Using computer as HD tv redux
 

Wes Newell wrote:

the point I'm trying to make is don't go hog wild with the latest and
greatest CPU unless you're also going to use it for something that does
require a lot of power. Otherwise, it's just wasted money. A video card
card with hardware support for decoding mpeg2 removes a lot of load from
the CPU. I use FX5200's in all mine and they work fine for me.

Understood

What's cheapest PC you'd even consider using?

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 15:50:00 -0500, me wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:

if you want
to shut it down when not in use, you can certainly do so. mine has always
run 24/7 anyway. At least since about 1990, so there wasn't any extra
electricity use to speak of for me. I actually saved since I disconnected
2 other DVR's and and 3 VCR's which are no longer used or needed.

Doesn't having say a 200 watt power supply generate a
lot of heat in a small home?

I've got a hanging light fixture that has 7 of those little 60W bulbs in
it. That's 420W, more than my PC uses at about 150W at idle.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 15:57:52 -0500, me wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:

the point I'm trying to make is don't go hog wild with the latest and
greatest CPU unless you're also going to use it for something that does
require a lot of power. Otherwise, it's just wasted money. A video card
card with hardware support for decoding mpeg2 removes a lot of load from
the CPU. I use FX5200's in all mine and they work fine for me.

Understood

What's cheapest PC you'd even consider using?

AMD Duron 1600 w/FX5200 video card 512M ram. I used this as a frontend
machine for quite a while. It would do playback at 1200MHz using XvMC
(hardware video decoding) at about 80% load. I usually ran it overclocked
at 2000MHz. On the Intel side I couldn't say. I've heard of people having
problems with 3G P4's. But that may well have been user problems. Now if
you want HD PIP, you'll need something a lot more powerful as XvMC doesn't
supprt PIP so you can't use it. For PIP playback I can't get my A64 3000+
to do it with both 1080i streams. I can get PIP with 1 1080i and one SD
channel. So I'd suggest something like an X2 3800 in that case although
you may get by with something like a 3500+. But if you just want good
single picture playback the Duron 1600 will do it.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

Wes Newell wrote:

What's cheapest PC you'd even consider using?

AMD Duron 1600 w/FX5200 video card 512M ram. I used this as a frontend

The one things that's kept me form using a computer as
a TV above is my worries abt the "fiddle factor"

By that I mean that I'm a busy enough person as is and
don't need any more "complexity" in my life.

I worry that a computer.....with all its software
issues, virus issues, etc.... will be less robust than
just getting a cheap analog TV and standalone DVD
burner that has all it's "instructions:" burnt in into
firmware.

Can you assure me that by using Linux and having a
dedicated computer as a "TV" that its fairly "hands
off" after you once get it setup?

Bottom line.... have you had to "fiddle" with it much
after getting it up and running? Software patches,
virus issues, etc?

Just curious

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

wrote:
Wes Newell wrote:

What's cheapest PC you'd even consider using?

AMD Duron 1600 w/FX5200 video card 512M ram. I used this as a
frontend

The one things that's kept me form using a computer as
a TV above is my worries abt the "fiddle factor"

By that I mean that I'm a busy enough person as is and
don't need any more "complexity" in my life.

I worry that a computer.....with all its software
issues, virus issues, etc.... will be less robust than
just getting a cheap analog TV and standalone DVD
burner that has all it's "instructions:" burnt in into
firmware.

Can you assure me that by using Linux and having a
dedicated computer as a "TV" that its fairly "hands
off" after you once get it setup?

Bottom line.... have you had to "fiddle" with it much
after getting it up and running? Software patches,
virus issues, etc?

