Newbie needing hardware advice

[AlphaWolf]

I have a computer I built a while ago with the following specs:

Core 2 Duo E6300
2GB DDR2 memory (don't remember what frequency)
DG33TL motherboard (with a cheesy integrated graphics card)
Windows Vista Ultimate (won't move to 7 unless there's a very good reason to)

I want to use this as a sagetv server only, and the clients will more than likely just be other PC's running sagetv (or possibly a sagetv extender.) I'd like to use commercial skip if possible as well, and I may occasionally watch videos from the server on a cell phone, but it would only be one cell phone at a time, assuming I ever do. I also want to be able to watch ripped DVD/blu-ray/misc internet downloaded videos, as well as netflix streaming.

I don't have a whole lot of money right now, and am moving away from a tivo so this is my first time doing a homemade DVR, so I want to start off easy on the tuners, but I may eventually add up to 8 (although that is a stretch.)

Will I be able to do this with the hardware listed? If not, where would the limitations be?

Given that I don't have a lot of money, I want to start off with a cheap yet versatile tuner. Would this be a bad one to start with for any reason? Is the video quality of analog cable ok on it? Could I simply add another one of the same model at any time later and have it work as a second tuner? Or even more than one? Is there a maximum number of USB based tuners I should use?

If that isn't a good one, what might I try instead? Analog cable is (at least for now) important to me, so I don't want to use anything like the hdhomerun.

Thanks!

[SWKerr]

PC should be fine. May need to add a $50 Video card to get decent HD to playback.

If you have analog cable now and they are not eliminate it anytime soon I would get: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit
The 2250 will cover you for analog cable and clear QAM (HD locals probably already on you cable feed.) It will two at a time recording. It will also have the ability to capture Analog output from a camcorder or a cable box if necessary.

At some point you will need an HD-PVR in order to capture the encrypted HD content from any source.

You could get away with spending less. I would go with a card rather than USB unless you don't have space.

[matt91]

don't need a video card for the server; doesn't sound you ever will be watching videos there.

extenders (vs clients) are considered the way to go around here, unless you *have* to be able to surf, etc, on the TV at the same time. If you just want to watch TV/movies/music/photos go with the HD200 without a second thought.

I don't think you'll ever need 8 tuners - unless you have a family of 5 or 6, each of you has their own tv, and you all must watch different live TV channels at the same time - plus record some concurrent favorites. Unlikely, IMHO.

HD Homeruns are really great, but they only do QAM or ASTC (Over the Air). I have no experience with the USB tuners, so i can't help there. I've had a couple of hauppauge 150's & 250's over the years, and they've always been rock solid.

[AlphaWolf]

Originally Posted by SWKerr

PC should be fine. May need to add a $50 Video card to get decent HD to playback.

This particular computer won't be playing anything. It'll just be serving content.

Originally Posted by matt91

extenders (vs clients) are considered the way to go around here, unless you *have* to be able to surf, etc, on the TV at the same time.

That may be what I end up doing. I've been using a 47" TV as a monitor for the last 3 years and it works great. In fact it's what I am using right now to write this IMO there's little difference between a high end TV and a monitor these days so long as the TV is capable of 1:1 pixel scaling (which many are now.)

Originally Posted by matt91

I don't think you'll ever need 8 tuners - unless you have a family of 5 or 6, each of you has their own tv, and you all must watch different live TV channels at the same time - plus record some concurrent favorites. Unlikely, IMHO.

Well, I've previously had 4 directv tivos each with 2 tuners in the house, so this is why I am thinking possibly 8. But more than likely not, as that was about two years ago and we don't subscribe to directv anymore. More realistically at least one dedicated livetv tuner with three other tuners to record stuff.

I don't think cox is going to get rid of the analog channels anytime soon (supposedly 2012, but that's a while from now, and besides we all know how deadlines like these get pushed back a lot.

When it becomes necessary to cross that bridge I'll probably end up getting something like that rumored 4 tuner cablecard adapter. Except this will be over two years after that has come out, and there will probably be some means of a workaround for the currently existing DRM mess by then (I really don't want to have to use windows media center.)