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Posted by J. Clarke on 09/29/90 11:41
Dave 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.
6 of those Pioneers from a source that actually has them in stock will cost
more than one dedicated video server with the same amount of storage.
Then there's the little problem of remote-control Hell. Can you control 6
of those independently?
> 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.
Why would he want that?
> 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.
Why would he need multiple CPUs? As for multi-disks-spinning-at-once, what
of it? My Tivo has multi-disks-spinning-at-once on a 60 watt supply. And
there's nothing special about the disks, they're Samsungs that I obtained
from Newegg. He's describing a fairly small server with 3 tuner boards
added. Nothing particularly special about it.
> 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).
Why do you consider this to be unlikely? Many dedicated servers with 15K
RPM SCSI RAIDs, dual processors, maxed out RAM and the like do fine on 500
watts or less. You seem to be confusing a dedicated media server with a
maxed out gamer box.
> 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.
Sounds like he's going to be doing a lot of recording so that's not an
issue.
> 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.
If you think that that is cause for saying "Yikes" you do _not_ want to look
in my basement.
In any case, you seem to have a misconception concerning PC power
consumption. At idle a PC can be configured to consume very little power,
under 10 watts, if you set it to spin down the drives and go into standby.
> Plus, don't forget the noise factor. Many hard-disk equipped DVD
> recorders
> are silent, even when recording.
For certain values of "silent".
> 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.
Actualy, I don't find that the noise from mine "drives me bananas". By
careful choice of fans I've got the noise level of the computer
considerably below the noise level of the projector. And I haven't really
gone off the deep end on noise reduction--I could make it considerably
quieter if I wanted to.
> Your money, of course. -Dave
Sounds to me like with no information at all you've decided that the media
center PC is a Bad Idea.
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
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