HD-PVR System Requirements

[Wolfie351]

FYI for those with older agp systems: I got my $150 (Tiger Direct) refurbished P4 2.0ghz IBM Netvista maching (see sig) working great while playing back HD-PVR files. Instead of buying a new system, I took a chance with the Asus AH3450 half height agp video card (never had good luck with ATI agp cards) and it worked right out of the box. CPU is running around 10% while playing HD-PVR files, single cable connection to TV (DVI -> HDMI) and I couldn't be happier.

[tscales]

The 3450 is a nice card. I have the 4550 in a machine and it works great too. As long as you can offload the h.264 decompression, the CPU should be fine.

[NickHark]

Originally Posted by Wolfie351

FYI for those with older agp systems: I got my $150 (Tiger Direct) refurbished P4 2.0ghz IBM Netvista maching (see sig) working great while playing back HD-PVR files. Instead of buying a new system, I took a chance with the Asus AH3450 half height agp video card (never had good luck with ATI agp cards) and it worked right out of the box. CPU is running around 10% while playing HD-PVR files, single cable connection to TV (DVI -> HDMI) and I couldn't be happier.

What model NetVista?

XP?

Sounds verrrrrrry interesting for link.

[Wolfie351]

Originally Posted by NickHark

What model NetVista?

XP?

Sounds verrrrrrry interesting for link.

Yeah, XP Pro and a very clean install. I'm using Netvista model 6790, but faster models are available from TigerDirect for $150. Add the $45 half height ATI card and you've got yourself a very cheap link machine that will play anything you throw at it. There are some cons though...fan noise might be too much for a bedroom system running 24/7, no sata and of course, you're stuck with agp for a little while longer.

[Octavean]

I might try this thanks for the info. I'm running a "Windows Home Server" now on what was may main system way back when. It has the following specs:

AMD Athlon XP 3000+
ASUS A7N8X Deluxe
Corsair 512MB DDR1 400 PC3200 (one DIMM went bad from the 2x512MB kit so I have to RMA it)
ATI AIW 9800 Pro (it was already installed but not needed for WHS other then the install)
WD 120GB HDD
Seagate 750GB HDD

I was thinking of just running the latest 4.9 version of BeyondTV on it with the Hauppauge HD PVR and scheduling recordings using my iPod Touch via web admin. I could then access the recordings from any system in the house. Although, I guess I could connect the WHS directly to an HDTV and access recordings and live TV thAT way too if I upgrade the video card.
I already have an extra Sapphire HD 3470 card but thats PCIe so I'll need an AGP card.

[rxnelson]

Tried it as well....with good results
I got the same card on Newegg which was out of stock the day after I bought it. I must have gotten the last one. I did have about 6-8 hours of tinkering with it off and on. I went from the hdpvr test file bouncing 100% cpu to around 10% CPU (arcsoft decoder) use on a P42.8HT. The fix for me seemed to be an "agpfix" on the ati web site. It wasn't very specific. I think it said it fixed directx issues. I am running the drivers that came on the disk. That was another mystery as it seems the agp drivers aren't updated. I went to the ATI site and downloaded the HD 3000 series driver but it keeps saying I didn't have the hardware. Must be PCIE drivers? Anyway, good luck if any else tries to extend the life of that old system.

[TimW]

Just make sure you use the AGP hotfix drivers and you should be OK. I did the same thing. The ones you see easily on the ATI site are PCI-E drivers. You have to search for the agp hotfix drivers.

[rxnelson]

One other note if you get this card. It didn't matter to me but it rendered the PCI slot next to the AGP slot useless. I guess low profile cards are designed to have the molex connector like this? I heard some chatter somewhere about a flat molex cable somewhere but didn't bother since that slot was already vacant.

Now I am curious how low you can go on CPU with this card. I have an old AMD 1.1 or 1.3 gathering dust. If I get bored this weekend I'll give it a whirl.