Success - HDTV on ~relatively~ low end hardware.

[cmcquistion]

When BTV 4 was announced and HDTV support was coming, I was very excited to jump on board, but I was unsure if my current system was powerful enough to support it.

My system is composed of:
Athlon 2800+ (Socket 754 Sempron @ 1.6 GHz)
Zalman 7000 heatsink (temp controlled by BIOS)
DFI NF3 250GB motherboard
512 MB PC3200
250 GB Samsung HD and 200 GB Samsung HD in Dynamic disk configuration
with 10 GB for Windows and remainder for shared Media (Video, etc)
Geforce 6200 AGP (lowly 64 bit, 128 MB variety)
Hauppauge PVR500 and ATI Theatre 550 for three TV inputs
Seasonic S12-330 PSU
Windows XP Pro, BTV 4.1, Nvidia DVD decoder (although other decoders work fine)

My system just barely met Snapstream's recommended hardware configuration. I searched the forum and didn't find any posts of anyone using my particular level of CPU or video card, reporting success with HDTV.

I decided to take a chance and order the Dvico Fusion 5 Lite HDTV bundle from Snapstream. I got it last week, installed everything with the latest drivers from Dvico and I was stunned by the picture quality and smoothness of the system. It doesn't appear to be much more taxing on the system than standard definition TV. My only hitch was that I'm about 18-26 miles from the OTA HDTV stations, so I was only able to pick up a few of them with the supplied antenna, which is not designed for such long distances, it turned out. I bought a WINEGARD SS-2000 from Newegg (~$100) and I can now pick up more stations than I even knew were available, and I haven't even mounted and aimed it, yet. It is just sitting on the floor, next to the HTPC, pointed in generally the right direction.

We watched a few shows in HD, last night, and were floored by the quality. My wife said "This is like a movie!"

[pwlong]

Glad to hear it's working for you! I haven't yet made the plunge to get an HD tuner card, but am planning on the same on (Fusion 5 Lite).

Can you comment on the signal strength difference between the Philips(?) included with the SnapStream bundle and the Winegard? Is the Winegard antenna powered or anything special, or does it just work better?

Can't wait to try out OTA HD, just wanna have the proper antenna.

[cmcquistion]

The Wineguard antenna has a bundled preamp and it is MUCH more powerful than the Phillips. The Phillips probably works fine, if you're close enough and unobstructed, but I am a little too far away, or something.

[pwlong]

Okay - the preamp makes sense that it would deliver a sharper signal, particularly for spotty reception areas. Thanks to you, I've now got a backup plan in case my non-powered Zenith delivers less than acceptable results.

Thanks again for your posting.

[ZetaVu]

You may think your system is low end, but it is a big upgrade to mine. I've got a slower processor, non directx9 graphics card, slightly more but slower memory, and I've been using HD for a couple months now. An occasional hiccup, but otherwise I am very happy with my system (see sig)

[cmcquistion]

That's great to know. When I was looking for HDTV hardware requirements and success stories, I had a hard time finding them, except for people with high(er) end hardware. I'm glad you chimed in. It is good to know that HDTV is possible on a system like yours.

[ZetaVu]

Key point, need to use the ati decoder with the ati 7500, other decoders are choppy, that's how you get away with the undersized system. Same with nvidia, I can use an fx5200 card but only with purevideo decoder.

[pwlong]

The PureVideo decoder runs like, what, $40? Does the ATI encoder cost anything?

[cmcquistion]

Originally Posted by pwlong

The PureVideo decoder runs like, what, $40? Does the ATI encoder cost anything?

The NVIDIA Purevideo decoder is $20-30, depending on version. If you use want 5.1 audio decoding and don't use SPDIF pass-through, you'll need the $30 version. If you use SPDIF pass-through, like me, you can use the $20 version.

Most retail built-by-ATI cards come with the ATI DVD Decoder. If you don't have it, or you lost it, like me, you can buy the MMC 8.1 + DVD decoder CD for $13 from ATI.

[pwlong]

Okay, thanks for the info -- neither of those really break the bank, considering what we're all spending on hardware.

So which is preferred at this point in time - for HD playback? Does it really make a difference? I suppose the nvidia vs. ati debate for quality of HD playback is kinda like a Coke-vs-Pepsi, Ford-vs-Chevy argument.

[cmcquistion]

Yeah, it really depends on your system. I've seen threads from ATI video card owners that say that the ATI decoder works best for them and Nvidia video card owners that say the Nvidia decoder works best for them. Others have more luck with Cyberlink or Intervideo decoders. I used to be one of them, but one of the BTV updates fixed the stuttering problems I was having with the Nvidia decoder, previously.

[ZetaVu]

I use the ati decoder with my ati card, it gives better SD video and without it I cannot play HD. I use the purevideo with my fx5200, sd is ok on any decoder, but need it for HD.

If you have newer cards, you may not need these decoders, but they are necessary in my opinion for older or less expensive cards. You shouldn't try to use ati decoder on nvidia cards and visa versa (although I really haven't tried)

[cmcquistion]

I played with my decoders last night and noticed that the Snapstream Video/SP decoder was as good or better than all my other decoders on SD and HD. This was with my Geforce 6200.

[dallas2727]

My system is VERY close to the original posters, and I can also play HD fine up to 720p. 1080i has slight but annoying motion blur/stutter.

athlon 2500/333
6200 agp
Purevideo
Sata 250GB
BTV4.1

[ZetaVu]

Originally Posted by cmcquistion

I played with my decoders last night and noticed that the Snapstream Video/SP decoder was as good or better than all my other decoders on SD and HD. This was with my Geforce 6200.

Then it looks like the 5x00 series are borderline and benefit from the purevideo but the 6x00 and up work well with any decoder.

I'm curious if anyone is uding some of the other ati cards (8x00, 9xx0) and how the ati decoder compares to the snapstream.