How to handle HD and SD content with slow PC

[maxpower]

I am in my trial period and ultimately plan to have two HD Extenders for my 2 HD sets and 2 SD MVP Extenders for the remaining 2 SD sets. My Sage-TV Media Center PC is not fast enough (I don't think) to transcode on the fly (It's an AMD something running at 1.8GHz with 2 HVR-1600s).

Let's say SageTV records an HD program. If I want to watch that on one of the SD Extenders, I understand my options to be:

1. Program SageTV to record the program from the SD source in addition to the HD source (is this even possible?)
2. Setup auto-compress to transcode the HD program (not in-place so I can still watch true HD on the HD sets) and just have to wait for the transcode process to finish before being able to watch it from the SD Extenders.
3. Upgrade my SageTV box processor so that it can handle transcoding on the fly.

Have I stated this correctly? Are there any other clever solutions?

I guess a 4th option would be that my current processer actually IS fast enough to transcode HD using the "Standard" conversion quality setting. I won't be able to test that until my MVPs arrive tomorrow. Anyone with a similar PC have trouble transcoding on the fly using the "Standard" setting?

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by maxpower

... and 2 SD MVP Extenders ... Are there any other clever solutions?

Yes, 1 more solution. Get all HD extenders, and they will handle the HD/SD convertion for you. Extra cost at the TV end, but no need to upgrade the server or worry about the recordings. (and if all your TVs ever become HD, no new extender needed)

[salsbst]

I second MattHelm. I'm planning on a 2nd HD100 in our home. It will be hooked up to a cheap 15" TV in the study -- not because the TV is great shakes, but because I don't want to put any decoding burden on my server. Avoidance of the headaches of having a server doing decoding are worth the money spent on the HD100 to me.

[doc]

theres no way your pc will transcode on the fly.

I have an athlon x2 5200 and that can't handle it either.

If you dont want to spend more money than you already plan to, you could schedule conversion jobs overnight when the pc's idle.

[vividweb]

Sorry to be off topic, but doc's sig is awesome

3 MVP's and I live alone

[doc]

Originally Posted by vividweb

Sorry to be off topic, but doc's sig is awesome

I have a bedroom, and office and a living room. I have TV in each for when I'm wandering around aimlessly looking for something to do!

I'm hoping to get an HD extender as well when they're available over here.

All I need now is a ready-made family

[valnar]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

Yes, 1 more solution. Get all HD extenders, and they will handle the HD/SD convertion for you. Extra cost at the TV end, but no need to upgrade the server or worry about the recordings. (and if all your TVs ever become HD, no new extender needed)

I third this recommendation, not only for the reasons listed in this thread, but I find the output of the SD/Hauppauge extender subpar.

Robert