A couple concerns before I build my HTPC

[Spor 13]

I'm gonna be slowly transforming one of my computers into a HTPC. But I have a few questions before I go ahead.

These are the specs of the computer when it will be finished:

Athlon XP 2500+
1GB ram
BFG 6600GT OC
Hauppauge PVR-500
Seagate 320GB HDD

Now, on to the questions. I hope to have the cable plugged into to the tuner as well as a S-Vid cable plugged in from my Rogers 3200 box so that I can record digital channels when I want to...like LeafsTV or something. I know Windows MCE will be able to tune into the cable and record, but will I be able to view and record the S-Video source? If not, is there a frontend that will be able to do this?

Also, will these specs be good enough for an htpc?

[matkun]

I'm gonna be slowly transforming one of my computers into a HTPC. But I have a few questions before I go ahead.

These are the specs of the computer when it will be finished:

Athlon XP 2500+
1GB ram
BFG 6600GT OC
Hauppauge PVR-500
Seagate 320GB HDD


Also, will these specs be good enough for an htpc?

I can't answer the software stuff, but it should be enough, unless your planning to do 1080p stuff. At that point it would probably struggle. May struggle a bit on 780p also, but I am not sure on that.

[willy]

Also, will these specs be good enough for an htpc?
If all you want is TV stuff, it's ok.

However, I agree with matkun ... It's not powerful enough for 720p, not to mention 1080p. But don't worry, there will be *AGP* version of ATI HD 2400/2600 !

[ppl4golf]

No perceivable problem with SD programmings. HD most like won't be all smooth.

Re recording from cable box, you also need an IR blaster to change channels to make life easier. I know GB-PVR let me use the S-Video alongside an I am sure MCE would do the same.

[mp328]

as long as MCE lets u add a 3rd tuner choice for the S-Video input it should record and display just fine. the 500 is considered as 2 tuners right so the S-Video would be 3rd.

im using SageTV in a similar way, i have 2 x 150's and one of them also has my rogers box thru S-Video and that is the 3rd tuner. and everything works fine.

what r u planning to use to tune in the channels on the rogers box?? an IR Blaster or USB-UIRT?? for some reason i could never get the IR Blaster working that came with my 150 on the 3250 box. so i still just tune in by hand to whatever channel i wanna record couple of hours earlier.

oh and for the CPU and the rest. i would say that's good enough for the start. later on u will see and know where u need to improve the components to get better results.

[Spor 13]

I haven't really thought about changing channels on the Rogers box...My mom usually watches her Fairchild with the box...so really there's not many times that I'd be recording from the box cept for LeafsTV and some random stuff when I see fit. I'd assume, most of the time I'm recording stuff from the box, that I'd be watching it while its happening.

I don't have an HDTV.....so right now, SD is all I need. Maybe showing the occasional divx file or something...but its good enough now...so I don't think it should be a prob.

Will MCE be able to record all 3 sources at the same time? It may lag, I know that, but is it possible?