how would you configure all this hardware?

[buzzerbee]

this is the setup here:

home office:
20 " TV

main (home brewed) PC
--athlon 2.5 ghtz, 512 MB RAM, DVD burner
FX5200 video card, 200 GB storage (3 HDs), lots of fans / noisy and prob costs a lot more in electricity

basement:
55" inch TV

old inherited Sony Vaio slimstyle, P3 500 mhtz, 128 or 256 MB RAM, CD-ROM, no USB or firewire for external HD, 10 GB HD though I could upgrade that when a good deal comes along.

Sony can be on the home network to xfer files to home brewed PC above.
Sony only has TWO PCI slots - one of which would have to be internet.
integrated video and it's an old slim sony Vaio and I don't think I can get parts (eg video card/dvd burner) easily.
I guess I'd have to xfer files via the network to burn to DVD or video out from the main PC.

which would you use for the PVR? I like the idea of not having my main rig involved with PVR but on the other hand, the sony doesn't have a dvd burner or video out or space to add them.

I have a PVR-250 in the main PC now, but would be happy to move it to the Sony if I can figure out the setup.

Thanks

[kny3twalker]

I would use the Sony PC in the basement
it is probably smaller quieter etc...
is your 55" TV HDTV or not is the question

if it is not get a PVR 350 and throw it in the Sony with a copy of sagerecorder
to network encode as a second tuner

if it is a HDTV, I would use the AMD system just because the video quality coming out the 5200 will be better than the Sony can do (if at all) but then no TV in office


oh and what type of inputs does the TV have?

basically you have to go by the inputs of the TVs and the outputs of the computers

a good video card like a 5200 should do fine with svideo out or VGA ouput but a P500 is not going to do well doing just VGA output trying to render video

the best outputs to use would be an HDTV output if the TV supports it
though

basically you need to find a why to get the Sony to be able to render video
because the AMD can handle one one the TVs
you will either have to go a hardware decoder or put a video card that can do mpeg2 video rendering in the Sony

I would suggest an Xcard but there is no support for the Sage UI/OSD with its output
only a pvr 350s

[buzzerbee]

the 20" tv has composite rca inputs. the 55" is HDTV ready but is not ready adn I'm not ready. The 55" has all inputs, comp, Svideo and component.
So you think that recording to teh sony and then sending the files on teh network back to the main rig and burning from there is not really going to work?

i'm ok with only 1 tv getting coverage, because I think I''d mostly burn to DVD and just watch from that output. but you've got me thinking that it will be a huge pain to send the mpgs over the network from teh sony to AMD.
the AMD pc has to remain in the office because that's its primary purpose in life!
I like the idea of the 350 in the sony, but alas I just bought the 250 and sage and was hoping to get by with no other purchases right now.

[kny3twalker]

well to get the video from the office to the den you will need a sageclient or MVP from hauppauge or have to burn everything to DVD
then watch it with 55"
I would have to think the best thing for you to do is wait and just record on the AMD
as soon as studio comes out the hauppauge MVP plus sageclient should be the missing link but if you have to do it now probably a pvr 350 in sony with client and recorder
would give you nice picture same as MVP plus an additional tuner to record with

[buzzerbee]

ok thanks
i will leave it alone right now

[kny3twalker]

studio is needed to complete my setup as well
I want an MVP

[buzzerbee]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
I would use the Sony PC in the basement
it is

a good video card like a 5200 should do fine with svideo out or VGA ouput but a P500 is not going to do well doing just VGA output trying to render video


basically you need to find a why to get the Sony to be able to render video
because the AMD can handle one one the TVs
you will either have to go a hardware decoder or put a video card that can do mpeg2 video rendering in the Sony

would these cards handle it or is the FX5200 the minimum?

GeForce2 MX400 or
GeForce4 MX440

[kny3twalker]

sure why do you ask?
when doing TV out
my mx 440 had to do 800x 600 with overlay to keep from skipping doing DVD playback (skipped at chapter breaks at 1024x768)

can you put that in the sony?

just a question?
what is the AMD system used for any gaming?
if not why throw the mx 440 in the AMD and use the 5200 for the 55"
I do not know how much you watch in the office but you will probably be more happy with it using it on the 55"

[buzzerbee]

ther fx5200 I have is AGP and there's no room in the sony. would have to get a PCI video card. just trying to save $20 vs getting the 5200


still thinking. I could just watch on the LCD screen on the sony


thanks for the help

[kny3twalker]

buy it from some where you can return it
if you go pci graphics card
I have never used one
but the best option is still to just wait until the MVP gets support
it can almost any format other than AC3 audio yet I have been reading that pass through was possible