Sage Client-Minimum Hardware Specs?

[dj7675]

I searched for the minimum hardware specs but didn't turn anything up.

I am needing to know what the minimum hardware specs are for the Sage Client. I have a few P200 systems with 256 RAM around running Windows 98 and was hoping they might get by.
For a client video card, what is the best back for your buck card with s-video out and also one with component out?

Thanks for any help....

Darin

[mikbro]

Hey Darin!

The requirements for the client are the same as SageTV (excepting of course the need for ecnoder cards).

http://www.sage.tv/requirements.html

Since the video is displayed with software decoding, it is very dependent on meeting the minimum specs for the CPU horsepower.

[dj7675]

Thanks....I thought that maybe it would be less since it wasn't doing any recording....

Any thoughts on a good bang for your buck video card with s-video and also one with component?

Thanks again Mike. You have been so helpful.

[mikbro]

For a card with component output (without the need for a separate transcoder) I would suggest an ATI card (I use a 9700). The component output is excellent. The composite and s-video is unacceptable however. If you are looking for just composite or s-video I have had a lot of success with Nvidia 5200 series (~$75). I have heard others like their Matrox cards, but I believe the card they usually refer to is no longer in production.

[Opus4]

Originally posted by dj7675
Thanks....I thought that maybe it would be less since it wasn't doing any recording....

Actually, recording uses less cpu power, since Sage supports only hardware mpeg encoders at this time. Playback decoding can be hardware or software based, depending on the decoding card you use. The Hauppauge 350 & Sigma Xcard use hardware decoding. I use an Xcard to payback the video on a P2-400... but I'm not sure I would want to bother trying it on a P200 -- it will just be _such_ a slow system for everything you try to do on it.

Here's one thought, though: if you plan to set up a Sage system, buy what you plan to use regardless of the computer system. If it doesn't work on the slower system you want to try it in, simply use it all in a faster/newer system. Of course, you have to be willing to spend the money on the faster system if the slower one fails your usability test...

- Andy

[dj7675]

That is a good idea.....

Thanks again for the input.

Darin