Which Upgrade Path?

[jptaz]

Hi All,

Recently I have been having real performance problems using my Server for HD Playback. I am sure I could work with it and figure out why it is now using more CPU, but since I got my 1080P Projector earlier in the year it has become apparent that the 6600GT and Pure Video Decoders are not able to correctly play back 1080i material and the AMD XP 3200+ has seen better days.

So I am considering two upgrading options...I am open to other suggestions as well, but these are the ones that come to mind right now:

1. Buy the following to make my server headless:
SageTV HD Media Extender $199.95
3ft HDMI Cable - $6.71
2X1 Powered HDMI Splitter $68.63 - to display on the projector and TV
50 ft HDMI to DVI Cable - $66.71 - for PS3
PlayStation 3 40GB - $399 - for playing DVDs and BluRay

Total $741.99

2. Buy the following to make my server capable of handling the playback:
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 - $189.99
ASUS P5K Deluxe - $169.99
4 GB Corsair DDR2 800 - $87.00
Sony Blu-Ray DVD ROM SATA - $159.99
EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB - $199.99
Mail in Rrbates - +$60.00

Total $746.96

So they both are about the same price...I know that I can probably save money by changing either configuration, but as far as I am concerned they are going to cost me about the same, but get me to same goal state and the reality is that the money is not the issue.

Option 1 gives me several solid playback devices and leaves the server doing just recording...I have never played with COM Skip, converting shows, and do not see me adding them at this point or in the future, I run a play vanilla sage setup. It also gives me the option of playing PS3 video games, but honestly I am not a gamer it is just that I have heard that it is one of the best Blu-ray players on the market for the money and since they are continuing to update the PS3 it seems pretty solid.

Option 2 gives me a very powerful Server/playback machine and the ability to do some playing around and allows me to transcode HD recordings for playback on my two MediaMVPs, which I currently can not do.

Anyone have any thoughts as to which route I should take? Am I missing something that I may want to do in the future by going one way or the other.

Thanks,
John

[stanger89]

If the extender will do everything you want, I'd got that way, especially if your TV's got a good processor/scaler in it.

[jptaz]

Stanger,

I am confused. I would assume that I would use the scalar in the Extender the same way the SageTV PC based client does. Does the extender attempt to send the video signal to the display device in the source material resolution, for example if I watch a program recorded in 480i, or 720P does the extender change the video mode to 480i or 720P instead of staying at a constant 1080P that is native for my projector the same way I do in my PC?

Thanks,
John

[evilpenguin]

The best recommendation that I can give the extender is that I spent almost 2 years tweaking/upgrading my PC client trying (and failing) to get it working perfectly and the HDextender worked even better right out of the box.

As long as you can compensate for the lack of a DVD drive I'd say its the path to take.

[evilpenguin]

Originally Posted by jptaz

Stanger,

I am confused. I would assume that I would use the scalar in the Extender the same way the SageTV PC based client does. Does the extender attempt to send the video signal to the display device in the source material resolution, for example if I watch a program recorded in 480i, or 720P does the extender change the video mode to 480i or 720P instead of staying at a constant 1080P that is native for my projector the same way I do in my PC?

Thanks,
John

You can do it both ways, but the only reason to have the extender output the native resolution is if you own a TV or reciever with a nice, high end, video scaler already built in. Otherwise you'll be just fine letting the HDextender do the heavy lifting.

[jptaz]

Hi all,

Thank you for the feed back. I am leaning toward starting with the extender and only using the Server for DVD playback for the short term. After upgrading to 6.4 and downgrading to Java 1.4.2_17 things are much better. I am not sure which change made the difference but either way CPU utilization is down dramatically and the playback is better than it has been in a while.

I do like the idea of no more fussing with decoder merit and settings with every release.

John

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by jptaz

Hi all,

Thank you for the feed back. I am leaning toward starting with the extender and only using the Server for DVD playback for the short term. After upgrading to 6.4 and downgrading to Java 1.4.2_17 things are much better. I am not sure which change made the difference but either way CPU utilization is down dramatically and the playback is better than it has been in a while.

