HD on MVP?

[Stuntman]

I'm thinking about getting an HD card for my SageTV server, but since I use MVP EXCLUSIVELY for watching content I wonder if it would even work for me? Would anybody be willing to post/share a short hd file that I could import and test with?

Also, if I had an HD card would SageTV know that if one of my favorites was available in HD (like LOST), to use it when possible.. An "Same show in HD" type setting would be neat.. if the scheduler was smart enough to detect the same episode on both feeds..

I don't want to plunk down money on it, if it won't work for me.. I have an XP3200+ with 2GB RAM..

Thanks!

[amg]

The MVP cannot display HD. There really is no point in the HD capture card in your system, if you only use the MVP for playback.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Stuntman

I'm thinking about getting an HD card for my SageTV server, but since I use MVP EXCLUSIVELY for watching content I wonder if it would even work for me? Would anybody be willing to post/share a short hd file that I could import and test with?

Well first, if the MVP is your only playback device, don't bother. While I believe it can be made to work, IMO it's not worth the trouble. The MVP will not play HD, HD must be transcoded to SD for the MVP, so at best you'll have slightly better quality than native SD, but the potential is there for it to be worse.

Stick with SD until you get an HD playback device.

Also, if I had an HD card would SageTV know that if one of my favorites was available in HD (like LOST), to use it when possible.. An "Same show in HD" type setting would be neat.. if the scheduler was smart enough to detect the same episode on both feeds..

Well there's a couple ways, first would be to setup the encoder merit so the HD tuner is used first. Another option is to limit those favorites to HD channels only. But, FWIW, I've done nothing special (I don't think at least) and Sage always seems to pick the HD recording.

I don't want to plunk down money on it, if it won't work for me.. I have an XP3200+ with 2GB RAM..

I'd save my money personally, unless you can go all out and get an HD playback device (basically a client PC at this point). If it's not a big deal, wait for Sage's HD client (that's been mentioned but no details have emerged).

[Stuntman]

Originally Posted by amg

The MVP cannot display HD. There really is no point in the HD capture card in your system, if you only use the MVP for playback.

I realize the MVP can't display HD, but can it PLAY video that WAS HD? The server can transcode it back into something that the MVP can use, can't it? The signal I get via OTA HD is far superior to what I get from my Cable Company, so I'd think even transcoded I'd get a better image.. which is what I'd like to test if I could get a sample HD file from someplace. I hope to, eventually, put a media center in my entertainment system, rather than hiding it in my garage as I currently do. I also hear rumblings of HD MVP's down the road in the not too distant future...

[chrisc16]

Originally Posted by Stuntman

I don't want to plunk down money on it, if it won't work for me.. I have an XP3200+ with 2GB RAM..

Thanks!

While Sage WILL transcode HD files to an MVP, I don't think your server has enough horsepower to do it. I have an AMD X2 3800+ and it stutters regularly, unless I try immediately after a reboot.

-Chris

[Naylia]

Originally Posted by chrisc16

While Sage WILL transcode HD files to an MVP, I don't think your server has enough horsepower to do it. I have an AMD X2 3800+ and it stutters regularly, unless I try immediately after a reboot.

-Chris

Well that's defintly gonna rain on my parade....guess the gf's not getting one for her birthday anymore. I'll have to build a full client instead and that might not be worth it for the bedroom

[AngelofDeth]

Originally Posted by chrisc16

While Sage WILL transcode HD files to an MVP, I don't think your server has enough horsepower to do it. I have an AMD X2 3800+ and it stutters regularly, unless I try immediately after a reboot.

-Chris

Well, he could convert the files to SD Divx or even MPEG-2, which he could then play. I don't think the quality difference will be slightly either, it will probably look a lot better, unless you have a very good source for SDTV, which not much exists nowadays.

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by AngelofDeth

Well, he could convert the files to SD Divx or even MPEG-2, which he could then play. I don't think the quality difference will be slightly either, it will probably look a lot better, unless you have a very good source for SDTV, which not much exists nowadays.

I would agree, the quality difference would be huge, even for shows not in HD but just over the digital channels. I see a tremendous difference between cable and OTA networks.

As far as PCs go in the b-room, My wife and I are in our first week. She only asked for the tivo on the first night Almost there! You can build them silent esp. with the new intel chips out. Yonah or Merom run really cool.

B

[mayamaniac]

Narflex said that the video quality is better when trancoding from HD to SD, but he didn't say specifically how fast a machine is needed to do so. But if you have an HDTV, then build a small client like an intel mac mini, thats the best way to go.