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Posted by Trevor on 09/27/02 11:41
On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 17:28:40 GMT, "Dave" <noway@nohow.not> wrote:
>
>"Ken Moiarty" <kmoiarty35@shaw.ca> wrote in message
>news:120j9sq8rejps13@news.supernews.com...
>> Having recently installed PVR hardware and software in in my desktop
>> computer, I've quickly come to the realization that using a PC for PVR use
>> takes a lot of computing power away from other tasks. So I've decided to
>> take my PVR hardware and software and install it in a whole separate
>> system,
>> which will then be dedicated to this one purpose. While I'm at it though,
>> I
>> want to make sure that I begin on the right foot, selecting a motherboard,
>> CPU configuration (not just in terms of MHz, but also if/whether to go
>> with
>> multi-CPU, or settle for multi-core/single core, etc..etc...), and a RAID
>> controller and case that will give me maximum room for hard drive storage
>> growth (with some redundancy, for backup). I do not need a speed demon as
>> this won't be for gaming. But I will want to eventually pack it with at
>> least three encoder-capture cards (which would allow it up to six tuners),
>> so it will have to be just fast enough (using "Beyond TV" software) to
>> simultaneously write to disk up to six [hardware encoded] recordings while
>> engaging the CPU effortlessly in software-decoding duty for concurrent
>> playback/viewing. [For the sake of illustration, see Snapstream Media's
>> Medusa PVR kit at http://store.snapstream.com/3xpvr500.html ]
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any advice, tips, recommendations, experiences or
>> other helpful feedback related to this,
>>
>> Ken
>
>If you don't -already- own the motherboard, CPU and a few huge hard drives
>(at the very minimum), I think your money could be spent better on a
>pre-built dedicated box such as the Pioneer DVR633HS. No, it would not be
>able to record six programs at the same time. BUT, for what you are looking
>at spending in terms of hardware, you could probably buy 3 - 6 dedicated DVR
>boxes. The cost of the Medusa kit alone is more expensive than some
>hard-drive equipped DVD recorders.
>
>Plus, even assuming that you are willing to fork out thousands in hardware
>just to say that you built it yourself, you've got to consider the power
>requirements for that beast. You will want something beefier than a typical
>~500W power supply. You'd probably need dual power supplies (and a
>expensive case to mount them in), or something much greater than 600W, which
>will cost hundreds of dollars all by itself. You are looking at a
>multi-CPU, multi-tuner, multi-disks spinning at once monster.
>
>But let's assume for a moment that your typical ~500W power supply could
>handle it (somewhat unlikely, but I'm just saying we'll assume that for a
>moment). Are you going to leave that beast running 24/7??? Each dedicated
>DVR box (prebuilt) will use about ~50W, and that's only when it's powered on
>and recording. So at WORST, if you had 6 hard-disk equipped DVD recorders,
>their maximum power draw (when all 6 are simultaneously on and recording)
>would roughly equal the system you plan to build, when the system you are
>planning IS IDLE. Yikes.
>
>Plus, don't forget the noise factor. Many hard-disk equipped DVD recorders
>are silent, even when recording. If you build a computer for DVR use, it
>will need to be liquid cooled, or placed in a room that is not used, and the
>door to that room will need to be kept closed. Otherwise, the noise will
>drive you bananas.
>
>Your money, of course. -Dave
Dave, I'm not sure where you're getting this crap about huge power
supplies, or even dual supplies, as well as huge hard drives, but you
might want to look at the BeyondTV Medusa project, a proof of concept
that shows that a standard PC, with a standard P/S, and a single 40 GB
5400 RPM HD was able to keep up with 6 simultaneous recordings.
Details at
<http://www.snapstream.com/community/Articles/medusa/default.asp?a=98>
The only thing you were right about is the cost. The Medusa costs
about $1200 if you're starting from scratch, but that cost is from
02/05, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's well under a grand now.
Still expensive compared to a HDD-based DVR, but then again I've never
seen a 6-tuner DVR, for any price.
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