General

[Shane-O]

Ok so I am ready to jump into some slightly newer technology now that I have an HD tv. I want to build a computer solely for DVR functions, Music output to stereo, Pandora, and Netflix etc. I have read that windows Media center does pretty good, and there are other software options. Heres a few (Alot) of questions.

1: What system requirements would you recommend. Ram, processor etc?

2: What TV capture card? I don't have cable or satellite, just digital tv.

3: Wireless keyboard with a touch pad? Or wireless keyboard and wireless mouse? Or PC remote that controls the capture card?

4: What software?

5: Sound card, which one? I would like to be able to send surround sound signal to my stereo receiver.

6: Video card advice? I plan on putting a Blu-Ray player in the computer itself.

7: All that and spending as little as possible and still work well. I dont want to buy top of the line stuff, I just dont need a lot of extra features that I wont use. I am not afraid to buy good equipment, just dont need the greatest out there.

[philosophia]

TV and sound cards aren't my forte, but I can give you advice on the other stuff.

If the computer is for media use only, you don't really need a super El destructor computer. Something like a moderate dual core with decent motherboard and a couple gigabytes of RAM should go pretty far. Here's an example of a cheap git-r-done type of set up:

BIOSTAR TA75M FM1 motherboard
AMD A4-3400 Llano 2.7GHz Dual-core APU
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM

The motherboard I put in because it's cheap and has decent ratings (not the best), the processor essentially has a graphics card so you don't need to buy a separate one, and the RAM is from a brand that is pretty good quality and a good warranty.

I would personally go with a keyboard/touch pad combo if you don't mind paying for it. I know for a fact that using a mouse on a couch is a pain.

[the_chemist]

Micro-ATX or ITX form factor motherboard. Check around for Barebones units that fit what you want.

An intel chip to handle the graphics and processing, or an AMD and separate graphics card.

I use windows media center, it may the best out there, but its far from perfect. It has a lot of remote control options and is easy to synch up. So get a remote and receiver too.

[Jaan]

I've been building DVR computers for oh, maybe 10 years now. I've been getting away from using the computer to record live TV simply because it's not worth it anymore. Between Hulu, Comcasts own on-demand, Netflix and Bit Torrent (EZTV!) I just don't need to do it myself anymore.

My current set up is as follows;

- Store bought HP P6724y (got it in trade for work)
Intel Pentium dual core E5700
4GB PC3-10600

The only upgrades are 8GB speedboost and (this one is important)

Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 video card

Newegg.com - XFX HD-667X-ZHF3 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

The card made all the difference. I use it to drive two monitors, a regular 23" computer monitor and a 40" TV via HDMI cable. The monitors mirror each other. I have the computer monitor on a KVM switch with another computer which is my web surfing computer and uses dual monitors. I know weird set up.

With the card upgrade, which was the best bang for the buck, I can play anything smoothly and also play games like Modern Warfare 3 pretty smoothly and with decent resolution. Of course it will also play the terabyte of so of saved stuff I have and all my MP3's through the surround sound system.

For Blu-Ray I actually opted to just get an off the shelf stand alone player. A little Samsung that cost less than $100. I wanted a no BS sit down and watch option. Also, it will play Netflix and Pandora radio AND will play any kind of video file from a USB jump drive or disk. That's very convenient and a good option for secondary TV's as well. It's nice to be able to say, download the new Sherlock season from EZTV, put it on a 16gig drive and bring it to my downstairs TV and watch it whenever.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked but it's the solution that I've found works best for me now. Through Bit Torrent everything I want to watch, current or past and from any country, is right that at a mouse click. Between that and legal content I'm all set.

[Shane-O]

Originally Posted by Jaan

I've been building DVR computers for oh, maybe 10 years now. I've been getting away from using the computer to record live TV simply because it's not worth it anymore. Between Hulu, Comcasts own on-demand, Netflix and Bit Torrent (EZTV!) I just don't need to do it myself anymore.

My current set up is as follows;

- Store bought HP P6724y (got it in trade for work)
Intel Pentium dual core E5700
4GB PC3-10600

The only upgrades are 8GB speedboost and (this one is important)

Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 video card

Newegg.com - XFX HD-667X-ZHF3 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

The card made all the difference. I use it to drive two monitors, a regular 23" computer monitor and a 40" TV via HDMI cable. The monitors mirror each other. I have the computer monitor on a KVM switch with another computer which is my web surfing computer and uses dual monitors. I know weird set up.

With the card upgrade, which was the best bang for the buck, I can play anything smoothly and also play games like Modern Warfare 3 pretty smoothly and with decent resolution. Of course it will also play the terabyte of so of saved stuff I have and all my MP3's through the surround sound system.

For Blu-Ray I actually opted to just get an off the shelf stand alone player. A little Samsung that cost less than $100. I wanted a no BS sit down and watch option. Also, it will play Netflix and Pandora radio AND will play any kind of video file from a USB jump drive or disk. That's very convenient and a good option for secondary TV's as well. It's nice to be able to say, download the new Sherlock season from EZTV, put it on a 16gig drive and bring it to my downstairs TV and watch it whenever.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked but it's the solution that I've found works best for me now. Through Bit Torrent everything I want to watch, current or past and from any country, is right that at a mouse click. Between that and legal content I'm all set.

Thats the exact info I was looking for! Your reason for setting it up that way are the same as mine, I just want to DVR live TV for my wife, so I dont have to constantly torrent stuff for her. A couple of questions though.

What software you use? Windows Media?

What exactly is 8gb speed boost? Is that where you use some thumb drive memory to supplement system memory?

