Well, I've been lurking here for about a month now and doing my homework, and I've been putting in as many hours in the research lab as I have been on these forums.
I'm trying to put together a "budget" HTPC that is upgradable so that in the future it may be referred to as "enthusiast." Here's what I got planned so far:
case + 300W PS from gigacase.com
Asus A7n266-VM mobo (onboard video GF2MX, onboard sound DD 5.1 w/SPDIF out)
Athlon XP 1700+
512MB crucial RAM
80GIG WD 8MB cache HD
Lite on XJ-HD166S 16X DVD-ROM drive
Sony Floppy
TV card?!?
Coming soon (later): IRman/Girder/Pronto
Coming even later: More HD space!
Coming if I ever get a PhD: Projector!
This will be connected to a Kenwood VR-407 and a standard def OLD Sony trinitron TV from like 1986.
Here's my predicted usage of the system:
50% PVR, 25% DVD, 25% Jukebox
As you can see, my componets aren't top of the line on either system, but it'll do.
What's really important to me is PVR function. I am aware of course that there's nothing really out there can fully compete with TiVo. I would like a programming guide so that I can get rid of digital cable, but Snapstream and Showshifter don't do that, and SageTV is out of my range. Am I best off getting one of the ATI AIW cards (VE)? Or are the hardware solutions like the happauge-pvr cards the best way to go?
I would appreciate any suggestions, but please remember that its hard to pay for good stuff when you're on a lowly stipend!
Thanks,
Rod
I'm trying to put together a "budget" HTPC that is upgradable so that in the future it may be referred to as "enthusiast." Here's what I got planned so far:
case + 300W PS from gigacase.com
Asus A7n266-VM mobo (onboard video GF2MX, onboard sound DD 5.1 w/SPDIF out)
Athlon XP 1700+
512MB crucial RAM
80GIG WD 8MB cache HD
Lite on XJ-HD166S 16X DVD-ROM drive
Sony Floppy
TV card?!?
Coming soon (later): IRman/Girder/Pronto
Coming even later: More HD space!
Coming if I ever get a PhD: Projector!
This will be connected to a Kenwood VR-407 and a standard def OLD Sony trinitron TV from like 1986.
Here's my predicted usage of the system:
50% PVR, 25% DVD, 25% Jukebox
As you can see, my componets aren't top of the line on either system, but it'll do.
What's really important to me is PVR function. I am aware of course that there's nothing really out there can fully compete with TiVo. I would like a programming guide so that I can get rid of digital cable, but Snapstream and Showshifter don't do that, and SageTV is out of my range. Am I best off getting one of the ATI AIW cards (VE)? Or are the hardware solutions like the happauge-pvr cards the best way to go?
I would appreciate any suggestions, but please remember that its hard to pay for good stuff when you're on a lowly stipend!
Thanks,
Rod