SageTV HD Media Extender

[DigitalMan]

I attached a picture of task manager performance while I copied a file. This is on a Dell Inspiron 8100 p3 notebook with a 100mbps internal network adapter.

It's a pretty sluggish computer generally, but reading and writing to a server (with gigabit on the server) can push it pretty close to the limit.

And this is actually going through 2 switches to get to the server.

[bialio]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

The sooner more detail and pictures arrive, the more hype and demand it creates for the product (ala iPhone).

Lets just hope there isn't a $200 price drop on the HD MVP in January. Or firmware updates that render it a brick.

I used to think Apple was pretty cool. Now I just think they are a bunch of greedy b*^(ards.

[hemicuda]

it just occurred to me... a mid-November roll-out would make for a nice b-day present to myself for being patient. I hope they make the "deadline" this time.

[Destro]

What are the CPU requirements for the Sage TV server when recording/playing HD content? I am thinking about getting one of the new Hauppauge HD cards with QAM support along with the HD Media Extender when it's available.

My server currently is a Pentium 4, 2.4 Ghz, 1 GB RAM. Windows XP Pro. Geforce 6200.

Update : I just read that it requires a 3 Ghz CPU, unless you have a video card with "DXVA". Does this apply to Media Extenders, since the video is being piped across the network, instead of displayed locally? How can you tell if a card supports DXVA?

[ke6guj]

Originally Posted by Destro

What are the CPU requirements for the Sage TV server when recording/playing HD content? I am thinking about getting one of the new Hauppauge HD cards with QAM support along with the HD Media Extender when it's available.

There should be no major CPU requirements needed to play HD content on the HD Media Extender. Just the HardDrive and network throughput to send the content from the sever to the HDextender. But until Sage releases it, or detailed info on it, we won't know for sure. But basically, extenders or clients do not need Server CPU horsepower in order to play natively-supported content. Now, if the extender can't play it natively and needs the server to transcode it on the fly, then plan on needing some CPU horsepower. Your 2.4G P4 may or not be enough to transcode on the fly.

Update : I just read that it requires a 3 Ghz CPU, unless you have a video card with "DXVA". Does this apply to Media Extenders, since the video is being piped across the network, instead of displayed locally? How can you tell if a card supports DXVA?

Nope, doesn't normally apply to extenders. That just says that if you have a slow video card, you need a 3Ghz-class machine. Any decent video card is gonna have some hardware-assist (DXVA), and the better the card, the less CPU needed.

[Mahoney]

Anyone seen this?

http://www.trustedreviews.com/networ...-Source-SDK/p1

Looks interesting.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Mahoney

Anyone seen this?

http://www.trustedreviews.com/networ...-Source-SDK/p1

Looks interesting.

Very interesting indeed!

Looks like a good move to offer an open SDK.

Means that SageTV, if their HD extender is not based on this, could offer SageTV on more than on HD extender hardware.

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by Mahoney

Anyone seen this?

http://www.trustedreviews.com/networ...-Source-SDK/p1

Looks interesting.

I noticed the retail price of 129.99 pounds or ~$265 USD. Hopefully we can get something below the $200 price point to make this truly worth buying in all the rooms in my house!

[hedlung]

Originally Posted by ke6guj

Nope, doesn't normally apply to extenders. That just says that if you have a slow video card, you need a 3Ghz-class machine. Any decent video card is gonna have some hardware-assist (DXVA), and the better the card, the less CPU needed.

That, on the other hand is the issue if you are using the videocard in the server, or am I wrong on this? I mean, I'm about to build what I have understood is called a "headless" server - a server in the garage, (almost) without a videocard, and a couple of extenders in the house at each monitor.

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by hedlung

That, on the other hand is the issue if you are using the videocard in the server, or am I wrong on this? I mean, I'm about to build what I have understood is called a "headless" server - a server in the garage, (almost) without a videocard, and a couple of extenders in the house at each monitor.

Server doesn't use dxva. get a cheap card.


B

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

I noticed the retail price of 129.99 pounds or ~$265 USD.

No, if it's 130GBP it will probably be 130USD - Brits always get ripped on hardware prices...

[Sparhawk6]

I wouldn't touch that Dlink thing. No component out!

[gblinckmann]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

Must support for me to buy:

1) AAC(5.1) proper decoding in MP4 containers (mencoder, nero command line encoder and mp4box), thats my main method of encoding HDTV streams.

2) Raw AC3 and DTS decoding.

3) Capable of outputting full 1080p. I don't currently have a 1080p TV but I'm sure I will someday.

4) Price, as of right now I have a working client in my living room. So this isnt really a need. I would definantly not pay over $300.

I would also like mkv support, but not absolutely necessary.

Oh I'd also like it, if it will output at 50Hz (in addition to 60Hz) I have some rips from PAL DVD's.

I'm also hoping for the AAC 5.1 decoding (in addition to everything else that you've pointed out), but does anything out there really do that yet? I've only seen AAC two channel decoding on the media players that I've seen.

[mohanman]

Hey guys was it mentioned anywhere whether the HD extender would come with a built in dvd player?
Thanks
Mo

[stanger89]

I don't recall seeing any indication that it would have a built in DVD player.

[tipstir]

Originally Posted by Mahoney

Anyone seen this?

http://www.trustedreviews.com/networ...-Source-SDK/p1

Looks interesting.

I'll buy a couple if they can iron out the bugs it would be perfect to replace the aging MVP..

[sandor]

it's only 802.11 g - that means it would be out for me. i can stream full-resolution HD over 802.11 n to Sage on my macbook, doesn't work nearly as well via 802.11 g....

"N" would mean i could mount the extender behind a flat screen mounted to the wall in my bedroom.

[tipstir]

Originally Posted by sandor

it's only 802.11 g - that means it would be out for me. i can stream full-resolution HD over 802.11 n to Sage on my macbook, doesn't work nearly as well via 802.11 g....

"N" would mean i could mount the extender behind a flat screen mounted to the wall in my bedroom.

G Turbo MIMO with two AMPs is speedy enough 125Mbps.. N still not standard night much faster unless everything is N @ 300Mbps. The 4th Generation of N is what I am waiting for rated at 836Mbps.

[flavius]

Don't hold your breath about 802.11n getting finalized anytime soon.

[sandor]

Originally Posted by flavius

Don't hold your breath about 802.11n getting finalized anytime soon.

i've been using a draft N DLink 655 for about 6 months now (been through 4 firmware update i think?) it is a beautiful thing, i have it set up N and G, and still sustain about 6.8 MB/s writes and about 7.5 reads from anywhere in my house. The Linksys G router it replaced could only sustain about 1.8 MB/s write and about 2 MB/s read - worse, it seemed pretty bad for streaming media, i couldn't even watch a ripped DVD over the network (only about 5 mb/s)


the draft N products just seem so much more robust than even the best G products, and screwing with MIMO G just seems retarded at this point in regards to needing unique routers and network cards for a non-standard that will be EOL as soon as N is in full swing.