New to DVR PC, need some guidance

[65stang]

So, Im wanting to build a small form factor (or at least smaller than a typical desktop) pc for dvr only purposes.

ive read up on it some, but i'll be honest...I dont know what is out there.

I know I like this: http://www.cetoncorp.com/ProductsWMC.php but it isnt out yet

i also dont know what hardware I should be looking into? what processor, case, motherboard, video card (will need hdmi) etc.

I want to record more than 2 streams and I hate my motorola dvr as its half burned out as it is.

I'll be glad to read whatever, just toss me some links, your setup, advice, etc.

and im not sure what software works best

i do have windows 7 ultimate that'll be going on it

[65stang]

btw, I did read the sticky's up top and I have a harmony one remote id like to use to operate it

[65stang]

ok so, so far, ive figured out I cant use it with a cable card...so I need to wait til the ceton card is available to do what i want

[Randyman...]

Let your fingers do the walking ;)

The new Cable-Card stuff will be extremely cool once it is out in the wild. I'm REALLY anticipating the DirecTV version of PCIe Tuner Cards. I currently use ATSC OTA tuners in my HTPC, and I still have over 50 season passes just from local OTA content :eek: . My DirecTV HD-DVR has another 50 or so season passes...

:cool:

[kovboi]

will you be using this for anything other than DVR? if not, then you can safely go with very modest system specs.

low voltage cpus are generally preferable because they are easier to cool silently.
make sure the mobo has all the expansion options you need (PCI, PCIe, USB, SPDIF out). probably it's safest to pick the mobo last once you know what components you'll be using.
are you using regular cable? if so, some tv tuners by avermedia and hauppauge will get QAM digital cable as well as regular analog. i'm using a pair of aver m780 tuners which each have separate QAM and analog tuners so that i can record a total of four streams simultaneously (2 digital, 2 analog). now there is a newer version. (http://www.avermedia-usa.com/AVerTV/product/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=480) I also use an aver bravo hybrid (http://www.avermedia-usa.com/AVerTV/product/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=440) in another box, which works fine except that it will only record one stream at a time and it does software processing.
if you have a set top box, a stop gap solution until the ceton and hauppauge cablecards appear is the hauppauge HD PVR (http://hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html).
for video, don't go crazy if all you want is dvr. an ATI 4350 should be ample for hi def decoding.
2gb ram is more than enough for DVR
windows media center (vista or 7) works fine and has a nice tv guide that's easy to work with. the main downside is that it doesn't strip out commercials though there are various plugins that you can find for this purpose.

that should get you started...

[65stang]

yes, i'll be using it just as a DVR....and I thought there were solutions currently...I didnt realize the centon is one of the first. I want to record multiple HD streams....4+. I would even get a couple of cableCARD's if there was a pci/pcie card...but the only thing I could find was the apparently discountined ATI TV Tuner's and they only record 1 stream and are way expensive currently. Im just tired of my motorola cable box....its limited on storage, it only records 2 streams (one of which you have to watch or you cant watch tv at all), its $15/month rental....and half the time if works and the other half it spends hanging, not reading remote control signals, a jacked up artifacted guide menu, etc....and I figured id just build my own.

Looks like I should wait for the centon card and then i'll be set.

[mrjspeed]

I would wait. There won't be any reasonable way to have a good HD-DVR until 2010 when Happauge and Ceton make their Cable-Card tuners. I'm with you in that cable company DVR's are garbage. I don't have experience with Motorola, I have a Scientific Atlanta box with Time Warner. It is just disgusting. The menu uses a milky yellow color, and a milky pink color - that's about it. When you go to the menu, it changes to 4:3 aspect ratio and is just a horrible eye-sore.

My current HTPC is for BluRay playback only, no TV. I'll be building a new one once some good CableCard tuners are out.