Grasshopper
11-20-2003, 09:55 AM
Hello,
Sorry for my continuing newbie questions. I'm looking into the process of setting up a PC PVR system in my home, and I'd appreciate some advice regarding system architecture. As I see it, there are three ways to set up a system that'll do what I want -- which is tune 2 or 3 stations, record programs as needed, and play DVD's (and archive recorded shows to DVD), with most of those functions distributable to 2 or 3 TV's and a PC monitor.
One way to do this would be to build a Sage box for the family room. Put in a couple of Hauppage 250 cards as tuners, a video card to drive the (standard, for now -- no HD) TV (no monitor), DVD burner, and a big hard drive to store everything. This is attractive because it seems the simplest way to set up the main functions. Then, I could get Hauppage MVP's (once they're Sage-enabled) for the other TV's and set up the network that way. But after reading a whole lot on this forum, I'm worried about noise and heat in the PC.
Alternatively, I could build a server PC in another room (the office) and equip it with the big HD, the DVD burner and the 250 cards. Then I could build a second system to serve as a connected DVD player running Sage Client to put in the family room. That could be a small system with just a video card to drive the TV and a DVD player. Such a small system would be easier to keep quiet and cool, but would likely be somewhat more expensive (considering the cost of both systems). Also, I'd worry about difficulties of networking when the primary TV of the household is on a client machine and the tuner's in another room.
A variation on the above theme would be to put the server in the office, and instead of building a dedicated Sage Client PC, I could just buy an MVP and a cheap DVD player for the family room which would likely serve my purposes fine for now. But that would be less expandable for when (down the road) I get a big HDTV.
I'm really excited by the possibilities of Sage, and would appreciate any guidance and wisdom from folks who have done it and have thought about these issues more than I have. Thanks!
Sorry for my continuing newbie questions. I'm looking into the process of setting up a PC PVR system in my home, and I'd appreciate some advice regarding system architecture. As I see it, there are three ways to set up a system that'll do what I want -- which is tune 2 or 3 stations, record programs as needed, and play DVD's (and archive recorded shows to DVD), with most of those functions distributable to 2 or 3 TV's and a PC monitor.
One way to do this would be to build a Sage box for the family room. Put in a couple of Hauppage 250 cards as tuners, a video card to drive the (standard, for now -- no HD) TV (no monitor), DVD burner, and a big hard drive to store everything. This is attractive because it seems the simplest way to set up the main functions. Then, I could get Hauppage MVP's (once they're Sage-enabled) for the other TV's and set up the network that way. But after reading a whole lot on this forum, I'm worried about noise and heat in the PC.
Alternatively, I could build a server PC in another room (the office) and equip it with the big HD, the DVD burner and the 250 cards. Then I could build a second system to serve as a connected DVD player running Sage Client to put in the family room. That could be a small system with just a video card to drive the TV and a DVD player. Such a small system would be easier to keep quiet and cool, but would likely be somewhat more expensive (considering the cost of both systems). Also, I'd worry about difficulties of networking when the primary TV of the household is on a client machine and the tuner's in another room.
A variation on the above theme would be to put the server in the office, and instead of building a dedicated Sage Client PC, I could just buy an MVP and a cheap DVD player for the family room which would likely serve my purposes fine for now. But that would be less expandable for when (down the road) I get a big HDTV.
I'm really excited by the possibilities of Sage, and would appreciate any guidance and wisdom from folks who have done it and have thought about these issues more than I have. Thanks!