HTPC Sage Server build suggestions:

[MXMike]

Just moved into a new home and am planning to build my first HTPC and install Windows 7 64-bit and SageTV Server. I don't plan on subscribing to cable or satellite for now so it would be connected directly to an OTA antenna and a new 42" LG 1080P LCD.

The components below are all on sale at my local computer shop, just wondering if it will make a suitable HTPC to run SageTV?
I'm mainly concerned if the MoBo with onboard graphics (256MB Intel GMA X4500) and built in HDMI will be sufficient (some reviews seem to indicate it does fine for HTPC's), or would I be better off with another cheap mobo + video card?
This will just be used as a PVR with SageTV and for streaming media from my network, not gaming, so I'm trying to keep cost to a minimum but would like a reliable system. Any input/suggestions are appreciated.

• Nmedia HTPC-6000B Desktop Media Centre Case
  
• Gigabyte G41M-ES2H Motherboard
  
• Intel E5200 Dual Core CPU
  
• Hauppauge WINTV-HVR-1600 PCI TV Tuner
  
• Antec Earthwatts 380W Power Supply
  
• Western Digital WD15EADS Caviar Green 1.5TB SATA Hard Drive
  
• Liteon IHAS124 24X DVD Writer SATA
  
• OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

[pjpjpjpj]

I don't know what all of those components total up to (cost-wise), but since you are not planning on doing anything on the computer other than using it to run Sage, you could get a much less powerful PC and buy an HD extender for your TV. Besides allowing you to locate the server elsewhere (thus eliminating noise and aesthetic issues, and giving you the ability to control the whole thing with a TV-type remote), the extender does all the "heavy lifting". The amount of money you could save on not buying high-end components would probably be more than the cost of an extender.

And, as many around here will tell you, if you are OTA-only, check out the SiliconDust HD Homerun ("HDHR"). It's dual-digital-tuner (so you can watch one live show while recording another), works flawlessly with SageTV, and it's a network device so you can put it closer to your antenna (attic, upstairs closet, etc.) and reduce the length of signal-attenuating coax cable. Otherwise, you have to run coax cable from the antenna to the HTPC.

Just my $.02.

[SWKerr]

Thr Intel graphics are suspect but you can add a capable HDMI video card for $40 so it is relatively low risk. That is not a high end machine but is plenty good for SageTV. You have linked to NewEgg already so I am guessing you have priceded it by component and know what kind of deal you are getting.

If you decided to build I would swap out the mb\cpu for the $99 AMD X4 and a ATI 785G motherboard. Better value.

You would need to get a Remote as well. Any cheap MCE pack should work and you could also add a USB-UIRT and use any Universal remote with it. A good HTPC keyboard would also be a plus.
See Geektonic.com

The extender may be good but will lack full online and BluRay support.

[MXMike]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I don't know what all of those components total up to (cost-wise), but since you are not planning on doing anything on the computer other than using it to run Sage, you could get a much less powerful PC and buy an HD extender for your TV. Besides allowing you to locate the server elsewhere (thus eliminating noise and aesthetic issues, and giving you the ability to control the whole thing with a TV-type remote), the extender does all the "heavy lifting". The amount of money you could save on not buying high-end components would probably be more than the cost of an extender.

I have thought about doing it this way, but I like the idea of an upgradeable HTPC that has extra features over an extender, such as a card reader and optical media bay, which I will probably install a BluRay drive to in the future. I will still consider that route though. I can build the HTPC for around $500 since I already have some of the components leftover from my upgraded desktop, and I also already have an MCE remote.

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

And, as many around here will tell you, if you are OTA-only, check out the SiliconDust HD Homerun ("HDHR"). It's dual-digital-tuner (so you can watch one live show while recording another), works flawlessly with SageTV, and it's a network device so you can put it closer to your antenna (attic, upstairs closet, etc.) and reduce the length of signal-attenuating coax cable. Otherwise, you have to run coax cable from the antenna to the HTPC.

Just my $.02.

The HD Homerun sounds very cool, I hadn't heard of that and will have to look into it. Thanks.

Originally Posted by SWKerr

Thr Intel graphics are suspect but you can add a capable HDMI video card for $40 so it is relatively low risk. That is not a high end machine but is plenty good for SageTV. You have linked to NewEgg already so I am guessing you have priceded it by component and know what kind of deal you are getting.

