How fast a cpu is needed?

[rnewman]

I have a Sagetv server:
AMD Athlon 64 3400+
and gigabit network

Very good for mediamvp for:
Hauppauge's PVR-500,PVR-350
AVerMedia MCE 500

ok good for mediamvp for:
HDhome Run

no good for mediamvp for:
Hauppauge's HD-PVR

STX-HD100 & TV Client seem ok

So what do I need for my Sagetv server
to transcode h.264 to view on 2 different mediamvp??
Thanks,
Ray

[autoboy]

I would say a basic Quad would do the job. You might get away with a fast Intel Dual core in the high 2.X range. There is also the Tri core AMD chips that would work as well.

My suggestion and probably cheaper and less headache than rebuilding a new server, replace those MVPs with HD extenders. By the time you buy the new motherboard, the quad, the ram, and get it all installed you would be in for $400 easy.

[mikejaner]

I agree. By the time you spend the money, you could have bought two HD Extenders easily. Also, even if you could build a fast enough box for that price, you are still watching the video transcoded, which is degraded somewhat, and subject to whatever quirks the transcoding process runs into, like lack of cpu time during a windows random event etc.....

[matt91]

Wasn't there just a thread the other day where someone noted that the transcode.exe program isn't able to run multi-threaded? I think the recommended solution in that case was to get the HD extender and leave the server alone.

[rnewman]

Watching an analog recording on HD extender hooked to a HD TV
is VERY bad. nothing like HD TV connected to HD STB watching
the same analog channel.
Have to check out different combos.
Thanks,
Ray

[autoboy]

I don't understand your statement.

[gjvrieze]

Originally Posted by rnewman

Watching an analog recording on HD extender hooked to a HD TV
is VERY bad. nothing like HD TV connected to HD STB watching
the same analog channel.
Have to check out different combos.
Thanks,
Ray

I run an 8 port amp off my cable drop then off to a 3 port splitter behind the server to feed the 3 ATI 550Pro tuners that I have, and analog looks way better on the HD100 then the line going to my Cableco's Motorola DCT6200 analog tuner....

What analog tuners do you use in your server?

[rnewman]

I four way split my cable
2 way spliter to 2 analog TVs
2 way splitter to Hauppauge's PVR-500 & AVerMedia MCE 500
2 way splitter to two input hdhomerun
HD STB
low loss splitters

I do get some crosstalk from local oscillators
on weak channels on dual tuner cards

But HD just magnifies noise.

I guess I should replace my mediaMVP with STX-HD100
is the best solution in the long run because I will replace my 480i tv
with HD sometimes in the future.

Thanks,
Ray

[autoboy]

Ok, yeah, so i totally did not understand your statement about analog channels. I'm glad i didn't respond. Just get those HD extenders ...

[autoboy]

Looks like transcoding is single threaded so a quad will not help according to reports from others. Even 2.4Ghz Core 2s are not handling even a single transcode. Best bet is to get the HD extender.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by autoboy

Looks like transcoding is single threaded so a quad will not help according to reports from others. Even 2.4Ghz Core 2s are not handling even a single transcode. Best bet is to get the HD extender.

Yep. Full clients or STX-HD100's are the only way to use the HD-PVR at this point. That is not to say that Sage won't get it figured out. I have 3 MVP's and am hoping that some tweaking or multi-threading will get it figured out, but as or right now the MVP's are useless when it comes to the HD-PVR.

My plan is only use an HD-PVR to get the HD channels I can't pull in OTA. My locals I will pull in using my HDHomerun. This way I can still watch the bulk of what we record on the MediaMVP if needed, but I can then regulate our DiscoveryHD and ESPNHD to my HD100's.

[rnewman]

Same here, really need to assign what tuners are for what playback device.
That would have to include folders.
I guess I may have to do two different SageTV servers
one for analog
one for hd?
But then HD needs to play analog as well.
Need more options in Sagetv...............
Ray