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H.264 combo box to beat this?

  • 12-02-2009 8:04pm
    #1
    Myxomatosis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 429 ✭✭


    I've priced up a PC with DVB-T and DVB-S2 cards on hardwareversand.de for €345 plus €30 for postage and was wondering if someone could recommend a Combo Box in the same price range (or less) that could match the fundamental functionality I'm looking for.

    What I'm looking for is the ability to:
    • watch a DVB-T channel while recording a DVB-S channel and visa-versa.
    • watch a DVB-T channel and record other channels on the same frequency.
    • watch a DVB-S channel and record other channels on the same transponder.

    Anyone have any recommendations?

    Basic specs of the PC: (see attachment for full details)
    AMD X2 4400+ EE
    2GB RAM
    Gigabyte AMD 780G (built in HDMI port)
    PCI DVB-T card
    PCI DVB-S2 card
    320GB HDD
    DVD-RW
    With this or this case.

    PC pros and cons
    + Can achieve the above functionality
    + Can also act as a media center to play all formats of music and video
    + DVD Player
    + Decent choice of media center software
    + Upgradable (add a DVB card, Blu-ray drive etc)
    + Decent graphics card to possibly play some oldish games on 42' plasma
    - Noise
    - Could be problematic with software or hardware failure
    - While the mobo and processor are energy efficient models, far more power hungry than a STB

    STB pros and cons
    + Quiet
    + Smaller in size
    + Less power hungry
    - Possibly dodgy PVR functions
    - Limited choice of software(firmware)
    - Not as upgradable

    Feel free to suggest some more pros and cons.


Comments

  • #2
    gtg60
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,759 ✭✭✭gtg60


    Ok, you're really comparing apples and oranges here, firstly and probably MOST importantly are you married or living with your significant other?
    Because if you are, go with a STB :p

    Seriously, once you start looking for a non 'off the shelf' solution reliability suffers and setting up and configuring a HTPC isn't an easy task either.

    Next, I notice that you haven't included any software costs in your total price for the PC, I know there is free media centre stuff out there but in my years of playing with PC's and TV's I've shelled out a decent chunk of money on software, codecs etc, etc

    As a recommendation for the functionality you need, how about more than one STB? In my sitting room I currently have a Sky HD box and an Mvision HD200 (with HDD), these are connected (along with my XBox and PS3) to a HDMI Matrix which feeds my sitting room and bedroom TV's.

    Finally, I admit, if I could build a HTPC that would sit silently downstairs, have a seemless EPG, recording reliability to match or better Sky's, multiroom viewing and enough tuners to never EVER have to worry about how many things I am recording at once (I have actually done 3 at once with my current set up) and be as easy to use as Sky for the wife and kids then yes I would go down that route too :D


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