Posted by Ken Moiarty on 01/10/11 11:41

"Dave" <noway@nohow.not> wrote in message
news:c7kOf.1799$Bj7.1069@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> [...] 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.
>

I appreciate your offering me your feedback. But I can already tell you're
not somebody with much experience on the subject of PVRs (let alone home
built ones). For example, the Pioneer DVR633HS you mention is not a PVR!.
Aside from that it digitally records video to hard disk, it doesn't come
close to offering the functions of a PVR.


> Plus, even assuming that you are willing to fork out thousands in hardware
> just to say that you built it yourself,

Actually, I'm initially expecting to spend hundreds, not thousands. As I
choose to gradually add storage space over the years, I will be taking
advantage of the continually falling cost-per-gigabyte in hard drives. And
it's not just so I can say that "I built it myself". It's so I can say to
myself, 'got around *Shaw Cable's *DRM obsessed PVR limitations'.

* Shaw Cable - My cable provider (which, I forgot to mention, is in Canada,
where available PVR functionality is far more limited than, for example, in
the U.S.).

* DRM = Digital Rights Management


> 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.
>

You call it a monster. Most people I'm familiar with would just as soon
call it a file server.


> 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.
>

So now you're somehow worried about 'saving the planet'!?

> 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.
>

Steady "white noise" from the cooling fans is not something I expect myself
to be bothered by. But even if it were to somehow become an issue, there
are ways and means to reduce unwanted noise. Water cooling is just one
option (though not at all my first choice). Having done some research in
the past surrounding the subject of noise reduction in buildings, I can tell
you there are a wealth of inexpensive noise attenuation techniques and
methodologies that adaptable to this, which your average home PC builder
would not be inclined to think of. However, simply moving the PC to a
separate enclosed-space or room is hardly the onerous prospect you seem to
suggest it would be.

> Your money, of course. -Dave
>

My leisure time, too. : )

Ken

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