Hello, I am in The proccess of "cutting the cord" of cable. Its way to expencive for me to pay for so many channels I don't watch. So I'm consitering using some old hardware that I have setting around to put a capture card in, and use it for ota programs, and Netflix. But I'm conserned if this hardware would be strong enough to handle win7, xbmc, and windows media center. Here are the specs;
-old dell MB
-Pentium 4 3.0 ghz ht
-Wintv-HVR-1600 Tuner (Says "On-board MPEG-2 encoder, allows your computer to run at full speed", does that mean that it will use less system resources?)
-1gb DDR ram
-500gb we blue
-this gpu : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134076
-DVD drive.
Is this fast enough for OTA HD watching and recording
A friend of mine was conserned that this wouldn't be enough for the capture card but he was unsure. So I need your opionions/experience.
I was also consiterinig this as an alternate :
this MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186215
This CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103888
And 2 of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139640
I don't have much of a budget.
Which option would be better?
I asked this over at Tom's Hardware but apparently its dead.
Keep in mind I already have the tuner card that says "On-board MPEG-2 encoder, allows your computer to run at full speed", does that mean that it will use less system resources?
If so hopefully I can get by with the P4 for now, until I save enough for a new better machine.
-old dell MB
-Pentium 4 3.0 ghz ht
-Wintv-HVR-1600 Tuner (Says "On-board MPEG-2 encoder, allows your computer to run at full speed", does that mean that it will use less system resources?)
-1gb DDR ram
-500gb we blue
-this gpu : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134076
-DVD drive.
Is this fast enough for OTA HD watching and recording
A friend of mine was conserned that this wouldn't be enough for the capture card but he was unsure. So I need your opionions/experience.
I was also consiterinig this as an alternate :
this MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186215
This CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103888
And 2 of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139640
I don't have much of a budget.
Which option would be better?
I asked this over at Tom's Hardware but apparently its dead.

Keep in mind I already have the tuner card that says "On-board MPEG-2 encoder, allows your computer to run at full speed", does that mean that it will use less system resources?
If so hopefully I can get by with the P4 for now, until I save enough for a new better machine.