Just curious

If you use the computer only for TV -- no games or internet access,
where would a virus come from? Mine runs under Win XP Pro only for TV.
Tonight at 7 it recorded a PBS show in SD. It was 'programmed' for this
weekly record several months ago. I do not leave this machine on 24/7
and with no internet, there is no automatic TV listing so I use it as a
pre-VCR plus "VCR" that just records on a disk instead of tape. The
only 'downside' is I have to turn it on. Oddly enough, it has a UPS so
it won't mess up a recording in progress if there's a power 'burp' The
computer has never done a BSOD and has messed up 1 recording session
(out of hundreds) in the last year.

You think Wes would sell a 'turnkey' machine ready to go? How much?

GG

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 22:20:02 -0500, me wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:

What's cheapest PC you'd even consider using?

AMD Duron 1600 w/FX5200 video card 512M ram. I used this as a frontend

The one things that's kept me form using a computer as
a TV above is my worries abt the "fiddle factor"

If you just want a TV, to turn on and watch what's on when you turn it on,
then buy a TV. OTOH, if you want a complete HTPC and all it can do, then
just a TV won't cut it.

I worry that a computer.....with all its software issues, virus issues,
etc.... will be less robust than just getting a cheap analog TV and
standalone DVD burner that has all it's "instructions:" burnt in into
firmware.

Virus issues? You must be talking about running windows software. I don't
run any MS os's. I run linux and there aren't any virus issues. Before
that, I ran OS/2 and there weren't any virus issues. Before that I ran DOS
and Deskview. There weren't a lot of viruses around then.

Can you assure me that by using Linux and having a dedicated computer as
a "TV" that its fairly "hands off" after you once get it setup?

i'm not an insurance company. All I can do is give you my experience with
it. The current release is very stable. Once setup, you shouldn't have to
do anything else to it unless you have a hardware problem.

Bottom line.... have you had to "fiddle" with it much after getting it
up and running? Software patches, virus issues, etc?

No software patches. No viruses ever. if you don't want to fiddle with it,
don't. Just let it run. If it crashes, restart the app or reboot just
like I've had to do with my Tivo an other brand DVR's.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 20:54:43 -0700, G-squared wrote:

You think Wes would sell a 'turnkey' machine ready to go? How much?

I've offered to build them before. If someone is serious I'd do it for $50
and they pay for all parts and shipping. I've actually been thinking about
putting something on ebay. There's an add there now for a prebuilt analog
system for $799 and that's just rediculous IMO. If one does it them selves
with carefully chosen parts, a 4l HDTV tuner box can be built for under
$400 in a black tower case.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" wrote:

If you buy a computer and don't hook it to the net and set it up once,
where's the worry about viruses and things changing?

How would it gets it programming info if not hooked to
the Net?

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 06:00:14 GMT, Wes Newell
wrote:

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 20:54:43 -0700, G-squared wrote:

You think Wes would sell a 'turnkey' machine ready to go? How much?

I've offered to build them before. If someone is serious I'd do it for $50
and they pay for all parts and shipping. I've actually been thinking about
putting something on ebay. There's an add there now for a prebuilt analog
system for $799 and that's just rediculous IMO. If one does it them selves
with carefully chosen parts, a 4l HDTV tuner box can be built for under
$400 in a black tower case.


Wes,

I wonder if you would "spec out" a system like that. I don't mean with
prices, or even actual components, just what type of component to look
for. For example, I have an Athlon computer that isn't being used now
(2600+ @ 1.91 GHz, 512 MB RAM, tower box with capacity for several
hard drives on Promise controller and ECS MB controller)... I'd lke to
add the components that would enable me to use it for an HDTV PDR
system... but have no idea what kind of tuner to start looking for, or
what "version" of Linux I'd need (this computer is presently set up
for dual boot, Win XP Home and Win 98SE... I use it for running all of
my "old" apps that I kept around after putting together my present
computer).



Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 10:01:35 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

If you buy a computer and don't hook it to the net and set it up once,
where's the worry about viruses and things changing?

How would it gets it programming info if not hooked to
the Net?

You can watch TV without a programming guide.

You can also watch DVDs without a programming guide.


I can't imagine sitting in front of a computer watching DVDs.
Thumper