64-bit XP & Compatible Tuners

[Savage1701]

Is there a general list where anyone has tried/posted success with the following under XP 64-bit:

Hauppauge 2250 x1 card

Hauppauge 950Q USB

Hauppauge 1600 PCI card

Hauppauge HD-PVR

I have a copy of 64-bit XP and I'd really like to use it so I can take advantage of extra memory for Java Heap, SuperCache, video card, etc. I'd prefer not to migrate to Win 7 or Vista 64-bit.

Thanks for any help.

[Fuzzy]

I think trying to use XP-64 is just asking for trouble. Plus, you still won't be able to use more than about 1.3GB for the Java Heap, as sage will still only use the 32-bit JVM. Is there a reason you don't want to go with win7? or is it just that you already HAVE the copy of XP-64 (thus the cost savings)?

[PiX64]

IMO xp-64bit is BAD news!

the compatability is horrible
driver support is even worse
and the darn thing always blue screened on me back in the day when i tried it.

i would stick with XP or win 7.

[Savage1701]

I guess because for me Win 7 64-bit has been nothing but problematic, and for me, 64-bit XP has been great. I use it on another video server and it's nothing but crash free, easy as pie to network, and I can push XP around as far as my needs are concerned.

I also use SuperSpeed's SuperCache, which, although it needs a ton of RAM, can allow me to copy at up to 200% of the rate of my 3Ware RAID array if I let pages sit dirty. When you start moving terabytes of DV around, 150-250MB/s sustained writes sure beats <80-120MB/sustained, as well as eBoostr to read ahead on my system drive. They burn RAM like nobody's business. However, at 50-60 bucks a stick, who cares?

Win 7 has been nothing but a pain in the a** for peer networking, volume sharing, you name it. Besides, why waste it on a server that sits in an equipment rack. I don't need DirectX 10+ whatever, Aero Glass, transparencies, etc. on a server hooked up to a 1280x1024 monitor with remote desktop or KVM over IP to administrate it. It's a waste.

As far as copies of either OS goes, I've got 'em both, as well as Vista 64-bit Bus. gathering dust on my shelf, so it's not like I care about that.

[Fuzzy]

If your main reason for going with XP is burst transfer rate, that's really not important for a sagetv server. You're talking about max 2.4MB/sec for broadcast ATSC, and then possibly a max of 5.6MB/sec to read a max quality ripped blu-ray. Multiple recordings/playing at a time will run up against a seek time limit long before you hit a drive's transfer rate limit, though either are better avoided by using multiple recordings drives - not larger cache's.

The most important functions of a sagetv server, would be capture card support, and power management. I'd wager win7 beats XP-64 hands down on both of these. My win7 based sagetv server is at about 28 days of uptime currently, and I even use it for playback - and the last boot was due to an extended power outage that I used to add a couple drives to the mix.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

My win7 based sagetv server is at about 28 days of uptime currently, and I even use it for playback - and the last boot was due to an extended power outage that I used to add a couple drives to the mix.

Do you use Windows 7 32 or 64 bit? I ordered a Windows 7 three pack that includes 32 and 64 bit, and I am thinking up upgrading my Windows XP 32 bit SageTV server.

I am still thinking of building up another SageTV server with Linux, but I don't have the extra hardware yet for that. I might be better off with Windows 7 since I also use PlayON for Netflix, which I think has to run in Windows.

Dave

[mayamaniac]

Ram is inexpensive and it's always good to have more than you need. I'm good with 4GB (3.2GB usable) now with Win7 32bit. I would've went with Win7 64bit had there been driver support for firewire STB. But my 32bit system is rock solid and runs for months without rebooting. I'm not sure what network problems Savage1701 is having, Win7 network works fine for me. I think for SageTV and related compatibility, it is best to stick wtih 32bit. Going with XP 64bit is just asking for headaches.

[Savage1701]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

If your main reason for going with XP is burst transfer rate, that's really not important for a sagetv server. You're talking about max 2.4MB/sec for broadcast ATSC, and then possibly a max of 5.6MB/sec to read a max quality ripped blu-ray. Multiple recordings/playing at a time will run up against a seek time limit long before you hit a drive's transfer rate limit, though either are better avoided by using multiple recordings drives - not larger cache's.

The most important functions of a sagetv server, would be capture card support, and power management. I'd wager win7 beats XP-64 hands down on both of these. My win7 based sagetv server is at about 28 days of uptime currently, and I even use it for playback - and the last boot was due to an extended power outage that I used to add a couple drives to the mix.

No, I'm talking about moving a 6TB9+6 library around. I know I can't ever run up against the sustainable write rates where the actural recording of shows is concerned.

[Savage1701]

Originally Posted by davephan

Do you use Windows 7 32 or 64 bit? I ordered a Windows 7 three pack that includes 32 and 64 bit, and I am thinking up upgrading my Windows XP 32 bit SageTV server.