If you decided to build I would swap out the mb\cpu for the $99 AMD X4 and a ATI 785G motherboard. Better value.

You would need to get a Remote as well. Any cheap MCE pack should work and you could also add a USB-UIRT and use any Universal remote with it. A good HTPC keyboard would also be a plus.
See Geektonic.com

The extender may be good but will lack full online and BluRay support.

Thanks for the suggestion. I just linked to NewEgg since it had a good description of the products with reviews, but I don't plan on buying from them. I'll look into the mb\cpu you suggested and like I said I already have a MCE pack, but I might want to add a USB-UIRT so I can use it with a harmony remote in the future.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by SWKerr

The Intel graphics are suspect ...

I agree, even to the point of suggesting a NVidia base MB, if you have to use a Intel CPU.

See my servers, all 3 can play back mpeg2 based HD, with the on board GPU.

[MXMike]

Well I just calculated the cost of the HD Homerun + an HD200 Extender shipped to Canada to be around $430 (CAD). I like this idea and understand the advantage of a shorter coax run, but my antenna will be mounted on the roof directly above the HTPC, so the cable will probably only be around 20ft anyway. I also don't like that I won't be able to tune into analogue channels using the HD Homerun, correct?

My HTPC build above will now cost around $450 (CAD) since some of the components have already dropped in price. So it seems to make sense to go with the HTPC. If the integrated GPU doesn't handle 1080P over HDMI well (which reviews indicate it does), then I can add a Radeon HD 4550 for $30 and I understand that card will be fine? I also looked into the AMD X4 and ATI 785G motherboard but that will add over $100 to my build and probably won't improve SageTV's performance too much over the e5200, will it?.

[MXMike]

So I had almost convinced myself to buy the setup I described earlier but did a little more research just before I hit the final 'confirm' button and discovered that while the G41 mb chipset with X4500 inegrated gpu may be adequite for a HTPC, the gpu doesn't use hardware decoding for everything and passes the load onto the cpu. If it had a newer G45 chipset I probably would have gone for it. Plus the mb only has 1 pci-e slot, which really limits future upgrades if I decide I wanted to get a better gpu + a pci-e tuner card. I also read a few reports of the HPR-1600 not being able to pull in as many digital ota stations as newer generation tuner cards like the HVR-2250 or the 950q, so now I'm questioning that component too. I got a little too excited with the limited time sale prices on these components but I haven't even installed my antenna or TV yet, so the HTPC can wait for a little bit. I still apprciate everyone's suggestions and I still plan to build a new sage server very soon.

[davephan]

Are TV stations still broadcasting in analog in Canada? If so, the 2250 might be the best choice, since it has two analog tuners. The 2250 can also receive clear QAM. All TV stations in the US are digital now, so it makes a lot of sense to use a HDHomerun in that situation. The HD-200 can change the channels on the HDHomerun.

The 1600 looks like it only has a single tuner. The HDHomerun and 2250 both have dual tuners for close to the same price.

PCI-e seems to be the future. One PCI-e slot may limit how long the system will last for you in the future. I think PCI slots will not be needed in the future, just like ISA slots are not needed now.

The 380 watt power supply seems a bit weak, you might think about getting a bigger power supply.

One network connector is OK, but two are better. If you use a HDHomerun, you can put the HDHomerun network traffic on the second network connector.

I started using a PVR-350 hooked to my SD TV. I now have a HD-200 extender and a couple MVP extenders. You could upgrade to extenders in the future, but it would be better to start with extenders if the budget allows for it. Don't bother with MVPs, the HD-200 is far superior, both video and audio. The HD-200 is much more reliable than the MVP too.

Dave

[wayner]

@davephan - Canada does still have analog broadcasting for a few more years but major cities now have all stations also broadcasing ATSC signals. The poster is in Vancouver so he can likely receive signals from the US as well - to be honest other than hockey (and the upcoming Olympics) there is very little of value on Canadian OTA TV since almost all of the content is US network content rebroadcasted on Canadian channels with Canadian commercials inserted (this is a sore point for some Canadians, particularly at Super Bowl time).

@MXMike - I can't recommend strongly enough the strategy of using an HD-200 for playback. If you want to browse stuff off of memory cards you can still do this from an extender. When it comes to BluRay - I am pretty sure you can play back the BluRay files over the extender with the right software (AnyDVD HD) but worse case scenario is that you can rip to the hard drive.