Ideal Sage AMD processor/memory combo ?

[Berg]

I have just got an AMD Sempron 3200 computer that I would like to use as a dedicated SageTV server.

I realize that while the Sempron 3200 will be just fine for recording/encoding using hardware tuners, it is too "light" to use effectively for PlaceShifting and commercial processing using ShowAnalyser IMHO.

I would like to upgrade the processor and put a decent amount of RAM (it has 256 which is too low to run XP Home, let alone anything else), so I was wondering if anyone had any opinion on the "sweet spot" I should be considering. Is an AMD dual core worth it as opposed to a single core. Where should I spend my money ? As always, I could spend $600 on the processor, but that would only be sweet for AMD. Given that AMD processors are dropping in price, I was thinking I could get something for a very reasonable amount of money.

The motherboard has a socket 939 so I should have lots of options and room for up to 4 Gb of RAM. It also has a PCI-X 16 slot that could be used for a good video card down the road.

I am using the current server to record SD from 3-4 tuner, but will be probably start using the server for some HD (there is not much content in Canada OTA unless in the three largest cities).

Any advice/wisdom you could share would be appreciated !

[blade]

Originally Posted by Berg

I realize that while the Sempron 3200 will be just fine for recording/encoding using hardware tuners, it is too "light" to use effectively for PlaceShifting and commercial processing using ShowAnalyser IMHO.

I don't know about placeshifter, but it's definetly fast enough for commercial processing. I've run SA and comskip on a celeron 366 and it was fast enough to process 1 show on the fly. I run comskip on a xp1400 and it's fast enough to process 4 shows at once on the fly. Anything more would be pushing it though.

[Berg]

Thanks Blade.

I just had pretty poor performance wathcing a show when ShowAnalyzer was running, but that was on the same machine (client/server on the same machine).

It might be that seperating the client and the server will make the difference !!

Thanks for your feedback.

[ben_95sl1]

A Sempron 3200 is faster then my Athlon XP 2000+ and I haven't noticed problems running showanalyzer, placeshifter and watching a prerecorded show all at once. I only have 512MB of ram as well....256 is not nearly adequate though, sage will use all that by itself. I can see issues if you are running HDTV however, but I like you am in Canada....I'm not getting OTA HDTV anytime soon.

The major needs for a better cpu might be lots of background video encoding of recorded shows, HDTV playback and ffdshow processing. But even HDTV playback can be handled with my cpu and a decent vid card. Anyway, I think your sempron will probably be just fine, with more ram.....give it a try, you might be surprised,

[Berg]

Thanks Ben95sl1,

Yeah, there is no question that more memory is an absolute must. I was thinking that a couple of 512K sticks might be just the trick. Maybe I'll just give it a try with more memory and go from there.

As for HDTV, how I would love to have OTA sources. The only way I can get HDTV is with a Scientific Atlanta set top box, and it won't play nice with Sage will it - Maybe, one day Rogers will allow for CableCards and Sage will support them ... we can always dream, can't we

[doc]

512MB is the minimum I put in PC's these days. I have an Athlon Xp2700 and dont see much difference betweem 512Mb and 1GB on most applications, but for the price these days I'd definately upgrade your memory, I recogn thats all you need to change.

[Kirby]

You will want to wait out the AMD price cuts in a few days. Example, the AMD X2-5000+ will be able to be had for $290 or so! I believe that CPU dropped nearly 55%! You can already get the AMD savings if you go through Monarch Computer, and do a combo deal with motherboard.

[Berg]

Originally Posted by Kirby

You will want to wait out the AMD price cuts in a few days. Example, the AMD X2-5000+ will be able to be had for $290 or so! I believe that CPU dropped nearly 55%! You can already get the AMD savings if you go through Monarch Computer, and do a combo deal with motherboard.

Yep, that was what I was waiting/thinking about. Off course, spending more money than I need just to buy a more powerful processor is not what I am trying to do.

I figure after the price cuts, I should be able to place a nice and healthy processor boost in that machine .... I just don't want to put in more than is really helpful - this is a dedicated Sage server !

And yes, I know - I'm a cheap b@$t@rd

[blade]

Originally Posted by Berg

I just don't want to put in more than is really helpful - this is a dedicated Sage server !

And yes, I know - I'm a cheap b@$t@rd

No, running a celeron 366 with 320 mb of ram on a BX chipset is cheap......

Works great though, been running it for over 1.5 yrs without any problems.

[Berg]

Originally Posted by blade

No, running a celeron 366 with 320 mb of ram on a BX chipset is cheap......

Works great though, been running it for over 1.5 yrs without any problems.

No kidding !!!! I feel like a big spender !!!