR doesn't use much juice when recording, regardless of analog or digital. My brother used to use analog cards with the old version of gbpvr in a Pentium 233mhz.

Go the dedicated HTPC route if you can. Using the same PC is do-able, but for something that is to be relied upon as a hopped-up Tivo/VCR/DVD player, it's best to dedicate it to that job and not much else. And, really, if the computer parts will last 5-10 years, the cost is pretty mild. A good HTPC will do a good job for a long time. Do it once, do it right, enjoy it for years. Still cheaper and better than a Tivo!

The less you use your regular computer, then less the need for a dedicated one, of course.

You talking about playing COD4 with an 8500GT card? I didn't think that card would run that game well whether GBPVR is on that same computer or not. It does play well on a 7600gt/8600gt, though.

[gEd]

correction: 3 x RCA sounds like component, not composite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

this is good news as component is the best way you can connect an analogue tv, using an svideo to component cable. svideo is next for quality and composite a poor last.

mind, if you plan to use an MVP this becomes irrelevant...

[Deusxmachina]

correction: 3 x RCA sounds like component, not composite.

I thought that too, but his mention of his "old" analog TV and having those but not s-video sounds like one RCA for video and the two RCA audio. It'd be interesting if a TV had component but not s-video. Guess we'll find out later.

Component would definitely be a step up even for analog, though. I remember the first time I went from composite to component on my analog and thought, "So THAT'S what the colors on that DVD are supposed to look like." Didn't help the resolution at all, but the colors popped.

[gEd]

I think you may well be right.

[biblefreak]

I am not sure of the component vs. composite. The three RCA jacks I have are Red White and Yellow, the Yellow is video and the other two are sound. As fae as COD4, it plays pretty darn well with my current setup. Play online is pretty good and single player is great! Mind you I stepped up from a PCI 128MB 5500 (If I remember right) so the 256MB 8500gt in a PCI-e16 is GREAT!.

Take a look at my original post as I am going to change my setup. I don't think I want the Dell as the low profile cards are pretty expensive, and have less features than the full size counterparts.

What do you guys use for remote controls when the PC/Server is in another room?

[biblefreak]

OK, so the 32MB Video Card is a joke! Guess I will pick up something with a little more heft rather than rummage the PC box o parts in the garage! Are the Nvidia cards preferred around here? What is a good but cheap AGP 8x card with video out?
My previous post I mentioned 3 RCA jacks, yellow video and the other two audio. How will this play into my setup? As it stands right now I have coax to the tv, the DVD player and the PS2 go to the suround sound system with one RCA video (yellow) hooked up to the TV.
I have the machine built that will run this mess, just need a little clarification on some of this stuff. I have been eyeing the PVR 150 cards on ebay, looks like I should be able to get one under $50. Should I shoot for the MCE remote that some of these auctions have, or go with a FireFly setup?

Thanks in Advance.

Justin

[Deusxmachina]

Red, white, and yellow is composite. Component is when the video has three plugs. That keeps the colors separated.

I don't think that geforce 2 will run PVRx2 very well if at all. It should do the old interface, but PVRx2 is so pretty how can you not run it? WAF goes up with pretty things. And the old interface will soon not be supported anymore anyway. And the new interface can use all the current plugins, and that can be a big deal.

If you need to buy an s-video-to-RCA (composite) adapter, it might be around $10 especially if you have to order one, so instead of that I'd look for a decent video card that comes with an s-video dongle. They should also have component out on them for future use. 2400pros and similar are like $40 or whatever now, although they don't all come with the s-video dongle. I can't recommend one for 1080i, but for anything less than that it should be fine. Even something like a 7300GT should work fine.

Not a big deal not having a sata drive. I just added another 500gb IDE drive to mine today since that's what was inside the external case and for whatever reason 500gb externals are often cheaper than 500gb internals nowadays. I think my C: drive is a wimpy, old 5400rpm, even. It was sitting there doing nothing, so I tossed it in.

MVPs have remotes. Otherwise if you use a PC for a client in the living room, get an MCE remote for $20 to $30. Some TV cards come with remotes and sometimes they work well with GBPVR and sometimes they don't.

It's best not to edit posts that old, especially in the middle of them since it's hard to read. Also, if you need help from sub he may not see the new info since it's not in a new post.

edit: that's what I get for watching TV and so typing slow. Do a forum search on Firefly. I doubt much will come up. I think MCEs tend to be cheaper anyway.

I have a 2900pro in one machine and recently got rid of my 2400pro and put a 7600GT in there. I'd say get whatever you can that's cheaper, but if they're the same price, right now I'd tend to go with Nvidia since I had less problems with the drivers. Nvidia has better overscan options, has built-in noise reduction and sharpness, etc. It's not a big deal, though. Get what's cheap and will work. Throw that geforce 2 in and see what happens. Probably not much, but worth a shot.