PVR question

[craigap]

I'm trying to build a inexpensive SageTV client PVR for my Bedroom. I'm trying to get advice on the minimum requirements to support the playback of SDTV and possibly HDTV.

I had originally picked out a Celeron D 310 @2.13/256kb L2, but someone said that I should go with no less than a Pentium 4 @2.6. and 1mb L2. Any other Opinions on that.

My plan was to have a small HDD, DVD player, and single tuner card to record only a couple hours at most of SDTV then erase or transfer it to my main HTPC, watch DVD's, and Surf the net(with the help of Powerstrip). If I wanted to watch something on my main HTPC then I would just transfer the file to this PVR. Any thoughts as to how long it would take to transfer an average Tv show across a wireless network?

I was also told that my network probably wouldn't have enough bandwith to stream a TV program from my Main HTPC. Any comment on that. My setup has the main HTPC wired to my wireless router which is 802.11g @54mbps.

My proposed parts list:

Celeron D 310 @2.13
Asus P4S800D-X mobo
WD Cavier SE 80gb/8mb/sata150
eVGA Geforce FX5200
Corsair ValueSelect 512MB(2x256) dual channel
Sony IDE DVD-ROM
Thermaltake Silent Purepower (420W)
Linksys WMP54G
Powercolor theater 550 pro, PCI
and a case,windows xp home sp2, sagetv client

[glc]

Please don't get a SiS chipset motherboard. If you want an Intel processor, get an Intel chipset board, even if you have to cheap out with an i848P chipset to keep the cost down. If you get a Celeron-D, go for a higher speed model and you should be okay. You also should be looking at an entry level ATI card instead of Nvidia for that use, the picture quality will be better.

[craigap]

How about this ATI card? It's the cheapest one I could find on Newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102695

I guess I'll go with the i848P chipset. Asus P4P800S-X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102695

How much faster of a celeron D, in your opinion. I'm trying to cut as much cost as possible. Since they all have the same cache I guess it comes down to just clock speed. Looking at the prices on Newegg I'd like to stay below $75 and maybe go with the Celeron D 335 @2.8, which for some reason is $4 cheaper than the 330 @ 2.66. Or should I just fork over the extra $50 bucks and go with the P4/1mb L2/@ 2.4?

What would you do?

[glc]

That card is pretty weak - I'd get at least a 9000 series. They aren't that much more.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121525

If the P4 is also a 533 FSB processor, it's not worth it. If you go P4, go 800 FSB and a 865PE chipset board. The Cely-D 335 is a good choice, supported on the 848P board with bios 1004A or newer.

[craigap]

Any opinions on saving some cash by buying a refurbished processor from newegg?

[kram 2.0]

I personally say no. I don't see enough price difference between a Refurb and a retail version to justify going Refurb IMO.

kram