I do like the idea of no more fussing with decoder merit and settings with every release.

John

I think you may find out that some of the plugins will require a minimum of Java 5 or Java 6. I can't recall which ones that do but if you start seeing issues after a plugin install I would look there first.

Gerry

[jptaz]

I use plain vanilla SageTV. I have never used any plugins.
Thanks for the warning in case I do decide to try any plugins.

John

[stanger89]

That's kind of odd, for me Java 1.6 was WAY faster (especially on the MVP) than 1.4, I think Sage ships with 1.6 these days too.

As far as scaling, yes, it can do it both ways, but the deinterlacing isn't the greatest, especially if you've got poorly flagged content.

[jptaz]

I may see how it does with 1.4 for the next few days and make a new Acronis image and then uninstall Java and install 1.6 and see if it was just the move to 6.4 that fixed my performance issues. Not sure that I care since I am thinking that I will order the extender today. The scaler in my projector is ok, but not great, but I can play with it once I get my extender. For the time being the DVD playback is fine via PC so for the short term I may go to mostly Extender use for day to day and when we do watch DVDs launch SageTV on the server.

[jptaz]

Ok...Just pulled the trigger...now I just have to wait for the extender to arrive...hopefully some time early next week.

[autoboy]

You picked the way i did it too. I use my PS3 for DVD playback and my HTPC is now in another room as a headless server. Now that you have more sources, I suggest you go get yourself a universal remote. I suggest the Harmony One. Then all your concerns about keeping everything in one box are gone.

[jptaz]

I am not sure when I am getting the PS3...as for the remote I have an ATI Remote wonder that works with Girder and Several USB UIRTs to control all my HT equipment. I may look at the Harmony so that I am not spending all my time configuring girder for my new equipment, but it is nice that all my equipment is hidden and I do not have to have line of sight for remotes.

[Fuzzy]

If you are already adept at working with Girder and USB-UIRTs, you could get away with using ANY remote that has the button configuration/style you want. This is the best feature of using Girder, is that once it is set up, you can literally make any button do exactly what you want it to do.

[jptaz]

Just got the extender last night and it is awesome. Second best purchase after the original SageTV Server purchase.

Now I just need to program Girder with the new remote codes and move one of the IR Blasters to the Extender.

Does anyone know how tolerate of heat the Extender is? I currently have it on top of my center channel speaker for convenience, but would rather put it in my case under neath the Cable CO DVR...which I will probably we ditching soon since I don't use it as much as I thought for recording HD.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by jptaz

Now I just need to program Girder with the new remote codes and move one of the IR Blasters to the Extender.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. You wouldn't connect any blaster or IR receiver to an HD Extender. Plus the USB ports on the Extender do not support a connection of a device.

Gerry

[jptaz]

I user Girder and my ATI All In Wonder RF Remote to control all of the my home theater equipment. So I will program the Remote codes from the HD Extender remote into the computer so that I do not have to use the HD Extender remote.

EDIT: Also the IR blasters are placed in front of the devices so that I do not need to have line of site with the devices, thus the joy of an RF remote control.

[autoboy]

I had the extender in the same cabinet as my Onkyo 875 receiver on a shelf about 4 inches above the receiver. The cabinet was vented at the back but had no active cooling. The Onkyo gets very hot in there and the extender never had a problem. I just recently got a fan from Antec that sits on top of the receiver and vents out the back because I was nervous about the receiver, not the extender. I'm not sure I would put it directly on top of hot equipment, but it seemed to handle my situation fine.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by jptaz

I user Girder and my ATI All In Wonder RF Remote to control all of the my home theater equipment. So I will program the Remote codes from the HD Extender remote into the computer so that I do not have to use the HD Extender remote.

EDIT: Also the IR blasters are placed in front of the devices so that I do not need to have line of site with the devices, thus the joy of an RF remote control.

OK-gotcha.

Gerry