computer wake-up time lag

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › computer wake-up time lag

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#88566 18-Aug-2011 07:51

i am pretty keen to plunge into building an HTPC system. one question has come up:

say the system has a PCI-e TV card and the OS is primed to wake on PCI input. if it is set up to record something in the middle of the night, is the wake-up time an issue? does one need to compensate for this? can the software take care of this?

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#508333 18-Aug-2011 07:56

Hi,

What software are you planning on using?

I use Windows Media Center (Win7) and it is all handled for you.
The computer is set to wake up in advance (not sure of the actual figure here) to be ready to record you show.

I never missed a show because the computer didn't wake up...

Not sure about the other HTPC software though...

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#508338 18-Aug-2011 08:07

thanks for that. very good to know. i knew someone would have taken care of that!

not sure yet what OS. in my desktop life i am a linux enthusiast, but i may go with windows on this one. got to keep things simple at least to start with :-)

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#508348 18-Aug-2011 08:23

Well I have used mostly Microsoft OSes (a bit a LInux at Uni, etc) but 7MC is really nice and easy to use.

What are you planning to watch?
- DVB-T? DVB-S?, Both?
- Personal videos (*.avi, *.mkv, etc..) ?
- DVD's & Blu-Rays?

One way of another, all of this is handled nicely even if in some cases you need to install separate applications.

If you have a collection of ripped movies and use 7MC, you can't go without MediaBrowser. (http://www.mediabrowser.tv/) Have a look on their website and you will see what I mean...

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#508372 18-Aug-2011 09:50

yeah, i know it would be easier to go the MS route...we'll see!

i plan to watch DVB-T, stuff recorded off TV, DVDs (blueray eventually) and on-line material - youtube, ted, etc. also just general internet browsing

i'll definitely check out mediabrowser. - there are some great apps out there

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509108 19-Aug-2011 17:40

I'm stuck in a time warp: still use XP. & with Mediaportal, as my preferred media front-end, my system wakes up for any recorded TV show. I use S1 sleep mode as my case doesn't have the facility to power-on via my MS remote.

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

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#509281 20-Aug-2011 08:38

i'm in the same warp!

good to know that mediaportal works with XP. sounds like a good option for me

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#509282 20-Aug-2011 08:39

I use S1 sleep mode as my case doesn't have the facility to power-on via my MS remote.

what case have you used? can you explain some more about the different sleep modes?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509461 20-Aug-2011 21:48

The case model is in my sig.

Sorry. I meant S3 mode, not S1.

Here is a description that explains more elequantly than I.

Basically, S3 will power up quicker, but uses more power in standby, than hibernate (S4). But hibernate takes longer to power up.

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#509524 21-Aug-2011 07:13

thanks for that link - good info.

so is it reasonable to leave an HTPC in some chosen sleep mode indefinitely. like with most media devices today - everything can be left in "standby" mode.

this brings up another question - what about powering down after a recording has finished. how does this happen?

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509700 21-Aug-2011 21:00

Using a Mediaportal plugin -Powerscheduler- you can set a desired inactivity time to which the machine is put into the preferred mode. You can also set this.

The machine can wake up for recordings using the same plugin within Mediaportal TVServer configuration.

Rather than go to & fro asking & answering, you will be better off reading through the WIKI, to see if MP is right for you.

Personally, I think it is a great option. There is a learning curve attached, especially with using the plugins, lile TVSeries, or Moving Pictures. As well as configuration time. But once done, it is pretty much enjoy.

steadysteve

107 posts

Master Geek

#509771 22-Aug-2011 06:28

ok thanks for that - will RTFM :-)

MP does seem to be pretty excellent and in constant development