3 Tuner Sage Server Specs?

[SoonerToucan]

Pentium 4 2.8GHz Processor
512 MB DDR PC-3200 RAM
300 GB 5400 HDD
Sapphire ATI Raedon 9550 128MB Video Card
Hauppage 350 Tuner Card (To Use Server as PVR as well)
2x Hauppage 250 Tuner Cards (For Clients)
Integrated 100MB LAN Card

Sage TV 2.0
2x Sage TV Client
USB-UIRT IR Blaster
Win XP Pro

This is the setup I was thinking for my server. Do you see items I should upgrade or any places I could cut some costs? Am I leaving anything out? I also plan to use the server to edit commercials out of shows.

Thanks
-ST

[carlgar]

If you want to cut costs I would not get the video card. I use the video that came built into my motherboard and quite happy with it.
Does the 5400 in the HDD stand for 5,400 RPM? If so sounds like a older drive that might be a bit slow.
If you intend to record from the 250 (for clients) you will need Sage Recorder for each computer. So if 2 different computers 2 Sage Recorders, if 2 cards in same system only 1 copy of Sage Recorder needed.

[SoonerToucan]

Yea the 5400 is RPM. The 5400 HDD has a seek time of 10ms vs 9.3 of the $30 more expensive 7200RPM Drive so I figured it wasnt much of a difference.

I plan on doing some video editing (chopping commercials) from some shows, I wasnt sure if the onboard video was goo d enough for it.

I was under the impression that if you had a H250 tuner in your Sage server all the client needs, software wise, is the Sage Client. It would tell the Sage TV 2.0 software on the server to handle the recording. I an new so I could very well be mistaken.

[carlgar]

I use the mpeg video wizard editor and have no problems with the video.

The sage client allows you to view and control SageTV from the client. However to record from the client (network encoder) you need Sage Recorder which will be controlled by SageTV for recording.

[Opus4]

The comment "(For Clients)" after the 250s probably made it look like you were going to put them in the clients. SO, yes, all the clients need is SageTVClient, like we mentioned in the other threads.

I can't comment too much on the video card, other than to wonder whether you really want/need the 350 with the problems so many people have -- at least make sure to get a motherboard that others say works perfectly with the 350.

For the drive, as long as it can handle the data throughput level, it would be fine & would probably run cooler. The faster drives might be better for video editing though -- again: I'll leave that for someone who kows details on that.

- Andy

[SoonerToucan]

Cool.

Opus you are correct in what I was trying to convey. Thanks

I also found this motherboard who's integrated video has S-Video out. It also appears to have a build in tv encoder(I wonder if that would mess anything up? I wouldnt be using it to encode, only for the TV out). How do you think it would fare?

[carlgar]

OK, since it looks like the (for Clients) comment was just misleading, no Sage Recorders are needed. However, I think what may be overlooked now is if the clients will be controled by a remote or not. I do not think Sooner fully understood this from the other theads.

[thatdude90210]

Originally posted by SoonerToucan
I also found this motherboard who's integrated video has S-Video out. It also appears to have a build in tv encoder(I wonder if that would mess anything up?

That's the ATI 9100IGP chipset, it has integrated "radeon 9000" level graphics + tv out, but no tv encoding.

[SoonerToucan]

However, I think what may be overlooked now is if the clients will be controled by a remote or not. I do not think Sooner fully understood this from the other theads.

Its my understanding that you need one USB-UIRT IR Blaster
(configure it as directed in the other post) Then use the Streamzip remotes that come bundled with some H250/350 packages.

Using those remotes and the supplied USB IR Cord the remotes can access the client machine's Sage Client Software, which in turn communicates with the Sage TV 2.0 software on the sever which handles the actual recording. (ROS anyone?) That is how understand it works.

thatdude, you are correct I must have read about the integrated encoding looking at another mobo, I have been on these boards and newegg since I woke up this morning. =)

Thanks everyone for all your help,
-ST

[Opus4]

Yes, the Streamzap remotes will work for the clients. Check out Information Resources for Remotes, Receivers, and IR Blasters for other info regarding remotes.

One downside I can see to the Streamzap remote i sthat it might be difficult/impossible to use a remote with more buttons with its receiver, if you ever decide you want more buttons. There is another thread dealing with that idea (Any way to use Streamzap IR receiver with other remotes?), but it has no definite conclusions yet.

Some other receivers are more versatile in that regard.

- Andy