I am still thinking of building up another SageTV server with Linux, but I don't have the extra hardware yet for that. I might be better off with Windows 7 since I also use PlayON for Netflix, which I think has to run in Windows.

Dave

I want 64-bit for the RAM.

[Savage1701]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

Ram is inexpensive and it's always good to have more than you need. I'm good with 4GB (3.2GB usable) now with Win7 32bit. I would've went with Win7 64bit had there been driver support for firewire STB. But my 32bit system is rock solid and runs for months without rebooting. I'm not sure what network problems Savage1701 is having, Win7 network works fine for me. I think for SageTV and related compatibility, it is best to stick wtih 32bit. Going with XP 64bit is just asking for headaches.

It's weird that everyone has something different with networking. For me, I've never had a problem with extenders, whereas many oithers seem to. For me, XP has been awesome and chimp-simple to work with. Win 7 never seems to "see" the same shares or allows me to access them one day and then not the next, literally. Hey, we've all got our crosses to bear! :-)

[Fuzzy]

I was under the impression you were talking about this being just a headless SageTV server, in which case, you really shouldn't be needing to move massive amounts of data around. And in either case, if you are moving files on and off the system, the network will always be the limiting factor, NOT the caching. Beyond all that, the cache in win7 is drastically improved over xp, as is the way it handles IO priorities.

[Savage1701]

Everyone does these DV files differently, stores their data differently, and moves them differently. I use both 32 bit and 64 bit of XP and Win 7 every day on multiple systems, business and recreation, across multiple wired GbE networks.

All I really want to know is if you or anyone eles has used the tuners I mentioned. That's really it. If you have not, no problem. If you have, I'd like to know what drivers you used.

Thanks for any help if you have used these tuners and can contribute to my original question.

This has gone totally off-topic into networking and file management, which I am not concerned about at this time.

Thanks again.

[Fuzzy]

I just don't think you'll find many people at all who have used XP64 for a sage server. About your only source of info might be to check with the tuner card manufacturers and see if they even HAVE 64-bit XP drivers. If they do, there's a decent chance they'd work with sage.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

Is there a general list where anyone has tried/posted success with the following under XP 64-bit:

Hauppauge 2250 x1 card

Hauppauge 950Q USB

Hauppauge 1600 PCI card

Hauppauge HD-PVR

I have a copy of 64-bit XP and I'd really like to use it so I can take advantage of extra memory for Java Heap, SuperCache, video card, etc. I'd prefer not to migrate to Win 7 or Vista 64-bit.

Thanks for any help.

According to quick looks at hauppauge's site, it doesn't look like they have xp64 drivers for anything.

[Savage1701]

Yeah, I'm just going to have to do a trial with Win 7 at some point. I know 32-bit Java is limited, but I do want the ability to access the extra RAM and such.

Sorry if I gave the impression it was a headless server.

[davephan]

I plan to move my SageTV computer from XP Pro 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit. I have a couple HVR-2250s, HD-PVR, and a HDHomerun. The HVR-2250s and HD-PVR should both work with Windows 7 64-bit. How about the HDHomerun? Will the HDHomerun work with Windows 7 64-bit?

Dave

[Fuzzy]

Yes, HDHomeRun works with 64-bit just fine.

[panteragstk]

Why not use a server os for a server? Server 2003 64bit will network the same and have lots more compatibility. Either that or use multiple servers.

[Tomahawk51]

Hey, I've got a question:

I only use firewire to change channels on my cable box (not to capture).

I've always assumed I'm stuck on Win7 32 bit based on comments, but this post makes me wonder if I couldn't use win7 64bit in fact.

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/87889.aspx
(edit: and this http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/67381.aspx)

If anyone could confirm it would save me a lot of time in trying to find out.

Thanks!

[davephan]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Why not use a server os for a server? Server 2003 64bit will network the same and have lots more compatibility. Either that or use multiple servers.

Several reasons. Windows 7 is far cheaper than Windows 2003. Windows 2003 has been out for quite awhile now, so the support will probably end before Windows 7. Well known imaging software, such as Acronis and Symantec is very expensive for Windows 2003 and cheap for Windows 7. Although there are some cheaper imaging software alternatives that are less expensive for Windows 2003, but I prefer to use Acronis. I believe imaging software is a 'must' for SageTV computers. I do not know if the Windows 2003 driver support is as good as Windows 7.

Originally Posted by Tomahawk51

Hey, I've got a question:

I only use firewire to change channels on my cable box (not to capture).

I've always assumed I'm stuck on Win7 32 bit based on comments, but this post makes me wonder if I couldn't use win7 64bit in fact.

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/87889.aspx
(edit: and this http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/67381.aspx)

If anyone could confirm it would save me a lot of time in trying to find out.

Thanks!

I've read many posts about firewire only working with 32-bit software. If firewire is a must, then 64-bit software won't work. Too bad there isn't some sort of a work-around using another application just for firewire to work with 64-bits.


Dave