Recommendation for a TV tuner card? I was looking at the Hauppauge mid level with remote control. Newegg.com - Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/ClearQAM/NTSC TV Tuner PCI w/Remote 1199 PCI Interface

Sound card recommendations to output to Surround sound to my Stereo Receiver? I have one of these I do not use for my laptop, is the sound quality from USB good? Will this work well? Newegg.com - Creative 70SB109500000 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro

Thanks everyone for the help so far!

[Jaan]

Are you going to be watching TV over the air, or do you have cable? Why not just get a Tivo box?

I've used Hauppauge tuners in the past with fantastic results.

[uv_halo]

Back in July, I put together this system based upon a formal recommendation from RenethX on AVS Forums (He tests and recommends systems for HTPC use, I'd check him out):

• Case: Antec Fusion Remote Black
• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GMA-USB3
• CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core
• CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Vortex Plus RR-VTPS-28PK-R1 92mm Long life sleeve CPU Cooler
• Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100326L Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5
• SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC (For Operating System and Apps)
• HDD: SAMSUNG EcoGreen F2 HD103SI 1TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s (For recorded TV)
• Video Capture: Ceton InfiniTV 4 Cablecard Ready Tuner
• ODD: Samsung SH-222B DVD-RW

Peripherals:

• IR Receiver: Microsoft Ehome Receiver (the one included in the case sucks but, I like the VFD display)
• Remote: Logitech Harmony 800 Remote
• Keyboard: Lenovo Multi-Media Remote with Keyboard

Software:

• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
• TV: Windows Media Center
• DVD/BLu-Ray: PowerDVD 11 Ultra (via WMC plugin)
• Other: MyMovies and AnyDVDHD

This system works perfectly! Menus are snappy, the system is quiet and stable. I did have to physically disable the IR receiver in the case though.

With this system, I can:

• Record up to four FIOS HD channels at once (including premium content)
• Watch/Listen to Internet content
• Playback ripped (ISO) Blu-Ray and DVD movies (that reside on my Windows Home Server)
• Control my audio system
• Control my projector (connected via HDMI)

My only disatisfaction is that the case doesn't have fan filters so, it requires a periodic opening and airdusting.

Given your particular interests I would recommend the following substitutions:

• Bluetooth or RF mini-keyboard with backlit keys (tons of choices thanks to the iPad, get the one that feels the best)
• a WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit (for the basic WMC remote, IR Receiver and ability to record one show, watch another)
• If you want to use a Harmony Remote (for multi-device control) get the standard HVR-2250, get a USB IR receiver (like mine or similar).

If you know you'll never be watching Blu-Rays, you can disregard the PowerDVD software as WMC can handle DVDs and the recorded TV.

If your stereo receiver accepts Optical SPDIF, you don't need a sound card at all (keep the sound digital/untouched from your HD receiver to the Audio Receiver).

Originally Posted by Shane-O

What exactly is 8gb speed boost? Is that where you use some thumb drive memory to supplement system memory?

Speedboost is the concept (Vista and 7 only) of using USB memory (good performing brand/model) as a cache (8GB in his case). It helps a bit if you're using just an HDD but, Windows disables/disallows it if you have an SSD (they are that much faster).

Originally Posted by Jaan

Are you going to be watching TV over the air, or do you have cable? Why not just get a Tivo box?

I've used Hauppauge tuners in the past with fantastic results.

One reason to avoid Tivo- Subscription Cost. Windows Media Center gets channel guide info for free.

[Shane-O]

Originally Posted by Jaan

Are you going to be watching TV over the air, or do you have cable? Why not just get a Tivo box?

I've used Hauppauge tuners in the past with fantastic results.

On air TV only. I want an all in one box to do everything for my entertainment center. Movies, online streaming, downloaded video and music. A Tivo box wont cut it.

uv halo, thanks for that breakdown. What amount of Ram is in that machine? I didnt see it listed.

[Jaan]

Originally Posted by Shane-O

On air TV only.

In that case you can do it cheep, and no worries about DRM or whatever. You won't even need that great of a computer either. Most basic run of the mill Best Buy computers can do it easily enough.

I'm on my media center computer now, watching on a 40 inch HDTV. It was a $400 off the shelf computer from Best Buy 8 months ago, with the addition of the video card I linked to above. She's never even hiccuped regardless of what kind of media I try to play on it (very large file blu-ray torrent rips for example) I have little doubt that with a Hauppauge TV tuner card such as this one would turn it into a darn good DVR as well;

Newegg.com - Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface

I'm always hesitant to recommend specific computers, things change way too quickly in the computer world. I'll look around though for a good place to start. Maybe tomorrow (c; I'm sure with the popularity of media center PC's there are probably some good off the shelf solutions for you too.

[Leafy]

In my mind you have 2 choices, boxee box which now sells a tv tuner add on and has wor will have the best tv integration going, you're not going to be building this baby. Or zbox nano, I have one of these because I wanted functionality like the normal internet and stuff that the zbox doesnt have. And we already have a dvr dvd player combo with a 150gig hard drive that we use for dvr so dvr isnt super important to me. I could set the computer up to work as a dvr, but getting the true HD signals (from antenna or otherwise) is just a huge hassle and I dont like the dvr programs I've seen so far. with the zbox nano, as long as you know how to install windows from a usb drive or sd card you're all set, since most dont have a disk drive (some do) and they dont come installed with windows. Mine is running tiny 7 at the moment and has no problems streaming 1080p from youtube or any other streaming source to our 42" tv.

The kicker in building your own or buying a non media pc is noise. I have a hard time building quiet computers that dont run into cooling issues (either they're quiet but over heat when streaming 1080p or gaming, or they sound like jet air planes but you could run benchmarks on them in 120* heat and be fine). Maybe its because I refuse to water cool or spend more than 50 bucks on a case. Maybe I get unclucky. Who knows, the zbox is very quiet and so are boxee boxes.