PVR-500 or Nvidia Dual TV in a P3@1GHz?

[Fastrack]

Hi all,

I've been using a PVR-250 and a PIII-500 for 2.5 years now using WinTVCap and Zoom player, but I would like to upgrade to more tuners.

The machine I have to replace my current PVR is a P3@1Ghz.

My question is, will the Nvidia Dual TV work? I know the PVR-500 will since the PVR250 works like a charm (I can record in the background etc while playing a video in zoom player). However I would like dual tuners.

I tried out the SageTV demo with the PVR-250 & a PVR-150 and it works like a Champ. I've very impressed. I also tried GB-PVR.

Thanks,

Ben

[olyar15]

I have the dualtv and it works fine in Sage. It is a hardware encoder so the cpu really doesn't matter for recording shows.

[Fastrack]

Originally Posted by olyar15

I have the dualtv and it works fine in Sage. It is a hardware encoder so the cpu really doesn't matter for recording shows.

Olyar15, I see your in Canada. Did you order from Nvidia? If so did they ship via UPS? What were the charges coming into Canada...

Oh I noticed it's hardware encoding, but I also noticed they have a recommended system requirement of P41.6Ghz, which is why I was wondering...

[olyar15]

I ordered mine from PCAlchemy. The price was similar to the Nvidia website after factoring in shipping. Mine was shipped via UPS, and I cannot recall what the brokerage fee was, but it wasn't too bad (for UPS).

I think the recommended specs that Nvidia gives is for the playback. If the sage server is being used just to record the shows, and playback will be on another client machine, then I don't think the CPU power is all that important.

[Fastrack]

Originally Posted by olyar15

I ordered mine from PCAlchemy. The price was similar to the Nvidia website after factoring in shipping. Mine was shipped via UPS, and I cannot recall what the brokerage fee was, but it wasn't too bad (for UPS).

I think the recommended specs that Nvidia gives is for the playback. If the sage server is being used just to record the shows, and playback will be on another client machine, then I don't think the CPU power is all that important.

I don't have an option to run the Client/Server version (I'm still evaluating PVR products... but Sage looks good so far). I have to control my STB box and it's cable is run into the living room with the HTPC. Currently this box does everything, but I'm wondering if the quality of the Nvidia DualTV is that much better then the PVR-500.

And of course will it work in a P3@1Ghz while watching another show using the PVR-250. Etc..

[Polypro]

No, the PQ of the DualTV is not going to make you go "HOLY COW!", compared to the 500 (assuming you have a Type "A" PVR500). Maybe if you were running MCE, and could get to the profile adjustments, etc... it would, but with Sage it doesn't. I currently have one of each in my box, using RF from the wall. A Type "A" PVR500 along with the HauppaugeTweaker tool is still a good card.

P

[Fastrack]

Originally Posted by Polypro

No, the PQ of the DualTV is not going to make you go "HOLY COW!", compared to the 500 (assuming you have a Type "A" PVR500). Maybe if you were running MCE, and could get to the profile adjustments, etc... it would, but with Sage it doesn't. I currently have one of each in my box, using RF from the wall. A Type "A" PVR500 along with the HauppaugeTweaker tool is still a good card.

P

Ok cool, I have yet to see which version the computer store near me carries ($169Cdn... so it's a good price). If it's TYpe 'B' i've read not to touch it!

[Fastrack]

Originally Posted by Fastrack

Ok cool, I have yet to see which version the computer store near me carries ($169Cdn... so it's a good price). If it's TYpe 'B' i've read not to touch it!

Well I was all set to place an order for a PVR500 until I read reports that the card conflicts with VIA chipsets. The MB in this machine is a cuv4x with a southbridge VT82C686. Anyone heard anything like this?