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Cheapo HTPC + DVR

T

Tehhund

n00b
Joined
May 18, 2006
Messages
8
I'm looking for a cheap out-of-the-box computer that will a) record HDTV and b) output 1080p and 5.1 sound to my home theater system and projector. I currently use HDMI exclusively, so HDMI would be great, but if there's another method I should consider to get HD output and 5.1 sound out of this computer I'll consider it.

Any major computer maker (Dell, HP, etc) welcome, as are brands sold by reputable retailers (Amazon, Newegg). Direct links would be great. Cheaper is better, but if there's an upgrade that is a really good bang for my buck I'll consider it. Thanks!
 
What HDTV are you talking about? Over the air HD signals?

If you're talking about that, just about any windows PC you can buy a tuner card and it'll work (for ~$70) and a decent newish video card will output hdmi+audio.
 
You need to specify what your source of HDTV is. Over the air? Cable? Satellite? There are very few tuner cards on the market currently that are compatible with cable signals (the tuner cards must accept a cablecard). Therefore, it is even less likely for there to be an out of the box solution. You'll most likely have to buy and install the tuner card yourself, if you have digital cable. If it is over the air, you have a lot more tuner card selection, but still I'm not sure how many companies sell with such a device pre-installed. Before I go further to help you, I need to know your HDTV source, and if you 'd be willing to install a card yourself.
 
Where I work we sell some systems specifically aimed at HTPC use, and we offer both over-the-air and digital cable tuners (requiring a CableCard from your provider, as xrintrahx described) as options. Due to the custom nature of our computers, though, they are not on the 'cheap' end of things - but feel free to take a look at the website in my signature if you are interested.

Otherwise, as elbweb noted, you may be able to take an off-the-shelf computer and modify it to suit your needs, if you are interested in that approach.
 
You can use a non-cable card tuner card to show/record digital cable channels as long as those channels are clear QAM channels (think I have the terminology correct). Basically, any channel that you could, in theory, receive with an antenna.

I purchased a Hauppage TV tuner a few months before my cable provider switched to digital, but we still got enough channels (about 50) that my wife wasn't upset with what she could record with the HTPC set up in the bedroom. All the network channels and their sub-channels, 2 PBS channels and their sub-channels, and any independent channels in your area.

Now my wife is at school and only has basic cable (cheap!.. mostly because there are no real cable channels on it. But an antenna didn't get good reception). She can watch and record exactly as many channels as she receives.

I, on the other hand, bought a Ceton InfiniTV4 quad tuner as soon as they were available. $400, but worth it to me. I switched to FiOS and they hardly have any channels copy protected. I've recorded and saved 2118 TV shows.

HTPC computers that come with tuners tend to be from boutique builders (like the gentleman from Puget Systems. Good stuff, from what I've read). But you can buy a tuner and install it yourself. All tuner cards are half-height so they should fit almost anything. The Hauppage 2250 I have is currently $129+$7 shipping. I think when I got it there was a rebate. It may be a bit pricey, but it was easy to install, and my wife was capable of operating the remote with no help from me, aside from telling her the green button turned on Media Center Hauppage 2250 w/ remote
 
My TV source will be cable. Based on the replies so far, let's focus on just the TV Tuner so I can add it to whatever box I buy. Which tuners will accept HD from a cable? (Time Warner if it matters)
 
There's only one that is still made - the Ceton InfiniTV4. It's a 4 tuner card.
 
danman is right, if you are looking for a card that will let you get all of the HD channels you subscribe to through your cable provider. Note that this card requires you to get (rent, usually) a CableCard from them - that is what enables the use of otherwise encrypted channels.

If you aren't looking to get tons of channels, though, there are a variety of cards that will do what is called "Clear QAM" tuning. That gets you any HD channels your cable company broadcasts in the clear - that is, without encryption. This would usually be limited to stuff on the 'basic cable' package from your provider, but sometimes might include more depending on how they are set up.

I use such a tuner myself - the Hauppauge HVR-2250. It is far cheaper than the Ceton InfiniTV: I paid about $100 for mine, while the Ceton is $300-400.
 
You could also buy a used ATI Digital TV Wonder card. It is no longer made, but was the first card on the market that supported cablecard (it's a single tuner). Also, $250 will get you the Silicon Dust HD Homerun Prime. It has 3 tuners (as opposed to Ceton which has 4). They are taking orders for it, but I don't think it has started to ship yet. So really, you have 3 options (4th option would be to get the HD-PVR and pair it with a cablebox, but that option usually costs more monthly)
 
xrintrahx said:
You could also buy a used ATI Digital TV Wonder card. It is no longer made, but was the first card on the market that supported cablecard (it's a single tuner). Also, $250 will get you the Silicon Dust HD Homerun Prime. It has 3 tuners (as opposed to Ceton which has 4). They are taking orders for it, but I don't think it has started to ship yet. So really, you have 3 options (4th option would be to get the HD-PVR and pair it with a cablebox, but that option usually costs more monthly)
Click to expand...

Strange as it may be, I actually have two of the ATI Digital TV Wonders I am trying to sell, so if anyone here is interested, feel free to PM me...
 
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