HD-DVR for $400

[arnim]

I just ordered all the parts for my new HTPC and I plan on using gbpvr to run it. I thought I'd post the build in the hopes of getting some feedback from the community. I plan on posting my results, good or bad, and hopefully give something back to the community if I can. Thanks to all of you whose posts I've learned from in the last few months, I was able to save myself a lot of time and money because of your efforts.

In short, I'm planning on a dual HD/SD tuner set up for a single HD-TV via DVI output. Future plans include 5.1 surround sound system and possible a second TV via MediaMVP or something similar. For now it will be very basic, I'm only buying one tuner card and I plan on using the remote that comes with the tuner card for now (I imagine HIP will be useful). Once I get the basic system running I'll probably be adding another tuner card right away.

If you have any pointers or comments, please post.

Specs:

nMEDIAPC HTPC 300SA Silver Aluminum / Plastic ATX Slim Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811204008

ABIT IP-95 LGA 775 VIA P4M890 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813127017

Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model HH80551PE0672MN - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819116249
 
GIGABYTE GV-NX73G128D-RH GeForce 7300GS 512MB(128MB on board) GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814125033

KWORLD ATSC-110 PCI Interface Digital / Analog HDTV Tuner - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815100140

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144417

Total cost of the machine is roughly around $400
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=5681148


The motherboard was a great find for me because it supports the Core2Duo as well as the Pentium D and DDR/DDR2 memory. To start with I'll be using a Pentium D processor and a gig stick of DDR400 that I have laying around but down the road I could give it a boost by getting a Core2Duo processor and/or DDR2 memory. Downside was that it's only a microATX board (just 2 PCI slots) and it only has 5.1 audio with not SPDF/coaxial output - just the stereo jacks I think.

I'm not sure about the KWorld tuner card but it got good reviews on newegg and I figured it would be worth a shot, although it doesn't have a hardware encoder for SD tuning, I think my machine is beefy enough to handle it. If anybody has specific experience with that card I'd appreciate the info.

Thanks
-arnim

[Miller]

It's listed as supported on the GBPVR website so it should be ok. That said, I would go with a hardware card. It's nice when you're recording a show to not have to worry about affecting your video quality just because you opened your email. Wth a software card this happens all the time. I've done both and would never go back to software-encoding cards.

[arnim]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

Have you seen any good HD/QAM cards with hardware encoding?

[Miller]

Dvico has a line of QAM HD cards.
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/dvico-fusionhdtv5-usb-gold-usb-hdtv-tuner-atsc-qam/cName/hdtv-tuner-cards
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/dvico-fusionhdtv5-express-hdtv-tuner-card-atsc-qam-pci-express/cName/hdtv-tuner-cards
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/dvico-fusionhdtv5-rt-gold-hdtv-tuner-card-atsc-qam/cName/hdtv-tuner-cards

[arnim]

Those cards look nice, but they're pricey... I'd like to get two cards for that kind of money.

Do you think this card (assuming I can find it somewhere... sold out on pcalchemy) would work?
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/avermedia-avertvhd-mce-a180-hdtv-tuner-white-box

[NAG]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

Have you seen any good HD/QAM cards with hardware encoding?

HD cards don't have hardware encoding, for QAM you could get a HDHomerun, more expensive but has dual tuners.

[arnim]

I'm shooting for a setup where I could be recording or watching HD/HD, SD/SD or HD/SD.

The problem is that my board is mATX, which means it only has two PCI slots... (I know... I had to settle on this board for various reasons i won't go into for now). Given my situation and for maximum flexibility I need two cards that each can either record HD or SD... when recording SD I'd like to have hardware encoding. This would be the optimal setup for my scenario... obviously I may settle on something less cool... one way would be to just have one HD card and one SD card - we'll call that plan B

Oh... and I want to spend less than $200 on the tuner cards  I know... I'm crazy

[Miller]

I don't think the card you referenced is a QAM card. You can find cheaper HD cards then the ones I mentioned, but I thought you needed QAM. If you're worried about fitting everything in your case, get a usb tuner.

[arnim]

Yeah, I think I may have been mistaking QAM for the ability to record standard analog cable. Sorry for the misunderstanding, I was recently corrected on another board.

So, to update my requirements, I'm looking to record OTA, ATSC High-Def signals and analog cable... based on that I think I might be able to get the KWorld card to work, might spring for a Hauppage HVR-1600 as a second card since it has a hardware encoder. Any other cards you think would work better?

Again, sorry for the misunderstanding, I thought QAM tuning was what I needed to record the basic cable channels.

[g808]

You could get a Hauppauge HVR-1600 card. It has one hardware encoding analog tuner and one OTA HD tuner. Or got with one good hardware encoding analog card (ex. Hauppauge PVR-150) and one HD card (AverMedia A180, Fusion5, etc). If you need QAM, then I'd recommend a Fusion5 card or USB tuner. I really like my HDHomeRun: dual QAM or OTA tuners for $170. Plus the HDHomeRun is a networked device, meaning all PC's can leverage them if needed. I have mine recording QAM via BTV with help from BTV-Externinator.