[bluesjam]

Hi,


New to this forum and to HTPC. I've been doing a lot of reading on this forum the last couple of days, great info!


Last week I decided to go ahead and build my own HTPC. I pretty much ordered everything from newegg.com today but still undecided on the capture card. Here's what I'm looking to accomplish:


- be able to record HD and regular broadcast. It seems like the card of choice for HD is MyHD MDP-120, am I correct? I own a TiVo and love it and would like to do the same with my new HTPC, can MyHD act as a PVR for both ATSC and NTSC? Will I be able to pause/rewind live TV with this card? I found some info that said yes and other info that said I needed another card for PVR, like WinTV-PVR-350 maybe? Any other cards you would recommend?


- be able to view my desktop and HD on my HDTV. I only have component available. Will I need a transcoder to get it all to work? Any issues (resolution) with displaying my desktop on my HDTV using a transcoder, any extra software needed?


- Would adding the transcoder allow me to play DVDs on my HTPC since I only have component?


Thanks for any help in advance and sorry for all the questions, I'm sure there will be more in the future.


Here's a list of the parts ordered so far:


Antec Case PLUS1080AMG

MSI 865PE Neo2 -FIS2R

P4 2.4C

1GB DDR 3200

Radeon 9600 PRO

Audigy2

DVD+-RW

2 WD HD, 120 and 200 (for HD)

Logitech MX Duo

XP Pro


I'm sure there's more to come...


Jamal

 

[jkaiser]

I don't think, with the possible exception of the Fusion (I have not tried it), any of the hardware based HDTV cards are particularly good at recording NTSC. With the MyHD, yes it can be done, but it is more work than it is worth. With the 2.4 you might get 640 by 480, but probably not 720 by 480. I would suggest seperate cards for ATSC and NTSC (350 is overkill, go with the 250 and sageTV).


The AccessTV is the closest HDTV card to the TIVO because it has extra hardware for a second PCI master. There is a thread runniing on AVS development of software for the AccessTV card. Be aware though that both the AccessTV and the Hipix older cards (don't even consider the WinTV-HD).


You should have enough horsepower for a Fusion II or III (if it ever gets released) to do software decoding of the HD. It still has lots of rough edges in my opinion. If you lie to play (tweek) your system, you could consider that one (but not very TIVOish).


"Any issues (resolution) with displaying my desktop on my HDTV " kind of hard to tell without telling us what TV.



"using a transcoder, any extra software needed?" a search for powerstrip if you need custom resolutions.



"Would adding the transcoder allow me to play DVDs on my HTPC since I only have component?" Yes. Or, since you picked the 9600, you might consider the HD adapter from ATI. It is limited in resolutions and may need a macrovision remover like anyDVD or DVDregionFree to watch larger than 480p.


I am not so sure on the Audigy 2, there have been problem posts. I used to use an Audigy 1 on my first HTPC. It never made it to the second geneeration HTPC, too many problems.

 

[bluesjam]

Thanks for your help jkaiser!


Here's more info for you, my TV is a Panasonic flat tube 4:3 HDTV model # 36HX41, with 2 component inputs. I went ahead and placed an order today for MyHD and a Key Digital transcoder from Digital Connection, hopefully that would work ok with my HTPC sytem. I will test the HD PVR for now and continue to use TiVo for NTSC and eventually get another card to replace TiVo. I also need to figure out how to record out of one of my DirecTV recievers into the HTPC, I'll be doing a little reading tonight...


If I use the HD adapter for the 9600 I would need to use my second component input to watch DVD and see the desktop, right? I prefer to use just one so I can switch between my desktop and TV without having to reach for the TV remote. Will using the transcoder improve the quality of DVD playing on my HTPC? I currently use a progressive scan DVD player.


Thanks,


Jamal