Building an HTPC

[Bubba's Dad]

Hi all,

I have decided to build a HTPC (personal video recorder) and I have a couple of generic PC build questions. I am using a Dell GX280 pc as a base as it is a small desktop factor. It has 2 PCI slots and 1 low profile PCIe X16 slot.

I will need to install both a video capture/tuner card and a good video out card.

My question is, which slot is the best for each card? I am thinking that because the Capture card is hardware based it might not NEED the additional speed of the PCIe slot.

Playback though, would be processor intensive, and would the PCIe slot would help there.

I will probably try using the onboard sound for now, and add a sound card later so I will need the second PCI slot for that.

Am I correct or all wet? (BTW it's a P4 2.80GH with 1 GB DDR2 ram)

Thanks

[freakitchen]

Capture cards don't require high PCI bandwith - the vast majority of them are still standard PCI, some PCI-E x1. The high-bandwidth PCI-E x16 slots are for video output cards.

As such, I'd go for a PCI TV Tuner card, and a low-profile PCI-E x16 video card. I recently wrote this article for PC Mech that you might find useful.

http://www.pcmech.com/article/choosi...your-computer/

[Bubba's Dad]

Freakitchen,

Great article. You confirmed what I was thinking. I am torn between Saber DA-1N1-E Combination analog/digital or a Hauppage 1600. Both are PCI and have mpeg2 encoding on the analog input.

That will leave my faster PCIe x16 slot for a nice video card with DVI or HDMI output direct to my 60" sony. That will still leave me another PCI slot if I need an audio card. I am going to try the onboard sound through my receiver first to see if it's any good.

Thanks for the answers.

[XenaWP]

You will find the best, expert advice on HTPCs at avsforums. There is a dedicated HTPC sub-forum. Try it. You won't be disappointed.

[Bubba's Dad]

Thanks XenaWP