Confused! Is this equipment sufficient for an HTPC for Freeview DVB-T 1080I

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Confused! Is this equipment sufficient for an HTPC for Freeview DVB-T 1080I

Seagull117

12 posts

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#58889 22-Mar-2010 20:31

I am confused! I am not that tech savvy but I have built a few PCs (largely with a “by the numbers” approach).

I have on hand, and I am hoping to use them for an HTPC project:

A Foxconn A7GM-S (780chipset) MB, an Athlon II x2 245 CPU, 3GB DDR2 800 Memory.

Currently running Vista but I have a Win7 Home Premium pack available.

I have read and researched about hardware and codecs etc until my head is spinning.

Sorry for the new topic, but many of the threads date from 2008 are closed, and may no longer be fully relevant anyway.

Some of the questions for which I remain confused.

1.     I am uncertain if I can get Freeview DVB-T HD 1084I playback from this combo?

2.     There are several references to Hyper Transport 3 being needed with Athlon CPUs for Freeview recording/playback? The Athlon 245 supports HT3 but does my AM2+ MB/CPU combo support HT3?

3.     If my gear can manage to playback the video (via HDMI)? What about audio?

4.     So do I need a dedicated video card, even if it is just to get an audio via HDMI connection? And if a video card IS needed what is the best value card?

5.     Looking at messages re tuners I see a number of recommendations for the Hauppauge HVR-2200 This card uses a PCIe slot .

Will using this slot leave enough space for a passive video card (say Radeon 5450), if one is ultimately needed in the adjoining PCIe 16 slot?

Thanks for any help and explanations.

Seagull117

12 posts

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#309949 22-Mar-2010 21:00

Whoops! How can I edit outthe formatting rubbishin that post?

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#309972 22-Mar-2010 21:49

Just click the EDIT button. I've done for you. But now you know.

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gibben

46 posts

Geek

#310007 22-Mar-2010 23:07

The only real issue I see is that you may have issues with the ATI graphics, there are known issues with channels such as TV3 which use interlacing. I would also recommend using windows 7, media center 7 just works. The Hauppauge DVB-T should be fine but have you considered the HVR4000? That would give you the capability for satellite later on if you choose to and only costs a little more.

How do you want your audio to work? via HDMI or a receiver? The ATI should be able to pass through via HDMI but might require further investigation.

Easiest way is build it up with the parts you have and take it from there.

Nety

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#310036 23-Mar-2010 06:34

The 2200 has two tuners the 4000 only one so providing Seagull117 has DVB-T coverage then I would go for that.
Other then video your hardware is more then enough. As for the on board video it may be just enough but I would be ready to get a video card if required.
I think people still have more luck with Nvidia cards with our DVB-T service but the ATI solutions can work so it is worth giving the on board option a try first.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#310184 23-Mar-2010 12:52

I can only add that I haven't experienced any problems playing programmes recorded from Freeview|HD on my 780G-based HTPC (Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H motherboard). The onboard ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics processor handles all the Freeview material OK, and I use the onboard HDMI to carry video and sound to my TV.

You will of course need a suitable codecs for H.264 video to take advantage of hardware acceleration, and you will need HE-AAC and AC3 audio codecs.

I run GB-PVR on 32-bit Vista and use a Cyberlink H.264 codec, Monogram AAC codec and AC3 Filter
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H motherboard, AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ CPU, Hauppauge HVR-2200 dual DVB-T tuner.

Nety

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#310204 23-Mar-2010 13:25

Deev8:[snip]

You will of course need a suitable codecs for H.264 video to take advantage of hardware acceleration, and you will need HE-AAC and AC3 audio codecs.

I run GB-PVR on 32-bit Vista and use a Cyberlink H.264 codec, Monogram AAC codec and AC3 Filter
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H motherboard, AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ CPU, Hauppauge HVR-2200 dual DVB-T tuner.

The OP has already stated that he has Windows 7 available so if using Media Center then it works out of the box.

dale77

292 posts

Ultimate Geek

#310375 23-Mar-2010 20:47

1.     I am uncertain if I can get Freeview DVB-T HD 1084I playback from this combo?

2.     There are several references to Hyper Transport 3 being needed with Athlon CPUs for Freeview recording/playback? The Athlon 245 supports HT3 but does my AM2+ MB/CPU combo support HT3?

3.     If my gear can manage to playback the video (via HDMI)? What about audio?

4.     So do I need a dedicated video card, even if it is just to get an audio via HDMI connection? And if a video card IS needed what is the best value card?

5.     Looking at messages re tuners I see a number of recommendations for the Hauppauge HVR-2200 This card uses a PCIe slot .

Will using this slot leave enough space for a passive video card (say Radeon 5450), if one is ultimately needed in the adjoining PCIe 16 slot?

Thanks for any help and explanations.

1080i playback on 780g is possible, I had it with mediaportal to a 720p TV, deev8 has it with GBPVR.

I believe audio over HDMI on 780g is 2 channel only. 5.1 channel sound over HDMI won't work with this solution, if you care about this.

I would go for something like a 5670, up or down from this depending on your need for PC gaming. 5670 and lower are a good lowpower solution that doesn't require extra power over that provided through the PCI-e slot.

I can recommend fanned cards like the Sapphire 4670. Mine makes *no noise* that I can detect. Originally I wanted "fan-less" passive. Cards with big low speed fans are fine, and less costly.

Fanned cards are "proud" on the opposite side from the 1x PCI-e slot, at least on my mobo, so that means they don't interfere with the tuner. The heat sink on a passive card can indeed cause issues for the adjacent tuner. Your motherboard may vary... NB: The HVR-2200 is a half height card, which opens up more options.

HTPC: Antec Fusion 430, Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-UD2H F7, AMD X2 4850e, Sapphire 4670 1GB, Corsair 4x1Gb, Adata 128Gb SSD, WD10EARS Green, LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray, Hauppauge NOVA TD-500, Logitech z-5500, Logitech Harmony 525, Samsung LA40B530 1080p, Vista Premium-32 SP2, Catalyst 10.12(Facelift preview), Mediaportal 1.2.3+OneButtonMusic, AC3Filter, Cyberlink Powercinema 6 codec, BLU-RAY: Samsung BD-F7500

Seagull117

12 posts

Geek

#310431 23-Mar-2010 22:20

Thanks for all the replies.
DVB_T is all I am seeking at the moment and luckily we are in line of sight.
I have a SFF case so low profile cards are needed.
I leaned towards passive "thin" video cards for low power & low noise and all the Nvidia based ones I checked are "fat" and look like blocking the adjoining slot.
I have ordered a Hauppauge 2200 and will load up Win7 and give it a try.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#311774 26-Mar-2010 23:38

As you state HDMI audio, I assume you are connecting to an AV receiver. Does it playback HD audio (DTS-HD & the AC3 equivalent). If so, & you are looking towards a dedicated video card, then I do some research on ATI 5.*** cards. They can bitstream HD audio across the HDMI cable.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

Seagull117

12 posts

Geek

#311958 27-Mar-2010 23:14

Thanks 1gkar
I do not have a suitable AV receiver at the moment. i was just looking to be future proof as long as it does not cost hugely. I see a 5450 card for around $80 so if that is capable I might purchase one rather than a 53XX. It all has to run on a 300 Watt PSU so a low power card is is needed.
Other parts are on order but delayed so it might be a couple of weeks before I cabn try things out.