Hardware recommendations

[Roaders]

Hi All,

I'm getting a High Def TV in the next week or so wo I want some new hardware for my media centre PC.

First off I need a new video card with a DVI interface on it. WOudl be handy if it had S-video as well but not essential.

Secondly I want a new tuner card. At the moment I have a single Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II but I wnat to get a dual tuner card (for connection to 2 Sky boxes).
My current tuner card seems to give quite a blurry image sometimes and the sound seems to go very loud when it is quiet if you see what I mean. When there is no talking / music the low leve background noise seesm to go very loud. WHen talking ect resumes then it goes back to normal. Very odd.

Anway, which cards shoudl I get?

Thanks

[jonsayers]

Low Profile or Full Height?

Something like the nVidia 6600 is the quickest your going to get that is low profile and passive. Something like hte X300 or 6200 will run MCE fun, just won't let you play all the latest games at high res, but thats not really what a box under the TV is about eh?

If you get the PVR-500 try and get the extra cable that attaches to it, this will give you a second set of S-Video/Composite/Audio connectors on a cable which screws into another PCI Slot.

The other alternative is go for a pair of cards say 2 x HVR-1300 or 1 x HVR-1300 + 1 x HVR-1100

These are hybrid cards and will mean in the future you'll be able to use them for DVB-T rather than just analogue.

[Roaders]

Thanks for the reply. The box I have is jsut a normal HP mini tower but I am considering moving the insides into a nicer under the tv type box at some point. I have no interest in playing games on the MCE - my study computer / 360 are for that!

What is DVB-T? THe only future compatibility I would like is a tuner card that will work with SKy HD - I don't think that is goign to happen for a while though

[bashtage]

Originally Posted by Roaders

Hi All,

I'm getting a High Def TV in the next week or so wo I want some new hardware for my media centre PC.

First off I need a new video card with a DVI interface on it. WOudl be handy if it had S-video as well but not essential.

Thanks

If you don't game a geforce 6200 is a good MCE card since it supports decoder off-loading and they pretty much never have fans. You can get AGP versions iwth DVI+VGA+S-video

Which TV? Just a warning: Most HDMI inputs on HD TVs do not work from DVI ports on computers (in fact, AFAIK most is pronounced ALL). This said, other forums (LCD for example) can help you figure out whether your new TV will or won't.

[bashtage]

Originally Posted by Roaders

What is DVB-T? THe only future compatibility I would like is a tuner card that will work with SKy HD - I don't think that is goign to happen for a while though

DVB-T is the technical name for Freeview. SkyHD will probably happen sometime after Vista is launched since Vista will support the required CableCard connection.

[Roaders]

TV I am getting is pioneer pdp506XETA

I will be REALLY ****** off if the HDMI doesn't work with DVI from the computer!!!

[bashtage]

Originally Posted by Roaders

TV I am getting is pioneer pdp506XETA

I will be REALLY ****** off if the HDMI doesn't work with DVI from the computer!!!

You should ask in the Plasma forum (that's plasma, right). I think you're about to be pee'd off