Total newbie configuration question

[jqweber]

I would like to put together a system that supports 3 TVs. I figure the SageTV Media Center package on my "server" computer (which will run my big living room TV), and then 2 Media Extenders for the other TVs. I will put in 3 capture devices (2 WinTV-PVR-150s and a WinTV-PVR-TV-USB2 external) on this "server". My questions are :
1) Can I watch 3 different live shows on the 3 TVs simultaneously (assuming no recording is in progress) ?
2) Will I be OK using DishNetwork (preferable) or DirecTV? (Got cable now, want to change...)
3) Is my "server" powerful enough -- Athlon 64 3200+ (2GHz, 2000MHz System Bus), 1 Gig RAM, Nvidia 5200 PCI, XP Home.
Thank you -- I just wanna be sure that I have a good chance of getting this running well before shelling out the $ for the SageTV software and hardware

[Apap]

Your server should be have enough power to do the job if you are only doing Standard Definition TV.
Answers

1) yes
2)Pretty much any provider will do. With either satellite provider you will need to connect their box to your tuner input(Svideo is best) and control the box with either Ir blaster or Serial port. With cable it depends on how many analogue channels your tuner cards can receive and if thats enough for your requirements.You can control your cable box with an IR blaster too.
3)Your server should work just fine for SD but you might need to upgrade the Processor and Video card if you go to HD in the future.

Good Luck
Apap

[BFisher]

I have a similar setup... except I made my server "headless". This means I don't watch anything through it... I use MVP extenders for every TV. I decided to go this route because the last thing I wanted was an accidental problem on the server while it's recording one of my wife's shows. The server just sits there recording stuff and serving it up to other TVs... works well!